Massachusetts State Police silent on trooper’s dishonorable discharge and resignation

The state police continue to deny access to all reports into a trooper who both resigned and was “dishonorably discharged” on the same day after both his own agency and Rhode Island State Police joined in an investigation.

The Massachusetts State Police — already dealing with overtime cheats and other scandals — say the Herald’s continued push for records just gives them more time under the state’s public records law to comply.

That, says one police watchdog, is a lack of transparency that doesn’t serve the public or hard-working officers.

“Secrecy is going to work against them,” said Dennis Galvin, president of the Massachusetts Association for Professional Law Enforcement and a retired state police major.

“Any police agency has a responsibility to be as transparent as they possibly can — especially in the times we’re living today,” Galvin said Tuesday. “Police leaders need to set the tone.”

He did credit Massachusetts State Police Col. Christopher Mason for having the fortitude to issue a dishonorable discharge against now ex-Trooper Dwayne Correia.

The Herald’s request to speak with Mason was denied.

Correia, who came over from the Rhode Island State Police, could not be reached for comment. The state police union did not return calls from the Herald.

But the MSP’s legal department, first contacted in March, said Tuesday the Herald’s repeated requests for reports on Correia’s case just turns the clock back on any response.

“Please be advised that the Department considers your request for records relating to the suspension, investigation, and discharge of Trooper Correia, as a public records request … (and) the Department has 10 business days, following the receipt of the request to respond,” wrote Keith Paquette, legal counsel for the Massachusetts State Police.

He added: “The Department has until Friday May 7, 2021 to respond to your request.”

This comes after Paquette has denied requests for records because “this incident remains the subject of an active on-going investigation within the Department’s Office of Professional Integrity and Accountability (Internal Affairs).”

Multiple sources have told the Herald Correia was investigated for an assignment that involved police work in Rhode Island. Other details of that task, and what may have gone wrong, have yet to be confirmed on the record by either state.

His union said Tuesday night that Correia is being represented by attorney Daniel Moynihan of Stoughton, who did not immediately return calls from the Herald.

Galvin said a dishonorable discharge is “the worst you can get,” adding it’s a “serious” matter.

MSP added during the Herald’s quest for answers that “the Department is not required to answer your questions pursuant to the Public Records Law; however, the Department is required to provide records that respond to your questions, if available pursuant to the Public Records Law.”

The Baker administration’s Executive Office of Public Safety and Security declined comment, saying all questions should be directed to the State Police.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3np27Og