“I have chosen to submit this letter anonymously for my own safety, as unfortunately, my perpetrator was not brought to justice, so lives, breathes, and walks freely in the community.”

Dear Members of the Select Board,

I write to you today as a concerned citizen, an Early Childhood Administrator, and as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse.

My request is two-fold:

• First, and unequivocally, reinstate Sergeant Timothy Brennan.
• Second, I invite you to take this opportunity as elected officials to thoughtfully reflect and fulfill the Board’s purpose of “developing and promulgating policy guidelines designed to bring all Town Agencies into harmony” to prevent such a modern-day “witch hunt” from ever happening in the town of Salem – I mean Hopkinton, again.

According to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) document, Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims: 21st Century Strategy, Sergeant Brennan did everything right in his response to the victim who confided in him. I draw your attention to the Section on Ethics and Victims of Crime in particular. One could argue that Sergeant Brennan’s actions were exemplary, especially given the circumstances.

He listened to the victim; was honest, responsive, and empathetic. He prioritized the rights and needs of the victim who chose to confide in him AND continued to fulfill his other responsibilities as a police officer in a unique situation that posed ethical dilemmas. To me, a fellow survivor of sexual assault, there are no other actions Sergeant Brennan could have taken that would have been more honorable.

I, too, was an adult when I first dared to tell someone about my childhood sexual abuse experience, and I can assure you that I was not considering policy or policies. Those concepts were not on my radar. What I did feel was tremendous fear, anxiety, and a profound sense of shame. What was important to me (and is well-documented as important to other survivors) is that I was HEARD. I was BELIEVED. And I was going to be SAFE and PROTECTED. Some might read this and say, well this is not about the victim’s knowledge of policy, it is about a police officer following department policy. If this is, in fact the Department’s position, then:

1. The Hopkinton Police Department’s priorities need to be seriously re-evaluated as supporting the victim should be a priority.
2. The policies, including Standards of Conduct, need to be reviewed and revisions considered. IACP’s Enhancing Law Enforcement Response to Victims: 21st Century Strategy is just one resource the Select Board could reference during such a review process.

The fact that terminating Sergeant Brennan’s employment is even a consideration is an abomination on many levels and to be frank, reeks of retaliation.

I have read and re-read the articles and commentary related to this case and consistently find myself coming back to the same question: How did we get here?

My conclusion is that we are here due to a gross mis-focus on admonishing and demonizing Sergeant Brennan, who was fulfilling his duty to protect and pursue justice, on behalf of a victim who had the courage to confide in him.

The basis for Sergeant Brennan’s proposed termination is based on alleged policy violations, which is nothing more than a ruse. “Look at him, not us!”

I have faith that you, Members of the Select Board, will see this for what it is: an effort to misdirect the focus on what Sergeant Brennan purportedly “did wrong” vs employing a critical look not only at the policies and practices, but the behavior and professional conduct in the Hopkinton Police Department that led us here and taking necessary action to correct deficiencies.

What the policies fail to adequately address is what to do if the very body (police) one is reporting to is in fact, the alleged perpetrator. This type of thing happens and has happened in other places- it may not have happened in Hopkinton until now, but it has happened, so respectfully, you as Members of the Select Board now have a responsibility to address it.

As another person aptly commented, “policy does not cover every scenario” including this one: where the alleged perpetrator is the one who would be receiving the report. The mere fact that people disagree about the policy violations is “evidence” that the policies, as currently written, are either inadequate at best or flawed at worst.

I acknowledge that this will not be an easy task for all of you. No one wants to think that a law enforcement officer may be guilty of sexual assault, just like no one wants to think their parish priest, little league coach, Scout leader, professional athlete or Government official could commit such a horrific crime against a child. But sadly, as you know, that is our collective reality. Given the statistics of child sexual abuse, the probability that at least one of the members of the Select Board has been victimized is 100%.

To look inward can be uncomfortable. It challenges us to face truths we may not want to see. Denial, which serves as a protective factor, is often strong. No one individual, agency, institution or government entity wants to be exposed. When one is challenged and perceives a threat, they respond in one of the following ways- fight, flight, freeze or fawn. This is what I believe is happening here. The Hopkinton Police Department is fighting. Perhaps Sergeant Brennan’s actions have generated the vitriol they have because his response represents a culture that supports the identification of and response to victim needs as a priority which is in direct opposition to a culture that protects the perpetrator- at all costs.

I can only go based on what I have read, but I do find it interesting that the Police Department came out swinging. It gives this reader the perception that the Department does not appear to have trust in the very system of justice they work to uphold to try the case against Deputy Chief Porter fairly and justly. If they did, I suspect their response may have been different.

There is a part of me that envies those who have commented on this situation from a “black and white” perspective. I understand that desire- It is tidy. It is secure and orderly, simple. It feels safe and safe feels good. This is the opposite of what it feels like to be victimized, which is messy, confusing, terrifying. It feels never-ending and it is exhausting in every way imaginable. Survivors spend much time and expend a lot of energy seeking and/or re-creating safety throughout their lifetime.

As an Early Childhood Administrator, who also worked for county government for 10 years, part of my job is to create policy. Part of effective administration includes a regular review of policy, including Standards of Conduct- updating and revising as necessary based on new and evolving situations (i.e., COVID, revised regulations, etc.) and grounded in research and best practice. These practices are not exclusive to the field of Early Childhood and per “best practice,” should be conducted in all settings.

This situation, albeit an unfortunate one, presents you, Members of the Select Board, with a unique opportunity to affect change, thereby fulfilling your duty as public servants. Seize this opportunity to work in partnership with the Hopkinton Police Department, other relevant town agencies, and invested citizenry to conduct a review of current policies and revise them accordingly. This way, if a comparable situation arises in the future, the matter will be clearer for all and far more “harmonious” than this experience has proven.

I have chosen to submit this letter anonymously for my own safety, as unfortunately, my perpetrator was not brought to justice, so lives, breathes, and walks freely in the community. Once he is dead and buried, I will happily and proudly sign my name to any similar correspondence I write.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my perspective and feelings. I trust you will make the right decision by re-instating Sergeant Brennan and that you will work in partnership with the Police Department toward an improved and strong Hopkinton that strives to protect victims of crime and seek justice.

Sincerely,

Anonymous