I attended the Hopkinton Select Board Meeting last night, to again request that Police Chief Joseph Bennett be suspended for releasing the Personal Identifying Information (PII) of the survivor (and her children) who alleges that retired HPD Deputy Chief John Porter raped her.
The release happened on the night of January 19th, prior to the Loudermill Hearing being held at the request of Sgt. Timothy Brennan to defend his actions in public.
This was obviously an effort by Bennett to tip the scales of public opinion against Brennan. Not only did he release Brennan’s interview with the Kroll consulting firm, but interestingly enough, he didn’t release his own interview.
>> RELATED: Kramer calls for Independent Investigation of Police Chief
I have always thought that the Chief released the survivor and her children’s PII with actual malice, something that will have to play out in the courts down the road if lawsuits follow. What I was not prepared for in last night’s Select Board meeting were the revelations that came out from the courageous Select Board Chair, Muriel Kramer, during the Chief’s mid-year review.
Anybody who was present or watched her on HCAM – and if you haven’t yet, I strongly advise you to watch the video of the Select Board meeting – could only shake their head in amazement at some of the concerns that Ms. Kramer raised about the Chief’s performance, far above and beyond the Porter case.
I don’t know what led Ms. Kramer to decide to take her courageous position; I can only stand behind her and applaud her for demonstrating the fortitude in doing so to bring this Chief’s dismal performance out in the open.
On everything from drug testing, to implementing body-worn cameras for the officers to help build transparency and trust with the community…
From failing to produce the note of concern or “no confidence” his sergeants sent to him, to his persistent failures in recruiting, retention and promotions, especially at the lieutenant level…
From the continued lack of a succession plan, to not meeting an important accreditation deadline…
From the Chief’s repeated requests for support from the Select Board to his failure to follow through on those very same requests, even after the Select Board brought in a retired Police Chief from a neighboring town to help mentor Chief Bennett; to his ignoring requests for status updates from the Select Board and excusing himself from a status meeting with Town leadership on the workflows he was supposed to be addressing, before the meeting had even begun…
The sheer breadth and depth of the Chief’s total incompetence, avoidance and arrogance outlined by Ms. Kramer was absolutely breathtaking, as HopNews reported so very well.
Ms. Kramer, visibly in great discomfort, was forced by the weight of these concerns to gravely question Chief Bennett’s ability to, as she said, “execute as a leader and as the Chief.”
The public does not know what has been discussed in past Executive Sessions and internal meetings with the town manager and legal counsel regarding personnel issues related to the Chief.
But to say, as Mary Jo LaFreniere did, that she “would like to have known all of this as we went along,” and her Sgt. Schultz act – “I know nothing” – well, those statements are simply incredulous and tremendously concerning, especially coming from someone who is responsible for helping to govern our town.
To my knowledge, except for the sergeants’ note, everything else that Ms. Kramer raised tonight is public knowledge, discussed either at prior Select Board meetings or reported on by the local media.
Ms. LaFreniere’s outrage, dismissive hand-waving and accusatory finger-pointing at Ms. Kramer at the Select Board meeting tonight was pure Shakespeare:
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
I’ve received and given performance reviews from enlisted evaluation reports (EERs) in the U.S. Army in my teens to 360º reviews in the corporate world for more than 45 years. The responsibility of the reviewer(s) in all of those environments was to provide feedback on the subject of the review. And that should be how a review is conducted in government as well.
Instead, last night it appeared to me that the only person on the Select Board who did the work to prepare for the Chief’s review was Muriel Kramer.
The rest of the Select Board members were asleep at the switch until she jarred them awake with her head-on collision of the reality of the Chief’s actual performance versus the vague, Pollyannish, bureaucratic bluewashing the Chief offered in his self-evaluation.
So where do we go from here?
First, I urge Chief Bennett to retire – for the good of the town. If he refuses, he must be suspended pending the outcome of yet another costly independent investigation, as Ms. Kramer recommended last night.
Even before the Porter case, there were obviously considerable questions about his ability to lead. Since the Porter case broke, his release of the survivor’s and her children’s PII was a criminal act, pure and simple.
Throw that heavy gravy that Ms. Kramer courageously poured on the Chief’s sorry mishmash of a self-review last night on top, and there is no way Chief Bennett can continue to serve effectively, if at all.
