Local New Hampshire police official resigns after shouting racial epithet about Obama

A controversy that engulfed the small town of Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, has now come to end. Robert Copeland, a member of its three-person elected Police Commission, who shouted a racial epithet at a restaurant TV screen to refer to President Obama, has now resigned.
On Sunday night, Copeland notified Commission Chair Joe Balboni that he was resigning, reports the New Hampshire Union Leader. His email read simply: "Dear Commission Chairman Balboni, I resign. Bob Copeland."
Last Thursday, more than 100 people attended the Police Commission's regular public meeting, with many of them calling for Copeland to resign. (For context, Wolfeboro has about 6,000 residents.) As the Concord Monitor reported last week, Copeland had staunchly refused to apologize for his use of the slur, citing his First Amendment rights and insisting he is "not phobic." "My use of derogatory slang in reference to those among [U.S. minorities] undeserving of respect is no secret," Copeland said.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The incident brought national attention upon the town, even from Obama's former opponent, 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney, who publicly called upon Copeland to resign.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
President Trump: ‘waging war’ on Chicago
Talking Point Federal agents are carrying out ‘increasingly aggressive’ immigration raids – but have sanctuary cities like Chicago brought it on themselves?
-
Crossword: October 18, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Sudoku hard: October 18, 2025
The Week's daily hard sudoku puzzle
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
-
Supreme Court points to gutting Voting Rights Act
speed read States would no longer be required to consider race when drawing congressional maps
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
‘Vile, racist’ leaked chats roil Young Republicans
Speed Read Leaders of Young Republican groups made racist, antisemitic and violent comments in private chats
-
Trump ties $20B Argentina bailout to Milei votes
speed read Trump will boost Argentina’s economy — if the country’s right-wing president wins upcoming elections