Richland Center Police Chief Resigns After Being Charged With Sexual Assault

After months on paid leave, Richland Center’s police chief has resigned as he continues to face sexual assault charges.

Lucas Clements sent a resignation letter to the city’s police commission Monday.

“As I began the process of defending the allegations made against me, I do not wish to draw anymore unnecessary negative attention to our Department and our City,” Clements said in the letter.

Clements pleaded not guilty Friday to three counts of sexual assault and one count of theft in Richland County Court.

The state Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation investigated the incident.

The criminal complaint alleges Clements entered an unnamed bar and restaurant in Richland County shortly before closing time June 16. The complaint details several instances of Clements making sexual comments and inappropriately touching a bartender without her consent. Much of the incident was recorded by video cameras within the restaurant. The complaint also alleges Clements took $340 of the victim’s tip money that had been left on the bar. The victim told investigators she believed Clements was drunk when he arrived at the bar. The complaint said Clements told investigators “he had only one beer before he arrived at the bar” and that all contact with the victim was mutual.

The former police chief has been on paid leave since an investigation into the incident began in June, according to WISC-TV.

The Richland Center Police Department declined a request for comment on Clements’ resignation.

In 2013, Clements was cited by the Richland County Sheriff Department for suspicion of hit-and-run property and inattentive driving after deputies found his truck crashed into a guard rail, according to WISC-TV. Deputies found Clements had been drinking at a nearby bar before the crash.

Peter Walsh, president of the Richland Center Police Commission, said the group was “a bit surprised” by Clements’ resignation ahead of their meeting Monday.

“I think that it was a good thing all the way around so that (Clements) can focus on what he needs to focus on,” Walsh said.

Walsh said the incident involving Clements has caused a “breach of trust” in the community. But he’s confident hiring a new police chief will help Richland Center heal.

“We still have strong police department who cares deeply about the community,” Walsh said. “We want to focus now on rebuilding that trust and pursuing those programs and things that we have in place already and welcome a new member to the team to help make that happen.”

Walsh said the commission will take applications for the police chief position starting this week through Friday, Nov. 29. The group plans to review applications during a meeting Tuesday, Dec. 5.