Next, since Chief Bennett never developed a succession plan following Deputy Chief Porter’s retirement, I again ask the Select Board to request assistance from the Massachusetts National Guard’s military police unit to take over leadership of the town’s police department until such time as new leadership at the Chief, Deputy Chief and Lieutenant levels can be brought on board – preferable from outside the department, so HPD can start serving and protecting our Town and its residents with a clean slate and the trust of our residents.
Part 1, Title V, Chapter 33, Section 41 of Massachusetts General Laws, specifically Paragraph A, authorizes aid by the National Guard to be given to the civil authority, in this case the Select Board, when necessary to preserve order and afford protection to persons and property.
Finally, if you see Muriel Kramer on the street in Hopkinton, please stop and thank her for being of strong enough character to speak with courage and conviction on an issue that is obviously very distressing to her personally.
Muriel is the only member of this Select Board since the Loudermill Hearing who has consistently supported the survivor and her family throughout this entire sad and tragic journey.
You can disagree with Muriel on other issues in town during her tenure on the Select Board and still admire her pure display of valor in last night’s meeting.
She should be loudly applauded, everywhere, for stepping up to do what is right for the survivor and her family, for the police department, for Town government, and for the residents of Hopkinton.
My hat is off to Ms. Kramer.
Timothy Boivin, Hopkinton
I do want to offer another view of Mary Jo’s response – she honestly did not know.
Watch any of Mary Jo’s other responses. She doesn’t act. She can’t keep a poker face. I don’t think Mary Jo knows how to conceal emotions. You can judge for yourself if that’s a good thing or a bad thing.
Also, calling for the military to police Hopkinton is ABSOLUTELY ABSURD. I’ve commented on this before and I should probably comment again:
The commander-in-chief may issue an order directed to the commander of any organization or unit of the armed forces of the commonwealth directing the command, or any part thereof, to appear at a time and place specified in the order to aid the civil authority in suppressing violations of law, preserving order, affording protection and supporting the laws if 1 of the following situations occurs: (i) in the case of a tumult, riot, mob or body of persons acting together by force to violate or resist the laws of the commonwealth or when such tumult, riot or mob is threatened; (ii) in the case of public catastrophe or natural disaster; (iii) if the usual police provisions are inadequate to preserve order and afford protection to persons and property; or (iv) if additional support to civilian law enforcement is necessary. The order may be issued upon the initiative of the commander-in-chief, or at the request of the sheriff of a county, the mayor or city manager of a city or the selectmen of a town.
Is there a tumult, riot, mob or body of persons acting together by force? Is there a public catastrophe or natural disaster? Is the current civilian law enforcement inadequate to preserve order? Is all other civilian law enforcement gone?
The answer to all of those is no.
Send in the State Police. Send in the Middlesex County Sheriff.
The National Guard? I hope you like the sound of Hopkinton’s Autonomous Zone.
A.S., as is usual in your responses in blindly supporting your friends on the board, as well as the Chief, you fail to appreciate the nuanced wording of my request. At least you’re consistent. I specifically cite one paragraph of the law that allows the Select Board to request assistance from the Massachusetts National Guard military police unit, and I do so for three very specific, yet critical, leadership roles in the department. I am not asking for Humvees and Armored Personnel Carriers to be deployed to Hopkinton.
There is a cavernous leadership void in the Hopkinton Police Department, with a Chief who violated Massachusetts General Law, a Deputy Chief position that has been vacant since Porter retired almost a year ago (and empty for months before that, due to Porter’s suspension pending the outcome of the investigation), and a lieutenant position that Bennett can’t seem to be bothered to fill. There also is no succession plan in place if Bennett resigns or is suspended.
I don’t make the call for the National Guard to come in carelessly. I have given it some deep thought after thoroughly reviewing the options that are available to the Town through the Select Board. I have not seen anything in Massachusetts General Law that allows the Middlesex County Sheriff or State Police to fill those three positions while the Select Board and Town Manager do the due diligence required to bring in professional law enforcement leaders to, as Ms. Kramer said, “right this ship.”
Believe me, if there was any other option that could help the the town to get back on its feet, I would be all for it. But the Middlesex County Sheriff and State Police are or potentially will be involved in investigations of the chief, the retired deputy chief, and possibly even the Town government.
We need independent, outside leadership to take the helm at 74 Main Street while Town leaders work through all the workflow, process, personnel, and policy issues that this disturbing episode has revealed. That help is available through the Massachusetts General Law that I cite in the letter. I encourage the Select Board to tap into that resource, and the sooner the better for everyone involved.
Timothy –
I have no love any individual on the Select Board. I don’t know any personally. I have strongly disagreed with certain actions in the past. Just because I am stating that I believe that there has been a lack of transparency does not mean I support them.
