Why Did Officer Eric Dunham Depart HPD After Just Three Years? We May Never Know. Shouldn't We Know?

 

As regular HUDseen readers may know, during the HPD report at last month's meeting of the so-called SAFETY Committee, Chief Mishanda Franklin mentioned that a police officer had recently resigned.  "We are down an officer.  Under unfortunate circumstance we had an officer resign last week.  So, we will be our doing our best to fill that position prior to year end."  Head Code Enforcement Officer Nick Fox, sitting next to Franklin and always on top of safety issues, then asked a critical question that was begging to be asked:  "Do you guys hire part-time or is it only full-time?"  (I'm not kidding!)  Is Nick looking for another job?  A new job?

Franklin seemed to go out of her way not to mention the resigned officer's name, rank, gender, or if he or she would be missed.  Her announcement also gave the sense that she had been made aware of the officer's resignation the day he resigned, without any forewarning.  Committee member Dominic Merante, ever astute, asked Franklin how long the officer had been on the force, to which she replied, "For us, it was three years, three and a half years."  Of course, Dominic or Henry could (should!) have asked Franklin what the officer's name was and what the "unfortunate circumstances" that led to their resignation were.  But hell, why bother with any of that useless information!  And so, that was it about the departed officer.  Gone, like a ghost.  Discussion ensued about hiring a replacement for the departed ghost police officer.  Then Franklin segued into announcing that WinterWalk would be taking place this year.  Everyone was relieved about that!  Smiles were all around. Halle-fuckin-lujah!

It appears that HPD Officer Eric Dunham, a Cairo resident with a salary of $82,657, arrived at HPD on September 10th and handed his resignation letter to Chief Franklin.  The letter (see below) basically says, "I am out of here today.  Not tomorrow or next week.  Today!"  Dunham's immediate resignation was likely a total surprise to our police chief, and her words suggest the same.

If Dunham gave any specific indication in his resignation letter as to why he resigned from HPD on September 10, 2026, that information was redacted as part the response to a FOIL request I made for that public document that he signed.  In his two-paragraph letter to Chief Mishanda Franklin, Dunham cited "personal reasons" for departing after just 3 years on the force.  The second paragraph reads like this:  I appreciate the opportunity you have given me to work in your department.  However, [a redaction of about two lines] I can no longer perform the duties of my position.  I am sorry to have to leave and wish you and my fellow employees well.   Eric M. Dunham

Dunham became a Hudson police officer in June of 2023.  I checked the minutes from the May, June, and July, 2023, informal meetings of the common council but could find nothing in the HPD reports about a new officer being hired at HPD.  Early that June, the newly promoted Chief Franklin (taking Ed Moore's place) had just begun her first of two maternity leaves within two years, with Captain David Miller in her place.

Former Hudson Police Officer Eric Dunham was never mentioned or introduced to the Hudson common council OR CITY RESIDENTS, nor was he given the proper farewell he deserved and that every member of the council should expect.  All the council AND THE PUBLIC got from our so-called police chief was, essentially, "We lost one last week.  It was a bummer.  We need to replace him.  Or her.  Hopefully this year. Whatever."  

Why would our police chief bother offering the name of a recently resigned cop to the common council and residents if she never introduced the cop to the council and residents when he/she/they arrived?  "Officer who?  What does he look like?  What did she look like?  What did they do for HPD?" Officer Dunham wasn't fired for doing something stupid, was he?  No, apparently, he was not.  Isn't the hiring of new police officers -- or just one! -- a big and rare accomplishment these days? Of course it is!

There are several pictures of Officer Dunham on HPD's Fakebook page.  That's one of them above.  What do you suppose a police force like HPD does with the uniforms of a police officer who resigns?  Throw them in the garbage, along with the badge?

I met and spoke with Officer Dunham on several occasions while he was out and about, even on a HPD bicycle.  He seemed like one of the good catches.   He was not a bad cop; he seemed calm and fair.  Who knows, had Eric Dunham stuck around HPD, perhaps someday he may have risen to the rank of police chief or captain.  Maybe he'll do so in a different police force.  Please wish Eric Dunham well, whatever he chooses to do, will you?  The guy deserves some recognition and thanks, doesn't he? 

My gut tells me that Officer Dunham simply didn't feel comfortable working at HPD, perhaps due to a toxic work culture there.  I hope I am wrong in that regard, but the lack of decency coming from HPD top brass is appalling and -- need it be said? -- quite concerning.  Do you remember in April when Captain David Miller was asked by two residents on four occasions during one SAFETY Committee meeting how many speeding tickets HPD had issued in the first quarter of this year?   Do you remember that Miller replied, "250 or more. But I'm not sure."?  Do you recall that a month later Chief Franklin set the record straight by saying that 15 speeding tickets had actually been issued, not 250 or more?   Do you remember that Captain Miller explained his gaffe by saying he thought he had been asked (repeatedly, mind you!!!!) about "traffic tickets," not "speeding tickets"?

I recently FOILED for documents related to the injury of a Hudson police officer in early May, an incident that showed up on that month's HPD Incidents Report.  My request was denied based on "an invasion of personal privacy."  I appealed the decision to mayor Ferris, asking that all personal information be redacted from documents, but that effort was also denied.  No mention of the injury to a Hudson police officer in May was ever made by Chief Franklin or Captain David Miller during any subsequent SAFETY Committee meetings.  And, of course, no council or committee members asked them any questions about it.  Like it never happened.  Could the injured officer have been Eric Dunham?  How would the public or the council ever know?

Do you sense the trend at HPD that I do?