An Acton police supervisor has been positioned on go away topic to an inner affairs investigation after allegedly not charging a retired police officer with a suspected OUI and driving him residence as a substitute, Acton Police introduced late Monday.
At 12:41 a.m. Saturday, an Acton Police officer and a brand new patrol officer in coaching have been conducting a test of a liquor retailer car parking zone on Principal Road and observed a 2024 Toyota Highlander working within the lot, the division mentioned.
A person sitting within the driver’s seat — recognized by the division as a retired police official from one other neighborhood — instantly exited the automotive because the officers approached the car, in accordance with Acton Police. The cops then referred to as in a supervisor to answer the scene.
The officers observed “odor of alcohol on the vehicle owner’s breath” and an open can of Twisted Tea model malt beverage seen in a cup holder. The automotive had a “severely flat” passenger aspect entrance tire, and “no other damage was noted,” the division mentioned.
Upon arriving on the scene, the police supervisor took the retired cop again to his residence in Acton, Acton Police mentioned. The opposite officer was “instructed by the supervisor” to drive the passenger, a 55-year-old Acton girl, again to her residence.
The subsequent day, Acton Police commanders together with Chief James Cogan and Lieutenant Ed Lawton reviewed the incident, the division mentioned.
A call was made to file expenses of Working Beneath the Affect and Possession of an Open Container of Alcohol in a Motor Automobile. The person has been summons to Harmony District Courtroom.
The Acton Police Division mentioned they don’t seem to be but releasing the person’s identify, figuring out him as a 64-year-old, as a legal grievance has not been issued as of Monday night time.
An inner affairs investigation has been launched into the supervisor’s dealing with of the matter, the division mentioned. The supervisor has been positioned on administrative go away pending the result of the investigation, “consistent with the policies of the Acton Police Department and the Department’s collective bargaining agreement.”
The Middlesex DA and Acton City Supervisor have additionally been contacted and notified.
“The Acton Police Department is a modern, state-accredited police department, and the laws we swear to apply to our residents apply equally to current and former members of law enforcement agencies,” Cogan mentioned. “Our public rightly demands that we enforce the law evenly, and we will conduct a full and thorough review of the handling of the situation that unfolded early Saturday morning.”