I understand your concern for impartial control, but I _STRONGLY_ disagree that using United States military forces for domestic operations which have _NO_ national security implications is an acceptable solution.
Then you’re not clear on the dual missions of the National Guard. Might want to read up on that.
AS
Mary Jo should know. She’s a select board member. He role is important and she is t doing her job
It funny that you defend her for not doing her job but went after Brennan for doing his to the fullest. As always you are who we thought you are. You.
You confuse each situation. If you really cared for Hopkinton you would offer solution and suggestions. Instead, same old you.
What a joke.
Billy Brennan –
I really feel sorry that you are taking the loss of Timothy Brennan’s position so poorly. We have a disagreement with the duties of policing within Hopkinton. You are entitled to that, and I have been gracious enough to acknowledge that. I understand you are hurt and are attacking indiscriminately. I feel sorry that you and your family are going through this due to differences in ethical and moral views. I understand.
I feel that there is more to the Select Board discussion than the partisan tribalism. I think we need to take a holistic view and look at what has gone wrong. I do not think anyone disagrees with that position.
I strongly oppose the deployment of military forces for domestic operations in Hopkinton. I think there are other ways we can accomplish this without needing to get national armed forces involved. I am not an expert on domestic law enforcement and governance. As a citizen, I feel that the military should never be used for domestic operations outside an active invasion.
AS. My first attempt at responding was not posted by the moderator here. I will try again.
Please do not apologize ever. Your condescending manipulations and sympathies towards me are disrespectful. Please curtail your attempts to patronize me. I am not attacking you indiscriminately & I am not taking this poorly. You are choosing to take side with the corrupt. I choose the marginalized. (Rape victim , Brennan). Your decisions regarding my brother in this forum are disturbing and show a lack of ethics and morals whilst you hide behind a cloak of anonymity. I am allowed to point your errors in judgement out.
I do not care for injustice.
This Chief, has broken the law. Letting the whole world know, and a rapist named J. Porter, where his victim and her young children live. He outed a rape victims address and fired her protector and is now trying to retain his power. Not to mention other infractions, (Kroll report misuse , promoting Porter, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on investigations and suspensions that will most certainly be reversed in arbitration and/or by lawsuit). How many more lives and families will this man ruin in his attempt to remain in power?
Your select board is letting this Chief remain in power and in charge of the safety of Hopkinton’s 18,000 residents and businesses. As the son and brother of police officers I understand clearly how dangerous this is. I’m just happy I moved out of Hopkinton before he was promoted.
This letter that Kramer asked Bennett for, I hope your eyes are open & I hope you are ready. Once it becomes public you will all see through this chief and his veil of a “chain of command” issue. Who is next on his hit list? I’m sure he is promoting folks so he can keep his revenge tour going.
This select board is enabling the Chief. Mary Jo is acting feeble minded or lazy, maybe both. Ritterbusch is trying to cover her behind. Mallan is grasping for air trying to make it through. Nusrullah is running away, as an attorney he recognizes a good dumpster fire when he sees one. They are all trying to cover their decisions on promoting Bennett and his best friend Porter.
Lastly please stop exaggerating the military takeover of Hopkinton. You make it sound like military personnel will be crossing guards with assault rifles. When the Chief gets fired, someone needs to be in charge. The most qualified person with 30 years experience & masters in public admin was just fired by Bennett. Your town will need a short term fix.
Let get some new signs to go with
#thankyoutim
#firebennett
Billy –
I am standing with law and order. If you care about the police, you would be on the side of the legal system. You are standing with vigilante justice. You are stating that Tim Brennan was above the law and had the right to do what he felt was right. That is not his call in our system of criminal justice.
Jay Porter is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Law enforcement does not make that call. The same goes with Chief Bennet. You are accusing him of breaking the law. Fine, as an individual, you are allowed to make that call. However, calling for direct action against an individual for accusations is not how the criminal justice system works in the United States.
I’ll just cite a character your “friends” tend to embrace: “You took an oath to uphold the law. You help people… You boys need a role model? His name is Captain America, and he’s be happy to have you.”
Be less Dredd and more Rodgers.
AS
Never once did I say Tim Brennan was above the law. What happened to Tim was not a legal case. Nor was it on the side of the legal system. It was a rogue chief firing his subordinate. Thanks for the explanation on our legal system. I’m calling for action on the Chief. Porter will get his day in court. Your boy the Chief broke the law.
