Derry, NH, Fire Chief Admits DWI in Department SUV

Derry Fire Chief Shawn Haggart had an “overwhelming” odor of alcohol on his breath and cans of rum cocktails in a department-owned emergency vehicle when he was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in Bow in October, police reports show.

Haggart, 48, of Chester,told Bow Police Officer Seth Guilmette he was returning from a funeral in Vermont when he was pulled over for crossing over the center line on Route 3A in Bow at 12:34 a.m. Oct. 18, according to police records obtained by the Union Leader through a Right-to-Know request.

In a narrative included as part of his arrest report, Guilmette said he saw a gray-colored SUV turn right onto Route 3A from the junction with Interstate 89 south, making an “abnormally wide right-hand turn, as it appeared it crossed into the other lane of travel.”

Guilmette followed the vehicle, reporting the SUV “drifted over the fog line towards the brush located off the roadway located after the intersection of Route 3A and Carriage Road.”

“It appeared the SUV briefly side-swiped the brush with the passenger side of the vehicle, before it drifted back into the lane,” the report says. “The SUV then kept jerking abruptly over the fog line and crossing it. The SUV would then weave back into the lane, before abruptly drifting towards the double-yellow center line and crossing it, which occurred multiple times.”

Guilmette said he activated his emergency lights and pulled over the gray Ford Explorer (with state government registration plates on it) near the intersection of Route 3A and Eastview Road after following it for just over a mile.

Upon approaching the vehicle, he noticed an emergency light bar inside the rear window and a firefighter sticker on the right edge.

“It was immediately apparent that the vehicle was outfitted as an emergency vehicle,” Guilmette wrote. “The vehicle contained a mounted computer system, radio, light bars and controls for emergency lights and sirens.”

Guilmette reports Haggart identified himself as the chief of the Derry Fire Department.

“While speaking with Shawn, I immediately smelled the strong, distinct odor of an intoxicating alcoholic beverage emanating from his breath,” Guilmette wrote. “The odor was so overwhelming, I could smell the odor from the passenger side of the vehicle.”

The report says Guilmette saw a four-pack of 12-ounce Dogfish Head Rum Mai Tai cocktails (12% alcohol by volume) on the passenger side floorboard, along with an empty 12-ounce can.

“Shawn’s speech also sounded slurred, as he was speaking slowly and his eyes were watery/glossy,” police reports show. “Based on my observations, I asked Shawn how much he drank. Shawn admitted he consumed 4 alcoholic beverages earlier in the night.”

While waiting for Bow Police Sgt. Jon Behning to arrive at the scene, Guilmette reported he saw the bottom of another can under the passenger side seat of the vehicle.

“The contraband was in plain view, and I requested Shawn to hand over, which he did without incident,” police records show. “The empty 12oz. can of Dogfish Head was cold to touch, as if had been recently consumed. I shook the 4 pack, and only one alcoholic beverage could be felt.”

Guilmette asked Haggart if he was drinking alcoholic beverages while driving, which Haggart denied.

“I asked Shawn to explain why the empty alcoholic beverage was cold to touch,” Guilmette reports. “I also asked Shawn why there was an opened 4 pack, with only one left. I asked Shawn to explain why he would toss the empty cans of alcohol consumed at the event into the vehicle, because a reasonable person would throw away the beverages consumed at the event into the trash, not discard them in their vehicle. Based on the aforementioned information, I told Shawn that I knew he was drinking inside the car.”

Guilmette reports Haggart “couldn’t provide a response,” and “just looked at me while nodding his head up and down, as if he was agreeing with me.”

Field sobriety tests

Guilmette reports Haggart agreed to submit to standardized field sobriety tests, during which he had trouble maintaining balance and following directions, according to police reports.

Haggart was charged with DWI and released on personal recognizance. The Derry Fire SUV was towed from the scene to the Bow Police Station, where it was retrieved the next day by Charles Tinkham, dispatch supervisor for Derry Fire.

Haggart pleaded no contest to a single charge of driving while intoxicated (first offense) during an appearance Nov. 20 in District Court in Concord with his attorney, Eric Wilson of the Nashua firm Wilson, Bush and O’Keefe.

A no-contest plea is not considered an admission of guilt but an acceptance of punishment, whereas a guilty plea is a direct admission of guilt.

Haggart said little during his court appearance, aside from answering a few brief procedural questions posed by Judge Ryan Guptill.

Haggart had his driver’s license suspended for nine months (which can be reduced to 90 days) and was ordered to pay $620 in fines and take part in a 20-hour Impaired Driver Education Program.

Derry Town Administrator Mike Fowler confirmed earlier this month Haggart has been on paid leave since “shortly after” officials were made aware of his arrest. Assistant Chief Greg Laro is serving as acting chief, Fowler said.

A call and email placed to Fowler this past week seeking Haggart’s status with Derry Fire were not returned. Requests for comment sent Friday to Wilson, Haggart’s attorney, also received no response.

Haggart, with more than two decades of service in Derry, became fire chief on March 1, 2024.

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