The chairman of the Hooksett Police Commission is defending the Hooksett police chief, who reportedly made a remark to a town councilor that some interpreted as a threat.

“He could not have said that,” said David Gagnon, Police Commission chairman.

Gagnon is referring to a comment Chief Stephen Agrafiotis allegedly made to Town Councilor David Boutin, who is also a state representative, about a proposal Boutin plans to bring to the State House to increase the number of Hooksett Police Commission members from three to five. Boutin explained at the Sept. 9 Town Council meeting that he delayed filing the bill because of a perceived threat Agrafiotis made to him if the bill were filed.

“He told me he would hang Hooksett’s laundry out to dry,” Boutin said.

Once Boutin made the statement, several councilors asked if he considered Agrafiotis’ alleged words a threat.

“No,” Boutin said. “He wasn’t threatening me. He was saying what he was going to do.”

After discussion with the councilors, Boutin said he had no problem filing the bill with the council’s support.

“Many of us have talked to people in the community and the community will support it,” Boutin said. “If you’re willing to take the risk, I’d be happy to do it.”

Hooksett’s Police Commission was formed through the state Legislature in 1975 and any changes to the commission must be approved at the state level. The Town Council unanimously passed a motion during the Sept. 9 meeting to support legislation to increase the number of members.

In a phone interview, Agrafiotis said he did have a conversation with Boutin following a nonpublic Town Council session Aug. 26, but denied making the “laundry” remark.

“What I told him was that I did not believe that it was good for the town to have an expanded Police Commission at this time,” Agrafiotis said. “And that if the bill went up to Concord that I would go up to testify and say what has been going on.”

Gagnon, who has served on the Police Commission for nine years, said he cannot understand why there’s a push to increase the number of board members.

“I would like to know the reasoning behind it,” Gagnon said.

Gagnon said he was nearby when Boutin and Agrafiotis had the conversation and does not remember hearing the alleged threat. “If they (town councilors) feel he did say it, they can come to us and file a complaint,” he said.

Every town councilor gave input about the issue during the council meeting and all said they would support increasing the members from three to five.

“I think a larger group would be better,” Councilor David Ross said. “When you have more people involved in the decision you have less of a chance or having ill-perceived ulterior motives.”

“The size of the town has grown since the commission was set up for three members 34 years ago,” Councilor Nancy VanScoy said.

The commission has been a source of controversy in the past few years. Many believe the Police Department has suffered a high employee turnover rate since Agrafiotis took over in 1999. In 2005, Agrafiotis was suspended when 17 officers filed a formal complaint alleging harassment and intimidation. The chief was eventually allowed back to work after an independent investigation was completed by Gerard Hayes, a labor consultant from Brookline, Mass. Agrafiotis said he was exonerated, but the results were never made public.

One of the 17 officers was Jason Defina, who was fired by the Police Commission in a 2-1 vote during a nonpublic session on Sept. 8. The Police Commission has not stated why Defina was terminated, citing confidentiality laws.