By Jack Minch
Sentinel & Enterprise
LEOMINSTER, Mass. — An investigation into the allegation an off-duty police officer used a racial slur toward Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford could be completed as early as Monday, but interim Police Chief Robert Healey already knows there won’t be any criminal charges.
The officer’s name has been closely guarded, and he has been placed on desk duty.
“This is clearly not a criminal investigation. It’s an internal investigation regarding rules and regulations,” Healey said Friday.
The probe could be complete as early as Monday, but Healey is waiting to find out if anybody steps forward with more information.
The officer allegedly referred to Crawford as a Monday, which can be a derogatory term for a black person, according to UrbanDictionary.com.
The investigation has not included Crawford’s help, but he will be given results of the probe, Healey said.
“He is not needed to facilitate completing the investigation; however, he deserves and will receive our personal attention from my office or the office of the mayor,” he said.
Officers have a high expectation of maintaining public trust whether they are on- or off-duty, he said.
“This day and age everything is under the microscope, and that is exactly what happened here,” Healey said.
Officers must follow the Manual of Rules and Regulations for the Government of the Police Department of the City of Leominster, but it does not directly address racial comments, he said.
“I do not recall in recent memory having to investigate any similar claim of an officer using a slur or racial slur,” Healey said.
The patrolmen’s union will not issue a statement until its executive board meets and a meeting had not been arranged Friday afternoon, said union president John Fraher.
Healey said his investigation will be fair and thorough, so he has chosen to keep it in-house rather than seek outside help but left the door open if it runs into difficulties.
There are no laws specifically against hate crimes so it would be unlikely the officer would face charges in New Hampshire, said Hillsboro (N.H.) County Attorney Dennis C. Hogan.
The law against disorderly conduct carries added penalty if a suspect is motivated by hostility toward a person’s race or creed, but somebody would only be charged with being disorderly if they were ordered to stop the comments and continued anyway, Hogan said.
There is a hate crime law in Massachusetts but since the alleged incident happened in New Hampshire, Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.'s office has no authority to charge anybody, said spokesman Paul Jarvey.
“I don’t know that it would extend to a verbal slur” anyway, he said.
Rhode Island State Police spokesman Capt. Michael J. Winquist said that unless a person’s comments start a public panic or disarray they are usually protected by the First Amendment.
Lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts were not available Friday afternoon to comment on whether the alleged incident would affect an officer’s ability to perform his job, said spokesman Chris Ott.
Ward 4 Councilor Robert Salvatelli said he is waiting for results of the investigation before offering judgment on the allegation.
“This particular incident, I’m hoping it’s not true,” Salvatelli said. “Obviously, if it is it doesn’t bode well for this individual,” he said.
At-large Councilor James Lanciani, who is chairman of the Public Safety Committee, declined comment until he learns the facts behind the investigation.
Lanciani said he plans to visit Mazzarella to learn more if the investigation concludes there was a wrongdoing.
“They have to do their investigation and go from there,” Lanciani said.
At-large Councilor Susan Chalifoux Zephir said the incident has already drawn unwanted media attention.
“I was really very upset when I saw the city of Leominster on the prime time news for this particular reason,” she said. “I think it’s a bad reflection on the city.”
Considering the city’s racially diverse population, the department would need to take disciplinary action if the investigation concludes the officer made a racially offensive remark, Zephir said.
Council President John Dombrowski said he respects the way Healey runs the department and believes he can handle the fallout of the probe.
“I wasn’t briefed on it and I have confidence in the chief and his ability to take care of whatever problem there are,” he said.
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