Bergin's deposition details an expletive-laced plea to the chief not to go along with Leopold's plans, calling it "morally" and "ethically" wrong. He added that there was no reason Hamner couldn't be a spokeswoman for the Police Department because "a monkey could do that job," according to the deposition.
Bergin said in his deposition that Teare didn't respond. He said his relationship with the chief began to sour when Bergin went to the state prosecutor with allegations against Leopold.
"Chief Colonel Teare knew I was going to the State Prosecutor's Office, and I begged him to come up there with me," Bergin said in his deposition, adding that Teare declined to come.
Teare had no comment Friday.
Teare's retirement Aug. 1 was the first high-level departure from county government linked to the criminal indictment against Leopold. The announcement that Teare would be leaving came from the state prosecutor, the office that is pressing charges against Leopold. It was coupled with a statement that the state prosecutor was ending a criminal investigation into Teare.
"The most important thing to me at that time was that no one got in trouble," Bergin said in his deposition. "I felt that was my role, keep the Chief and everyone out of trouble. And you could see it coming. It was — I mean, I'm not the smartest guy in the world, but doggone. You know, with experience you know when things can go south, and I knew this would go south."
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