Police Chief May Be Replaced by Man He Replaced Weeks Ago
Boston Channel News (Massachussets)
STOUGHTON, Mass. -- It’s become more than just a case of small-town politics. In Stoughton, a police department divided by corruption charges now has a power struggle in the chief’s office.
NewsCenter 5’s Jorge Quiroga reported that the man hired as chief just three weeks ago to straighten things out could soon be out of a job -- possibly unseated by the man he was hired to replace.
“I want to honor my three-year commitment to the citizens of Stoughton and the fine officers of this department,” said acting Police Chief Joseph Saccardo.
But the former chief, Manuel Cachopa, under a grand jury investigation and demoted to lieutenant, holds the support of most of the voters and the new Board of Selectmen.
“Seventy percent of the voters came out to vote, and the recall passed by 2 to 1. People want the chief back in his position,” said resident Barbara Carroll, who supports Cachopa.
Three weeks ago, the town selectmen who gave Saccardo his job were recalled, and the new board voted that his contract is not valid.
On Friday, Saccardo accepted a new offer as acting chief, in what he called “a hostile environment.”
“We have police officers walking around with guns and conflicting opinions as to what’s going on in the department,” he said.
The board also reinstated seven suspended officers, who are also under investigation.
There is such bad blood in the town that Saccardo alleged that last Monday, the former chief tried to run down one of his lieutenants.
“The officer may have been intimidated by the former chief as he operated a motor vehicle in the parking lot,” said Saccardo.
“I think it’s criminal. We have info with things going on in this town with the police department. It’s criminal for them to be putting this man back in charge,” said Saccardo supporter Pam Bishop.
The town manager called the situation a Twilight Zone.
“Unfortunately, the town is divided. We had a recall election, the police department is divided, and it doesn’t seem like there is going to be any sort of unity,” said Town Manager Mark Stankiewicz.
How long Saccardo stays in Stoughton remains to be seen. If the new Board of Selectmen votes to fire him, Saccardo will demand $60,000 in severance pay under his three-year contract.
An emergency meeting scheduled for Friday evening was postponed.