David Haddigan a former Walpole police officer resigned after being accused of stealing repeatedly from a supermarket, now works in the Norfolk County Sheriff's Department.

A former Walpole police officer, who resigned after being accused of stealing repeatedly from a supermarket, was hired recently by the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Department because the sheriff believes he “deserved another opportunity.’’

The hiring of David Haddigan, who resigned from the Walpole Police Department in the summer of 2009, had come as a surprise to Police Chief Richard B. Stillman.

Last month, Stillman said, he was contacted by the staff of Sheriff Michael G. Bellotti and asked about Haddigan. Stillman said he told the staffers about the theft allegations.

In mid-January, Haddigan was hired by the sheriff’s department as a corrections officer at the correctional center in Dedham. He is now in training.

“I was very happy to get rid of [Haddigan] and my assumption was that he would never be a police officer again,’’ Stillman said in an interview. “And then he was hired as a corrections officer, something I would never have expected.’’

Haddigan, who joined the Walpole Police Department in 2001, resigned after an investigation into allegations that he stole items from the Walpole Stop & Shop. Eight employees told a police investigation they had witnessed thefts.

“He was going in virtually every day while on duty, parking in the fire lane, and he’d take something,’’ Stillman said. “A salad, a newspaper another day, small items.’’

The thefts occurred over the course of about four years, and Haddigan was in uniform when he took the items, Stillman said.

According to the chief, Haddigan denied the allegations. Haddigan earned a base pay of about $60,000 a year, with overtime and details boosting his income to more than $100,000, Stillman said.

Haddigan, 44, will earn about $41,000 in his new job with Norfolk County. His hiring by the sheriff’s department was first reported in the Walpole Times.


Link:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2011/02/10/former_walpole_police_officers_new_job_surprises_chief/