Framingham police say two officers violated policy against “criminal conduct” but want $525 for the details

The Framingham Police Department says it determined that two police officers violated a policy against “criminal conduct”—but the department has provided few details about the allegations and has demanded $525 for the officers’ internal affairs records.

Former Framingham police officer Reece Black and former Detective Kyle Pursell were both found to have violated policies related to criminal conduct, controlled substances, association with known criminals, and conduct unbecoming an officer/employee, Lieutenant Rachel Mickens revealed in response to questions from The Mass Dump.

Pursell was also found to have violated policies related to electronic control weapons, reporting for duty, and department vehicles, Mickens said.

However, Mickens provided no other details about the alleged misconduct or the investigation.

The police department first announced that it was conducting a misconduct investigation and had placed two unnamed officers on paid leave in September, according to The MetroWest Daily News. Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker said at the time that the department was investigating allegations involving “potential health and wellness concerns.”

The department said on February 6 that the investigation found that two still-unnamed officers violated unspecified rules and policies and that the officers were no longer with the department, according to NBC10 Boston. Six days later, Mickens identified the officers, saying that the department had fired Black and that Pursell had resigned, according to the Daily News.

When the Dump filed a public records request for the officers’ internal affairs records, the department assessed a $525 fee, saying it needed to spend 23 hours reviewing 288 pages of documents to redact exempt information. The department said it was charging the maximum hourly rate allowed under the Public Records Law, which is $25 per hour with the first two hours provided at no cost.

The Dump asked Mickens and Framingham Police Chief Lester Baker to provide the documents with minimal redactions and at no charge. The Public Records Law says that municipalities may voluntarily waive fees “upon a showing that disclosure of a requested record is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government.”

The Dump noted in its correspondence that when the investigation was first announced, Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky said he would provide “transparency to the extent of the laws,” according to the Daily News.

Baker did not respond to questions about the investigation’s findings or the department’s response to the records request.

“The department has been transparent throughout the entire process,” Mickens said. “The chief immediately put out a public statement at the start of the investigation … and immediately put out a statement at the conclusion of the investigation.”

The department said on February 6 that it referred its findings to both the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, the latter of which is responsible for certifying law-enforcement officers in the state, according to the Daily News.

A search of online court records on Sunday afternoon did not reveal any criminal charges against Black or Pursell in Framingham District Court or Middlesex County Superior Court.

Mickens said that no criminal charges have been filed against either officer.

A spokesperson for Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan’s office did not respond to questions about whether it is pursuing criminal charges related to the investigation, whether Black or Pursell appear on the office’s Brady list, or whether any criminal cases have been impacted by the former officers’ alleged misconduct.

The POST Commission’s website currently lists the law-enforcement certification status for both Black and Pursell as “restricted,” meaning they have valid certification but are not currently employed by a law-enforcement agency.

A spokesperson for the POST Commission declined to say whether the agency is moving to decertify either officer.

“The POST Commission cannot comment on whether a case has been opened or any cases that may be pending,” the spokesperson said.

POST Commission records show that the Framingham Police Department previously suspended Pursell for “improper firearm usage or storage” that allegedly occurred in February 2022.

Pursell resigned from the police department on January 9, before the recent investigation was completed, according to the Daily News.

“After careful consideration, I have decided to move in a different direction to my career and pursue new opportunities,” Pursell said in a resignation email. “I believe this is the right step for me at this time.”

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