HopNews
Early in 2023, attorneys for the Town of Hopkinton retained Kroll, Inc. to perform an investigation of Hopkinton Police Sergeant Tim Brennan, who was placed on suspension for alleged policy violations. According to its website, Kroll provides “worldwide expert services and tech-enabled advisory through all states of diligence, forensic investigation, litigation, disputes and testimony.”
The investigation was precipitated by grand jury testimony provided by Brennan in the Jay Porter case. Porter is the former Hopkinton Deputy Chief of Police facing rape charges in connection with his time as the Hopkinton School Resource Officer.
HopNews requested a copy of the Kroll report from Norman Khumalo, Town Manager. The report provided by Mr. Khumalo was heavily redacted, meaning that some sections were blacked out in the copy provided.
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The Kroll report spans 36 pages, and includes several details that have not previously been made public. Leveraging the Kroll report as a basis, HopNews independently verified the allegations and timeline with multiple sources who have firsthand knowledge of the incidents. They spoke off the record due to the ongoing investigation and because they are not authorized to speak on behalf of the town.
We present the timeline below and commentary where additional facts are known. Porter is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Timeline and Commentary
- In 2004, John “Jay” Porter became the School Resource Officer (SRO) for Hopkinton Public Schools. He and the alleged victim met when he was 35 and she was 14. It was during this year that she alleges she was sexually assaulted by Porter.
- In 2005, Porter was promoted to Detective, and Officer Tim Brennan became the SRO. Brennan first met the alleged victim when she was a high school Junior.
- From 2004 – 2008, during her high school years, the alleged victim babysat for Porter and his wife.
- From 2005 – 2008, the alleged victim babysat for Brennan and his wife.
- In 2007 Porter was promoted to Sergeant and in 2008 Brennan was promoted to Detective, leaving the SRO position.
- In 2015, Brennan and the alleged victim met in person. The alleged victim, now 25 and pregnant, told Brennan that she and Porter have had a consensual sexual relationship since her 18th birthday. Porter, learning she was pregnant, ended their relationship. The alleged victim reported that Porter was not the father, and that he told her she is “useless” to him now.
- In his statement to investigators, Brennan claimed not to have immediate concerns when he first learned that the victim and Porter had a sexual relationship. He stated that, because she was 25 when she told him, and that she was 18 when the relationship started, and she confirmed it was consensual, he did not report the relationship to his supervisor.
- In 2017, Brennan and the alleged victim met again. She confided that when she was 14 years old, Porter gave her a ride home from school in his police car. He dropped her off on a side street near a church and then went to the police station. Changing into plainclothes and switching to his personal vehicle, Porter picked the victim up. During this encounter he allegedly kissed her and fondled her breasts. Brennan told the alleged victim that this is a crime and that she should report it. She replied that she would not report it, and would deny it if Brennan reported it. She stated that Porter had told her that due to her issues and his status as a police officer, no one would believe her.
- In his statement, Brennan acknowledged that he was aware that he was required to report allegations of any wrongdoing, even with an anonymous victim.
- Brennan stated that, following this meeting, every 6-9 months he and the alleged victim would speak, either in person or by phone.
- In October 2021, Porter was promoted to Deputy Chief.
- On July 16, 2022, a news outlet ran an article congratulating Porter for 30 years of service.
- In Spring and Summer of 2022, the alleged victim contacted Brennan several times and asked about the process for reporting the indecent assault and battery. Brennan provided her with the phone number for the Middlesex DA’s child abuse unit. The alleged victim called on August 8, 2022 and scheduled an interview for August 22.
- On August 21, Brennan and the alleged victim met to review her notes for the interview the next day. During this meeting, Brennan learned that, in addition to her allegations that Porter had indecently assaulted her when she was 14, he also attempted to rape her and did digitally rape her during that event. “And I said (to her) ‘that changes everything’,” said Brennan. “‘That’s not indecent assault and battery, that’s rape of a child. I said, that’s a big deal'”
- On August 22, 2022 the alleged victim filed a formal complaint with the DA. Between August 8 and August 22, Brennan and the alleged victim had multiple phone calls because she claimed she was fearful for her personal safety and was worried that Porter would find out.
- At the time, Porter was the second highest ranking officer in the town, and also Brennan’s direct supervisor. Even though the alleged victim was now a cooperating witness, Brennan admits he took no action for two weeks “to ensure the victim’s safety”.
- On August 24, 2022 Brennan was contacted by the DA’s office and relayed his knowledge of the allegations. Hopkinton Chief of Police Joseph Bennett is notified by the State Police that they are conducting a criminal investigation of Porter.
- August 25, 2022 Porter is placed on administrative leave.
- From 2013 – 2023, Porter was the girls varsity soccer coach at Blackstone Valley Technical High School in Upton. His employment was terminated on May 2, 2023, three days after his indictment.
- This sequence of events suggests that no one at the Middlesex DA’s office or the Town of Hopkinton notified administrators at Blackstone Valley Technical High School that Porter was under investigation for rape. If true, this is very concerning.
The trial of John Porter is scheduled for September 16, 2024. Tim Brennan remains suspended pending a decision from the Hopkinton Select Board.
NEXT >> Porter’s Alleged Victim stopped for OUI, Fled on Foot, but Avoided Arrest
In this case, the requirement to report an anonymous victim would have resulted in the victim’s identity being known very quickly to the person she most feared, the alleged perpetrator, a high-ranking police officer. Perhaps the rules need to be revised.
What has Brennan done wrong here? If it were not for him its possible she would not have come forward to tell her story.
#freetimBrennan
Um, he WAS a police Officer who knew a child rapist was walking around wearing a uniform and in a position of power. Not reporting this put hundreds of others at risk.
Ms. Rockwell, it’s important to note that Deputy Porter remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and that Sgt. Tim Brennan is still a member of the Hopkinton Police Department.
Noted. Tim Brennan IS a member of HPD who allowed an ALLEGED child rapist to walk around in a uniform in a position of power. He put hundreds of others in danger due to his failure to act as a certified sexual assault investigator who “acknowledged that he was aware he was required to report allegations of any wrongdoing he had become aware of.” I can change “was” to “is” and add “allegedly” but the facts don’t change much.