Mass law enforcement misconduct news, Aug. 17-23
More cops accused of misusing Flock cameras, state trooper facing assault charges, and more
Here are the media reports of alleged law enforcement misconduct in Massachusetts that I’ve tracked during the last week.
State and local
More cops accused of misusing Flock license-plate tracking cameras
- “A Stow police officer [Jason Rogers] is facing possible disciplinary action after the department found he repeatedly used police databases to obtain information about a woman he previously dated. … The Stow Police Department said it filed a criminal complaint against Rogers on July 17 for ‘potential violations of state law.’” (Boston 25 News)
- “The Lynn Police Department has placed two officers on paid administrative leave and launched an internal investigation after an audit of the department’s Flock Safety license plate reader system uncovered what police described as a ‘concerning pattern in some searches.’” (Boston.com)
That’s in addition to the story of the New Bedford officer who used Flock cameras to track her ex’s vehicle that was covered by the New Bedford Light earlier this month.
More misconduct allegations
- “A Massachusetts state trooper [Christopher Regan] is now facing an assault charge for allegedly pummeling one of his colleagues at a Quincy bar this June, and a police report offers new insight on what happened in the incident, seen in a viral video.” (NBC10 Boston)
- “Police body camera video in a fatal shooting that led to the indictment of a Boston police officer [Nicholas O’Malley] is still under wraps, with the state’s supervisor of records refusing to issue a decision on its release. First Amendment experts say that’s a mistake.” (WCVB)
- “Protesters rallied outside South Bay House of Correction [on August 14], calling again for justice in the December killing of Shacoby Kenny. … Kenny’s death was ruled a homicide by the state medical examiner’s office in July, and witnesses have told media outlets that [Suffolk County] corrections officers brutally beat Kenny.” (BINJ)
- “A Massachusetts State Police trooper is off the job after an internal investigation revealed he repeatedly targeted a young woman.” (WBZ)
- “An independent investigation has concluded that Bourne Police Chief Brandon Esip violated department policies by leaving his service weapon unattended in the public lobby of police headquarters for several minutes in June. … The report was submitted to Bourne Town Administrator Marlene McCollem, who suspended Esip without pay for five days, starting on Aug. 20, 2026.” (Boston 25 News)
- “A former member of the Massachusetts National Guard was sentenced to more than six years in prison in connection with child sex abuse material. Nicholas Wells, 45, pleaded guilty in September 2025 to possession and distribution of CSAM, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” (MassLive)
- “The trial of Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, who is accused of two counts of extortion in relation to dealings he had with political operative turned marijuana entrepreneur Frank Perullo, begins on Aug. 24 and is expected to last two weeks, according to court filings.” (GBH)
Federal
- “When the Burlington Select Board last addressed its efforts to seek access to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in town, and the possible enforcement of local zoning laws on the facility, the board found little luck in the courts. Nearly two months later, little has changed.” (Lowell Sun)
- “Newburyport Mayor Sean R. Reardon criticized an [August 17] ICE operation at a local nail salon that resulted in the detention of an employee and left customers shaken. … The city received reports from eyewitnesses that agents entered the salon ‘with guns drawn,’ Reardon said in a press release, describing the incident as ‘incredibly frightening and traumatic.’ ‘The City of Newburyport does not condone the manner in which this operation was carried out,’ Reardon said.” (Boston.com)
- “A federal judge [on August 18] gave ICE seven hours to release a Haitian man it had stuffed in a cell in the Plymouth County jail despite having no legal reason to do so - just five days after he issued a similar order involving another Haitian man also being held without any good reason.” (Universal Hub)
- “U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton conducted an unannounced visit to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Burlington [on August 20], and said he was delayed entry for more than 30 minutes while multiple vans left the property.” (Lowell Sun)
Other news
Municipalities say they’re canceling Flock contracts
Here’s what’s happening with respect to Flock cameras in New Bedford, a city where, as mentioned above, a police officer recently used the surveillance technology to track her ex’s vehicle (New Bedford Light):
A [New Bedford] City Council meeting erupted into chaos [the night of August 20], prompting the council president to suspend the session before councilors could vote on any of the four motions before them about Flock cameras.
This spells a delay for further action by the council, including when the police chief might be called to answer questions before the public about the controversial license plate reader system used by the Police Department.
