Statement of DA Rachael Rollins on the Arrests of Boston Police Officers for Overtime Fraud

BOSTON, Sept. 2, 2020 — “Public servants are rightfully held to a higher standard. Those of us in law enforcement, however, must be beyond reproach because what we do impacts matters of life, death, and freedom for the general public. In these uncertain times we as a nation find ourselves in, with so much tension and mistrust between law enforcement and the communities we are sworn to protect and serve, today’s indictments are a blow to the credibility of our noble profession.  We in law enforcement cannot adequately perform our duties if the community does not trust us or believes that we lack integrity. That does nothing to keep our communities safe; to solve our crimes; and to foster, cultivate and build mutual trust and respect between the police and the people they serve.

“I am deeply dismayed by the allegations outlined in federal court this afternoon. If these allegations are true, these men and women have dishonored the badge. They stole taxpayer dollars, multiple times over a period of years. This behavior certainly calls into question their credibility. Whatever testimony they may have given in any Suffolk County prosecution during that time is now suspect.

“Accordingly, the names of these nine officers will be added to the Law Enforcement Automatic Discovery (LEAD) database in my Office. The names in the LEAD database - and the reason(s) they are included in the database - are checked in each criminal case. If an officer involved in a criminal matter we are pursuing is in the database, that specific information is then shared with defense counsel.

“My Office will also be notifying CPCS and MACDL about these nine individuals so those entities can begin reviewing cases to see what role, if any, these officers may have played in matters they have defended. For each case they bring to our attention, we will thoroughly review whatever potential pleading is presented to us.  I intend to right any wrongs that have been created because of potential misconduct.”

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.