What are you talking about with vigilante justice? Captain America?
Are you ok?
Tim didn’t report something he knew. He made a decision. An ethical decision. One I thought it could have been handled better by the Chief. I know much of the backstory too. You know none of it yet you hold Brennan to this supreme standard for his infraction.
You are not standing with law & order. You standing with yourself always trying to put an argument forward making you feel smart. If you were with law and order you would support a cop that had to make a choice. You would navigate the murky grey area better.
I am saying this Chief is on a revenge tour for he and his buddy. And your morals are lacking if you defend that man.
As always you try to act the smartest in the room. You aren’t, thanks for trying. Movies, legal lessons. You are the best! This is getting fun.
Thanks!!
On a lighter note. I think Tim Brennan pulled you over he gave you a ticket once. You’ll give anybody the benefit of the doubt. But not Tim Brennan. There is some other reason you are this vehement when it comes to my brother. You let Mary Jo off the hook for heavens sake, just not Tim Brennan. I think it’s personal and you’re a coward for hiding.
#thankyoutim
#firebennett
If there is misconduct suspected, you should contact the Department of Justice. The contact for the FBI Boston Field Office is here:
(857) 386-2000
boston.fbi.gov
Just because I can’t respond to your comment, Billy:
I have never had an interaction with Tim Brennan and have never had a traffic interaction with the Hopkinton Police Department.
I have stated multiple times that Tim Brennan made a moral choice. I commend his morals. I have disagreed with the ethical ramifications of the choice based on the ethics I hold for law enforcement officers. I have never waivered in my stance about the morality of not reporting vs. the ethical duty of reporting. I have always stated that, based on the facts, Tim Brennan made what I see as a moral call. That call conflicted with the ethical duties of a police officer.
I support law and order for everyone. No one is above the law. Police Officers need to be held accountable for their choices just like everyone else. There are grey areas and I empathize with navigating them. However, when you are enforcing the power of the state against other citizens, you need to be held to a higher standard when it comes to ethical choices which impact the general community.
I do not support Chief Bennet. I think there are difficulties which are happening there, as I have stated multiple times. If this has been malicious, he should DEFINITELY be removed and prosecuted. However, we do not have that information, like I have stated multiple times. You stating that there is a revenge tour does not make it so.
We disagree on some basic principles. I have my convictions, you have yours. I think we have common values and would be willing to have an actual conversation over coffee. I’ve been talking in nothing but good faith. When I am wrong, I admit it. I stand by what I have said and don’t make any of this personal. I do think that you have a grudge and are taking it out on me.
If you do want to contact me, I have an email alias here: hopnews [DOT]contact [DOT] sulk038 (AT) silomails [DOT] com
Thank you.
Let’s do a Hopnews podcast.
Together.
Hopnews. I am in. Make it happen.
WHY ARE WE STILL PAYING NORMAN’S SALARY??????? He was in charge!
I don’t understand why he should be able to retire?! His releasing the non- redacted report was, if not criminal, then at the very least negligent and against policy and protocol. Didn’t the SB just fire someone for that?? How can they begin to justify keeping this Police Chief on at all? This is so hypocritical and makes me wonder what else is going on.
However you happen to feel about previous actions, this and other job failures discussed last night seem to be clear grounds for his dismissal. What am I missing? I have really lost faith in this group.
I don’t think the National Guard is a bad idea. Their mission statement reads:”The Massachusetts National Guard has a dual mission: to maintain properly trained and equipped units available for prompt mobilization for war or national emergency; and to provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise required by state law.” I think this crisis, like any other domestic emergency in Massachusetts, could benefit from thier help.
Also, I just learned the the National Guard runs a police academy. This is from their website: “Our goal is to recruit, train, and retain qualified enlisted and commissioned Soldiers and Airmen by providing militarily synergistic civilian police career opportunities. Upon successful completion of our certified MPTC police academy, these highly qualified members of the National Guard will be eligible to become civilian Massachusetts Police Officers.”
So, I’d say they could run the department until town gets it’s act together.
Exactly.
Personally I feel this has all become a circus. There are other people at the department that are trying to work and keep the town safe. Why are so many people getting involved in a matter that no one really knows about but Tim and Porter. Do you really think the Chief put out the victims’ name maliciously?? What happened to innocent until proven guilty. Why has Muriel not been asked to be removed from this situation due to personal conflict.
When will this ever end and we get back to business as usual?? Cant we just let the cards unfold, justice will be served where it needs to be.