Jonathan Stone (New Hampshire politician) explained

Jonathan Stone
State House:New Hampshire
District:Sullivan 8th
Term Start:December 7, 2022
Party:Republican[1]

Jonathan Stone[2] is an American politician. He serves as a Republican member for the Sullivan 8th district of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.[3]

Career

Prior to assuming office Stone served as a police officer for the City of Claremont Police department for six years. He was fired from the police department in March 2006 after an internal investigation. During his time as a police officer there were at least 14 internal affairs reports regarding Stone's conduct.[4] He resigned from the Claremont Police in 2007.[5] The ACLU of New Hampshire and Union Leader Corporation sued to have Stone's records released.[6]

Stone ran for election to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in 2020 and was defeated by incumbent John Cloutier. In 2022 Stone was elected to the New Hampshire House of Representatives in November 2022. He has a seat on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

Stone is co-owner of a gun shop called Black Op Arms in Claremont.[7]

Controversy

While Stone was serving as a police officer, he was investigated for having an inappropriate relationship with a 15 year old girl. Stone threatened to rape his supervisor's wife and children and murder his supervisor as a result of the investigation.[8] He also made threats against fellow police officers. The file was kept private until a journalist requested the files under New Hampshire's right-to-know laws.

In 2024, it was revealed that Stone had been fired from a post as a correctional officer at the Southern State Correctional Facility in 2021 for a pattern of racist, sexist, and homophobic insults, intimidating colleagues (who reportedly feared his retaliation) to such an extent that one gay colleague resigned). Stone is described as "unrepentant", telling a supervisor “You should see me when I really get going.” [9]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NH House Sullivan County District 08: Elected Officials. CitizensCount. April 20, 2023.
  2. Web site: Claremont city councilor seeks to block release of records as a police officer. Valley News. Anna. Merriman. September 4, 2020. April 20, 2023.
  3. Web site: Representative Jonathan Stone (R). The General Court of New Hampshire. April 20, 2023.
  4. Web site: InDepthNH.org . DAMIEN FISHER . 2023-01-14 . Judge Orders State Rep. Stone's Docs Released; Ex-Cop Expected to Appeal . 2024-04-09 . InDepthNH.org . en-US.
  5. Web site: 2024-03-20 . Court denies ex-officer’s attempt to block records’ release . 2024-04-09 . Valley News . en.
  6. Web site: 2020-10-22 . Jonathan Stone v. City of Claremont ACLU of New Hampshire . 2024-04-09 . www.aclu-nh.org . en.
  7. Web site: InDepthNH.org . DAMIEN FISHER . 2024-04-08 . Police Standards and Training Council Knew About Jon Stone Allegations, But Did Nothing . 2024-04-09 . InDepthNH.org . en-US.
  8. https://indepthnh.org/2024/04/05/documents-rep-jon-stone-threatened-mass-shooting-and-rape-after-investigation/ Documents: Rep. Jon Stone Threatened Mass Shooting and Rape After Investigation
  9. News: Fisher . Damien . Alleged Racist, Homophobic Remarks Got NH Rep. Stone Fired as Prison Guard . 24 July 2024 . InDepthNH.org . InDepthNH.org . 9 July 2024.