Misplaced within the fallout of the Karen Learn homicide trial is the unknown of why it took almost a month for officers in Canton to publicize police Det. Kevin Albert’s paid administrative go away from the embattled division.
Police Chief Helena Rafferty didn’t reply to a Herald inquiry in search of a solution to that query and others concerning Albert’s go away on Wednesday, a day after the Choose Board went public with the choice.
City Administrator Charles Doody responded to a Herald electronic mail despatched to the Choose Board following the inquiry put out to Rafferty, referring the questions again to the chief.
Choose Board Chairman Michael Loughran dropped the bombshell revealing Albert’s go away standing Tuesday on the board’s assembly since Norfolk County Choose Beverly Cannone declared a mistrial within the Learn case on July 1.
Albert has been off the job since June 13, Loughran stated. His go away comes whereas “an outside, independent investigation is being conducted relative to his actions in a case he investigated with (Trooper) Michael Proctor approximately two years ago,” the Choose Board chairman added.
The Choose Board met on June 25 – the primary day of jury deliberations at Norfolk Superior Courtroom – however most of that assembly concerned rivalry from residents over whether or not Rafferty’s contract must be prolonged.
Board members authorised a one-year contract, as an alternative of three, for the chief who has led the division since being promoted in June 2022, months after John O’Keefe’s dying. In choosing the shorter contract, the board emphasised that the mud must settle from the Learn case and cited an ongoing $200,000 audit of the division.
The board didn’t point out Albert’s go away at the moment.
Albert is the brother of Christopher Albert, a Choose Board member who recused himself from Rafferty’s contract vote. He’s additionally brother to retired Boston Police Sgt. Brian Albert, who owned the house at 34 Fairview Street the place O’Keefe’s bloody physique was discovered coated in snow the morning of Jan. 29, 2022.
O’Keefe, a 16-year Boston Police officer, died at age 46 when Learn, his girlfriend of two years, allegedly backed her Lexus SUV into him at excessive velocity, leaving him to die within the chilly throughout a significant snowstorm.
Learn, 44, of Mansfield, has been charged with second-degree homicide, manslaughter whereas working a motorcar below the affect and leaving the scene of an accident leading to dying. A trial on these expenses ended when the decide declared a mistrial final week in response to the jury reporting it was deadlocked. The Norfolk DA’s workplace has stated it intends to re-try the fees.
The Choose Board introduced Albert’s go away a day after the State Police suspended Proctor, the lead investigator within the Learn case, with out pay.
Learn’s protection attorneys have blasted Proctor and Albert’s dealing with of the investigation, alleging the 2 and others have been a part of a conspiracy to border their shopper.
Proctor acknowledged on the stand that he and Albert communicated about coordinating elements of the O’Keefe case despite the fact that the Canton Police Division recused itself from the investigation as a result of Albert brothers’ connection to the case.
Albert didn’t testify throughout the 9-week trial that featured 74 witnesses taking the stand. Rafferty positioned him on go away a day after Proctor testified he and the Canton police officer have been consuming buddies.
Protection Legal professional Alan Jackson took exception to textual content messages the 2 exchanged the morning after an evening of consuming in July 2022 that exposed Albert had left his badge in Proctor’s cruiser.
“Which means you were drinking and driving in your cruiser, right?” Jackson requested earlier than Proctor responded, “From what I remember, we were down on the Cape working on a cold case together, and I stopped for dinner, had a few beers, and then dropped him off.”
