Stay up to date with everything Boston. Earlier this year, however, Matthew Farwell told the outlet in a statement that Birchmores death was a tragedy, but that he did not commit any crimes. Three former police officers in Stoughton, Massachusetts, had inappropriate sexual relationships with a young woman who died by suicide last year after becoming pregnant, the department's chief said Friday after a lengthy internal investigation revealed the "serious misconduct.". Discussions between the town and the supervisor's union over a new contract have resumed under the Joint Labor-Management Committee, a body within the Department of Labor Relations that mediates stalled negotiations. The three ex-officers are accused of having an inappropriate relationship with Sandra Birchmore, who later became pregnant and died by suicide in February of 2021, sources confirmed to NBC10 . Illicit photos of a deputy chief and his mistress passed among officers and their spouses. A 17-year veteran of the Stoughton Police Department, Davis died. The bottom line is were here, ready to try to fix things and move forward, the union said. Devine began overseeing the departments explorers program about 20 years ago, and changed what had traditionally been a scouting program into a paramilitary-style program that taught aspects of policing to youth participants, according to McNamara. A familiar face will continue to lead the Stoughton Police Department. STOUGHTON (CBS) - Stoughton Police are looking for two "armed and dangerous" suspects after a teenager was shot Thursday night. Detailing the probes findings at a press conference, McNamara said Farwells twin brother, William, and their former supervisor, Officer Robert C. Devine, all allegedly violated department rules and regulations through their conduct with Birchmore. Anyone who recognizes either of the woman is asked to contact police at 781-344-2424. Three former police officers are among the defendants in a new wrongful death lawsuit filed on behalf of a young woman who was found dead in her apartment nearly two years . Three of Birchmores friends have told the Globe that Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell began having sex with Birchmore when she was 15 and part of a police youth explorers program. STOUGHTON, MASS. The Farwell brothers participated in the program when they were younger. The sergeant in question was McNulty, the same officer McGowan is suing in court. I wouldnt want to get pulled over by these guys, said Joseph Saccardo, who previously served as Stoughtons police chief in the mid-2000s, in a recent interview with the Globe. Carmichael's complaint regarding his punishment for using an "other duty day" to take the lieutenant's exam was substantiated by the Department of Labor Relations, which could take more than a year to issue a decision. Started Outside, Officials Believe, Hard to Believe': Stoughton Woman Reunited With Dog After 11 Years, Ex-Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief Charged With Child Rape. Stoughton police officer Matthew Farwell, 36, resigned Friday in the midst of a year-long investigation by the police department that was prompted by the suicide of a 23-year-old woman who. Birchmore became pregnant and died by suicide in February 2021, sources had confirmed to NBC10 Boston. You dont know what theyre going through. 'Nightmare neighbors':Brockton residents fed up with 'residential nightclub' on Pearl St. McNamara said she ordered the internal affairs investigation. The witness reported "hugging, kissing and inappropriate contact in a closet" and statements to the effect of "come back and see me when you turn 18.". 2 Arrested as Investigation Into Deadly Shooting at Lawrence House Party Continues, We Spent $100,000 on an Abandoned High School, and $3.3 Million to Convert It Into ApartmentsTake a Look Inside, New Video Shows Moment Floor Buckled on Green Line Train on Marathon Monday. Several of the labor complaints brought against the Stoughton Police Department have been dismissed, including McGowan's claim regarding the chief's denial of his request for an "other duty day." This is a (mostly) UNEDITED non-partisan news and opinion blog about the Town of Stoughton, its people, places, events, businesses, etc. McNamara said she is seeking to have all three former officers barred from working as police officers in Massachusetts or elsewhere. The lawsuit McGowan filed against McNulty remains an open case in the Norfolk County Superior Court. Should any criminal charges be brought against the men involved, those charges would come from that office. All rights reserved. McNamara has also started the process of notifying the militarys chain of command regarding the recruiters alleged misconduct. McNamara said evidence shows that he began an inappropriate relationship with her when she was 15 and he was 27 statutory rape under Massachusetts law. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. The three Stoughton officers accused of having inappropriate relationships with the 23-year-old are Matthew Farwell, William Farwell and Robert Devine, according to new details announced by McNamara. Stoughton police had initially said the situation on Park Street near 5th Street was "an active crime scene," but didn't elaborate, beyond that there was not believed to be a threat to the public. In a letter to McNamara last month, Devine slammed the decision to place him on leave earlier this year as unnecessary and unfair, the Globe reports. It has made our police department a very difficult and hostile place to work. "What I am here to talk about today is her life and how she was failed by, manipulated by and used by people of authority that she admired and trusted right up until her final days," McNamara said at a press conference held at police headquarters Friday, Sept. 23. STOUGHTON Tensions are running high within the towns police department, where several high-ranking cops are entangled in a web of internal