PLAINFIELD — Plainfield and the town’s police chief have parted ways, ending a workplace imbroglio that embroiled the town government in a drama over private conduct that spilled over into the public arena.

Anthony Swett, who had been police chief in Plainfield since 2021, has “resigned to pursue another exciting opportunity he has elected to take in the law enforcement field,” Carolyn Cole, Swett’s attorney, confirmed to the Valley News on Tuesday afternoon.

Plainfield Town Administrator Steve Halleran also on Tuesday confirmed that the town and Swett have “separated,” while declining to elaborate on the reason for Swett’s departure.

“I’m not going to speak about the details of it because I can’t but there has been a separation,” Halleran said.

Plainfield’s sole police officer, Rob DePietro, is now in charge of the department, he said.

“All this has happened in the past few days and a weekend in between, so it’s all very fluid,” Halleran said, adding that “we’re going to be working here filling a slot very soon” in the understaffed police department.

The town and now former police chief had been in a jam since June when the town’s Selectboard chairman, Eric Brann, submitted his resignation, saying he couldn’t continue to serve without compromising his principles.

Brann never publicly explained what troubled him, but people familiar with the matter said the he had lost confidence in the police chief — who had been a longtime personal friend and professional colleague in law enforcement — when Swett allegedly misled him about the nature of a relationship he was having with a former town employee.

Brann ultimately rescinded his resignation, agreeing to serve out the remainder of his term, but recused himself from involvement in a “complex personnel matter” that was to be handled by the other two Selectboard members.

With Swett’s departure, Plainfield is now down to a single police officer. The town’s other officer joined the Hanover Police force in July.

New Hampshire State Police have been informed that Plainfield is currently operating with a single officer and may need assistance, Halleran said.

Despite the difficulties police departments face everywhere in filling their ranks, Halleran expressed optimism Plainfield will be able to meet the challenge.

“It’s a hard time to recruit new police officers, but we intend to do just that,” he said.

Advantages in Plainfield’s favor is that it pays “at market or even above” what small town police departments typically pay. Swett’s salary was $90,000 — and the town also offers perks such as officers being allowed to drive their police vehicles home with them.

When the fallout between Brann and Swett became public this summer, Swett hired Cole to represent him in his dealings with the Selectboard, as Swett argued the Selectboard had no authority to question a personal matter that did not conflict with his professional responsibilities.

Ultimately, the two sides reached the agreement that saw Swett’s departure finalized this week.

Contct John Lippman at jlippman@vnews.com.