Why Former Attleboro, MA. Police Chief Richard Pierce was forced to retire.
Former Attleboro Police Chief Richard Pierce was pushed into retirement after 32 years on the force because he shared sensitive information about an investigation into alleged police brutality with one of the subjects of that investigation – his son, Patrolman Richard Pierce Jr.
The elder Pierce's handling of that investigation, which began last summer after a $400,000 claim was filed against the city and four of its officers, prompted a separate investigation, this one into Chief Pierce's actions. When that investigation was complete, Mayor Kevin Dumas gave the chief a choice: retire or face disciplinary action.
On Sept. 27, 2010, the same day he was informed in a letter by Capt. Kyle Heagney of an internal affairs investigation and complaint into his son’s conduct and recommendation for serious discipline, the elder Pierce contacted his son and advised him of the complaint and seriousness of the matter. It was the first of a few missteps involving communication with his son. It was later revealed that the chief allegedly brought case records to his son's house.
The chief's actions prompted a new investigation – of him. Private investigator and former Tewksbury Police Chief Alfred Donovan was hired by the City of Attleboro to investigate whether Chief Pierce violated the state law or any city procedures in the handling of the incident and was hired to investigate the allegations that excessive and unreasonable force was used by the Officers of the Attleboro Police Department, as alleged in a letter from Burns' attorney.
In his interview with the investigator, Pierce said it is standard procedure, whenever there is a complaint made against an officer, that they get a copy of the report or complaint reports even prior to an investigation.
"What is normal is you get served, you get documents and get it to the insurance company,” Mayor Dumas said. “It is not normal when you go to the employee’s house. You also don’t give them investigatory reports."
Chief Pierce claimed he was trying to keep his distance from his son's investigation.
“I asked him [Pierce Jr.] about the discrepancy in the report that mentioned Jason Burns being tasered in the ambulance,” Chief Pierce wrote in a letter to Mayor Dumas. “I told him that I would not be participating in this matter because of the conflict of interest issues. I gave him a copy of the reports that were submitted to me and advised he should contact his union representative because of the seriousness of the allegations.”
After reading all of the reports, the chief said, he determined that “this is something that I can’t be involved in because of the conflict of interest, that there were some serious allegations made, you know, against my son and that this was going to have to be referred to the mayor’s office.”
Link:
http://attleboro.patch.com/articles/former-attleboro-police-chief-was-forced-to-retire-or-face-disciplinary-action