affairs investigations, labor complaints and a civil lawsuit concerning recent clashes with Police Chief Donna McNamara. Our department is in need of some desperate help.. Should you try to defame me at the end of this, Devine wrote to McNamara, I am prepared to resort to every legal means at my disposal to fight you.. Seth Stoughton) April 25, 2023. Here's What Stoughton Moms Really Want For Mother's Day! All after school activities will take place as scheduled. "This Department does not take allegations of officer misconduct lightly," Chief David N. Del Papa said in a statement. "We must maintain the highest level of accountability. Last April, McGowan was denied a paid other duty day to participate in a bike ride to Washington, D.C., honoring deceased police officers. He asked for people who were in the area overnight to share with police anything they might have seen. In March, less than a month after the union considered calling for a vote of no confidence in the chief and deputy chief, labor leaders wrote a letter to the town manager criticizing the departments executives for what the union called an utter failure to prepare for the coronavirus after two officers tested positive for COVID-19. The Boston Police Department is actively reviewing the facts and circumstances surrounding this incident. - The Police of Western Uusimaa now wishes to encourage the parents to take time with their young drivers and ensure that the two-wheel ride is in shape and safe, says Chief Inspector Hannu Kontola. Through a sustained and deliberate combination of lies, deceit, and treachery, they violated the policies and the core values of the Stoughton Police Department not to mention human decency.. An investigator later dismissed the accusations against McGowan, who sued McNulty, alleging his complaint was false and motivated by possible discipline that McGowan was considering against him as his superior, according to the lawsuit. The. Stoughton Officer Christopher A. Davis Photos via Stoughton Police Department. Asked why authorities had dubbed the incident an apparent homicide and not directly a homicide, Morrissey wouldn't go into detail, citing the investigation being in its early stages. Furthermore, the departments review revealed an officer who now serves in another Massachusetts police department had inappropriate relations with Birchmore and a military recruiter allegedly had inappropriate communication with Birchmore, McNamara said. Devine was in charge of the Explorers program from 2002-2014. Long-time SPD veteran had been interim leader since June. Jimmy Bentley, Patch Staff Stoughton | News | Jan 2022 Driver Hospitalized After Rollover Crash In Stoughton. The report found serious misconduct that she called deeply troubling to me as a human being and as a police chief.. Staff writer Ben Berke can be reached at bberke@enterprisenews.com, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. STOUGHTON, MA Stoughton police are mourning one of their own after Officer Christopher Davis died suddenly. Last week, as the Herald reported, her defense attorneys filed a motion compelling the court to grant them all cell phone(s) in the possession of and/or used by Brian Albert between January 28, 2022, and present so that a defense expert can perform a forensic examination of communications on those phones from between Jan. 28, 2022, and Feb. 5, 2022.. What this case has done is stir up allegations swirling around Canton as the case has gone before a grand jury. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Devine also allegedly had inappropriate relations with Birchmore, McNamara said. A local official so unnerved at the state of his town that he felt compelled to carry a gun not out of fear of any would-be criminal, but of the local police force itself. According to McNamara, evidence from the internal probe demonstrates Matthew Farwell allegedly began an inappropriate relationship with Birchmore when she was 15 and he was 27. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Please keep his family, friends and the members of the Stoughton Police Department in your thoughts and prayers during this extremely difficult time., Stoughton Police Department Headquarters Photo via Stoughton Police Department. The evidence suggests that William Farwell also, at the very least, attempted to introduce Miss Birchmore to other men, she said. Reddington, a top lawyer in the region, is hitting back at Reads legal team who claim in motions that McCabe and Brian Albert were inside the Canton home on the night of the death and are partly responsible. Click here to follow Daily Voice Norfolk and receive free news updates. The investigation centers on a building that Morrissey described as a kind of shed or rec room behind a home on Park Street near 5th Street. That department has been notified and up to five men may have been involved, police said. Tina DeGroot, a clinical nurse specialist . 2 Arrested as Investigation Into Deadly Shooting at Lawrence House Party Continues, We Spent $100,000 on an Abandoned High School, and $3.3 Million to Convert It Into ApartmentsTake a Look Inside, New Video Shows Moment Floor Buckled on Green Line Train on Marathon Monday. The new website, stoughtonpolice.com, features a modern look and accessible design, with multiple user-friendly, interactive and resource-oriented features. Follow Boston.com on Instagram (Opens in a New Tab), Follow Boston.com on Twitter (Opens in a New Tab), Like Boston.com on Facebook (Opens in a New Tab), New report finds former Methuen police chief should face criminal charges in a textbook case of public corruption, Leave them home, kids: Canton police chief issues warning over bringing toy guns to school, Family of former Stoughton police explorer files wrongful death lawsuit against 3 ex-officers. Whether steeped in history as a stop along the Underground Railroad or offering quiet respite or whimsical fancy, these homes intrigue. The three Stoughton officers