WOODSTOCK — Woodstock Police Chief Joe Swanson has been placed on administrative leave, the Town of Woodstock said in a news release on Tuesday afternoon.

Swanson was placed on leave “as a precaution” following a “report of his alleged involvement in an incident that occurred on Sunday,” Oct. 13, according to a news release issued by Woodstock Municipal Manager Eric Duffy.

An investigation will be handled by Vermont State Police, the news release said.

“Woodstock is committed to ensuring that complaints regarding our police officers are addressed in an appropriate fashion. The Vermont State Police will have full cooperation as they conduct their investigation,” Duffy said in the news release.

A Vermont State Police spokesman said via email late Tuesday afternoon that state police received a request from the Woodstock municipal manager “to conduct a criminal investigation that involves the Woodstock police chief.”

“VSP has assigned a detective from outside the area to handle the matter. As the investigation is just beginning, we have no additional details to share at this point regarding the nature of the referral,” Adam Silverman, public information officer with Vermont State Police, said via email. “It is important to note that, generally speaking, just because an investigation involves a specific individual, that does not necessarily mean the individual is a target of the investigation.”

Swanson, a Woodstock native and former Selectboard member who first joined the police department as a part-time officer in 2000, was promoted to police chief in 2023, following the retirement of former Police Chief Robbie Blish.

Sgt. Christopher O’Keefe has been named the acting chief and will lead the Police Department in the interim.

Contact John Lippman at jlippman@vnews.com.