The former town administrator of West Boylston is suing the town, and its longtime police chief, after he was fired following a bitter dispute over the display of a Donald Trump campaign flag inside police headquarters.

James Ryan argues that the town, its police chief, and its Select Board chair wrongfully retaliated against him after he raised concerns about the flag, which was displayed in the police station’s gym, according to the complaint filed in Worcester District Court. Ryan was fired in February after just weeks on the job , ending an acrimonious standoff between him and police Chief Dennis Minnich.

Ryan had asked Minnich, the police chief since 1997, to remove a Trump flag from the gym wall, citing public ethics guidelines. Minnich initially complied, but the situation e

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