accused of having inappropriate relationships with the 23-year-old are Matthew Farwell, William Farwell and Robert Devine, according to new details announced by McNamara. The scope of this problem in our agency has been identified and pulled out by the roots, McNamara said. A TSA spokesman told the newspaper last month that a review of William Farwells work history developed no derogatory information., In his resignation letter to the department, he wrote he denies any/all allegations of misconduct.. One constant in her life since childhood: her unwavering admiration of police officers, of those serving military, people in uniform, people with oaths and duties to protect and serve. Senior Ryan Read More February 15, 2017 Helpful Info City Home . STOUGHTON, Mass. ) Many parents are unaware of the condition of their children's moped - watch the Police's illustrative videos Publication date 28.4.20239.21| Published in English on 28.4.2023 at 9.37 News item In recent years, we at the Western Uusimaa Police Department have noticed that some parents do not know their kids' two-wheelers or their deficiencies very well. . Boston 25 News facebook feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News twitter feed(Opens a new window), Boston 25 News youtube feed(Opens a new window), School administrators: Create a closings account, mourning the sudden passing of a veteran officer, 25 Investigates: Prosecution responds to defense claims of cover-up in OKeefe murder, Bride killed, groom critically injured after wedding reception when drunken driver hits golf cart, New mortgage fees that could hurt homebuyers with good credit go into effect, Deepest condolences: Boston Childrens Hospital pays $15M to family of baby who died during study, Hopkintons former deputy police chief indicted on child rape charges. McGowan claimed in another labor complaint that the chief threatened to terminate him for failing to respond promptly to an email about boxes left unattended outside her office. Upon arrival, officers observed an adult male inside a motor vehicle suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Michelle Carter's Probation Has Ended. But that has sparked some high-powered pushback. The legal proceedings, each of them stemming from unique conflicts, coincide with ongoing contract negotiations between the town and its police unions, a backdrop that has stirred accusations that the chief and her deputy are retaliating against labor leaders for taking a hard line at the bargaining table. They are spinning it, attorney Kevin Reddington told the Herald Monday. She said her office notified the other police department of the reports conclusions, but declined to elaborate further, citing the advice of legal counsel. STOUGHTON, Mass. She declined, creating what McGowan called in his lawsuit a source of tension between himself and the chief. In a news conference Friday, Police Chief Donna McNamara revealed details of the 19-month-long investigation. Town of Stoughton . He's also accused of "at the very least" trying to introduce Birchmore to other men. Read, 43, of Mansfield, faces charges in Norfolk Superior Court of second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter while under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of a collision causing the death of OKeefe, 46, of Canton, that night. The gunshots rang out after a baby shower ended, according to investigators. The deteriorating relations between union leadership and the departments brass seemed to reach a breaking point this spring. Devine was part of an after-school program at Stoughton Middle School, where he and other officers were in charge of several students without supervision from members of the school district, McNamara said. Dan Carmichael has been working as a Police Lieutenant at Town of Stoughton, Massachusetts. None of the complaints allege that McNamara violated criminal laws, and many of them involve one of her rivals on the force, Daniel McGowan, a lieutenant and union leader who once competed with McNamara for the departments top job. I can only imagine that some of the unrest might be occurring because the Chief, as is part of her job, ensures accountability and accountability is not negotiable, Grimm said. During his time with the department, Davis served as a member of the Stoughton Police Special Operations Unit, a defensive tactics instructor, and a certified arson investigator. Soupman may be liquidated amid family drama. While we have significant concerns about ineffective leadership and management, we are more immediately troubled by the harassment and abusive treatment of several of our officers by Chief McNamara and Deputy Chief Holmes, the union told The Enterprise in a written statement. Arrangements have not yet been announced. "I will not betray their trust and I will always strive to bring the Stoughton Police Department to the highest level of service because, simply stated, it is what this community deserves.". He was 42. Town of Stoughton, Massachusetts is part of the Local industry, and located in Massachusetts, United States. . Birchmore entered the explorer program when she was 13 years old, where she met Matthew Farwell, who was an instructor. Where Is She Now? She was found dead three days later. Investigators say there was no foul play in Birchmores death. The disputes have created a paper trail that reveals bitter rifts within a police force whose internal politics have largely stayed out of public view since the early 2010s, when new leadership replaced a chief and several officers convicted of corruption charges. Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara said the information was "deeply troubling as a human being and a police chief" in announcing what happened to Sandra Birchmore, who met the three officers as a teenager through the department's youth explorers program. Etienne Toussaint When asked about the possibility of any criminal charges for the three former officers, McNamara explained that her department has only completed an internal investigation, which has now been turned over to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Devine was demoted and received a 60-day unpaid suspension in 2016 after a past internal affairs investigation found that he improperly ordered an investigation into a possible violation of harassment orders, using department resources and technology. McNamara presented the results of a 19-month Stoughton police internal affairs report, prepared by Deputy Police Chief Brian Holmes. Seth Stoughton) April 24, 2023. . Residents at the home were cooperating, he said. She was pregnant when she killed herself in February 2021 in a Canton apartment, according to the Norfolk County district attorney's office. At about 9:37 PM, on Saturday, April 22, 2023, officers assigned to District E-18 (Hyde Park), responded to a call for a person shot in the area of 36 Dedham Street in Hyde Park. That tension has only escalated in recent years. As long. People in uniform," McNamara said. Varner pulled up his phone and showed text messages between him and Birchmore going back years. Phone: 617-993-0003. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. Its going nowhere. McGowan later filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations, alleging the denial constituted retaliation for his role as vice president of the police supervisors union. I will challenge these findings in every forum available to me and anticipate legal action for multiple infractions, Devine wrote. This is the worst of small-town governments. Now, the department finds itself once again mired in scandal, this time sparked by the February 2021 death of Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old pregnant woman with extensive ties to Stoughton police. Joe Dwinell is the Herald's Executive Editor and investigative/enterprise reporter. McGowan said in the complaint that the investigation may have cost him the job as the towns police chief, which he and McNamara were both interviewing for at the time. Defense attorneys for Karen Read the woman accused in the death say others are culpable. At this time we have no reason to believe there is a danger to the area. My client, Jennifer McCabe, has been vilified in pleadings. Anyone with information is strongly urged to contact Boston Police Homicide Detectives at (617) 343-4470. In a statement, McNamarra said, Officer Davis kindness, bravery, dedication and devotion to his family, friends, the men and women of the Stoughton Police Department and the Stoughton community will be greatly missed. The admiration led her to form relationships with men who are willing to take advantage of her.. Matthew Farwelltold investigators that he went to Birchmore's apartment on Feb. 1, 2021, to end their relationship and had a"pretty nasty argument" with her. Stoughton Police. If you have a news tip, email joed@bostonherald.com. 'Why are we fixating on a broken man? The review did not, notably, probe the circumstances of Birchmores death, as that matter is being investigated by the Norfolk County District Attorneys Office. Reddington said his client has been through hell and back as others push different scenarios. Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara said on Friday a year-plus-long internal affairs investigation found three former police officers had inappropriate relationships with a young woman who once participated in a department-run youth program. McGowan and McNamara butted heads again this January over an inventory of the police departments armory. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. Despite its modest size, the agency has weathered state and federal criminal prosecutions, intense in-fighting that has led to several civil lawsuits, and an FBI probe into public corruption. Deputy Chief Brian Holmes, the departments second-in-command, opened internal affairs investigations into McGowan and three other police officers with high-ranking union positions this May, though the specific allegations of misconduct have not been disclosed to the public, or even to the officers under investigation, according to the union. STOUGHTON Tensions are running high within the town's police department, where several high-ranking cops are entangled in a web of internal affairs investigations, labor complaints and a . Following McNamaras appointment as chief, McGowan asked her to open an internal affairs investigation into McNultys complaint. As officers attempted to stop the vehicle, police say the occupants attempted to . "The internal affairs process is a highly necessary component to maintain the publics trust of any police department," she said. Stoughton Police Department Chief Donna M. McNamara 26 Rose St . . The department displayed Davis motorcycle outside of police headquarters and draped black and blue bunting over it. All had resigned from the department before the outcome of the investigation. January 02, 2023 at 7:43 am EST. Wet Weather Forecasted This Week In MA: National Weather Service, Ready To Retire? Christopher A. Davis, 42, died while off-duty after being found unresponsive in his Brockton home on Saturday around 9:45 p.m., according to Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamarra. Stoughton Police Department Chief Donna M. McNamara 26 Rose St., Stoughton, MA 02072. Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. The victim, Reneil Miller, 23, of Hyde Park, was pronounced deceased. All three of the men, in addition to a fourth person who now works for another police department, are accused of having inappropriate relationships with Birchmore, according to McNamara. Read All. Where Is She Now? Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Apr 21 2023. The supervisors union has asked the Stoughton Board of Selectmen to help mediate the dispute. Investigators allegedly found many digital messages containing explicit exchanges between the two over several years, McNamara said.