As Councilor Brian Gomes shared his thoughts on the camera system, which were more favorable than his two peers who spoke before, a few members of the public started shouting overhead. The chamber was filled on both levels; 70 or so people had filed in after a brief protest outside. Shouts included “Flock off,” “Take them down” and “De-Flock now.”
Meanwhile, other municipalities are moving ahead with ditching Flock. There’s Hopkinton (MetroWest Daily News):
Hopkinton is the latest community to end its contract with Flock Safety.
In a press release on Thursday, Aug. 20, the town announced that it has terminated its contract with the automated license plate readers company, citing “statutory deficiencies” in the agreement between Flock and the town.
And East Bridgewater (Enterprise):
After contentious public outcry, the East Bridgewater Police Department [on August 21] stepped back from its plan to install Flock cameras in the town. …
“We currently have one Flock camera installed. No additional cameras will be installed, and we will be taking the necessary steps to discontinue the agreement in accordance with its contractual terms and arrange for the removal of the currently installed camera,” [Police Chief Michael Jenkins] said.
And Grafton (Telegram & Gazette):
The Grafton Police Department will begin deactivating all automated license plate readers from Flock Safety, just weeks after it signed a contract with the surveillance technology corporation, the chief announced Friday, Aug. 21.
“This decision also comes in response to vandalism and theft involving these devices,” said Grafton Police Chief Neil Minardi in a social media post. Minardi first announced the installation of Flock cameras on July 22.
The chief of the Grafton Police Department in #Massachusetts announced that the department is deactivating its #Flock cameras, citing “growing concerns about the use of this technology in our community” and “vandalism and theft involving these devices.”
— Andrew Quemere (@andrewqmr.bsky.social) August 21, 2026 at 3:54 PM
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Apparently vandalism is an effective way to get this invasive surveillance technology that cops are using to stalk their exes out of your community. Not that I would advocate for damaging or destroying Flock cameras—that would be illegal, after all.
Arrest warrant issued for woman after her Worcester police officer husband was found dead (NBC10 Boston)
A woman who's been sought for days in connection with the death of her husband, Worcester Police Officer Kurt Solomon, is now wanted for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, police said [on August 21]. …
[Worcester Police Chief Paul] Saucier said the warrant [that] was issued for Solomon’s arrest was issued earlier [last] week, and that the nature of [officer] Kurt Solomon’s injuries involved a sharp object.
Milton parents ask town officials to stop using police to investigate residency of public school children (Boston Globe; paywalled)
A group of parents in suburban Milton [on August 17] demanded that town officials stop using police and an anonymous tip line to verify the residency of public school children after a Globe investigation found Black students had been disproportionately scrutinized. …
“Many of us were not aware of the level of police involvement in these investigations,” the letter to Milton leaders said. “We are particularly concerned about the practice of sending Milton police officers to surveil some families and enter their homes to search children’s bedrooms.”
New Bedford police still getting ShotSpotter alerts after contract was canceled (New Bedford Light)
ShotSpotter — a technology that uses acoustic sensors mounted on poles to detect possible gunfire and send alerts to a command center — is still active in New Bedford, even though its contract ended June 30. Police responded to a ShotSpotter alert [the night of August 20], according to the police union.
Holly Huntoon, a spokesperson for the New Bedford Police Department, told The Light on [August 21] that the department’s decision not to renew the ShotSpotter contract may not be the last word.
“ShotSpotter is a good partner and has continued to provide their service beyond the contract expiration,” Huntoon said, “in hopes we can get to a place where the technology meets our needs both operationally and financially. Those discussions are ongoing.”
“I don’t have it in me to ever try to put somebody in jail”: Lindsay Clancy defense attorney Kevin Reddington profiled (NBC10 Boston)
Kevin Reddington says the Lindsay Clancy case may be the most memorable and difficult of his 50-year career.
The defense attorney is representing the Duxbury, Massachusetts, mother charged with murder in the deaths of her three children. He’s arguing that she should not be held criminally responsible because she was suffering from postpartum psychosis.
“Everybody knew that Lindsay Clancy was just an incredible wife, mother, friend, and here she is now. Tragic,” Reddington said.
Suffolk County DA used taxpayer-funded staff to submit signatures for reelection campaign (Boston Globe; paywalled)
Locked in a reelection fight, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden relied on members of his taxpayer-funded staff to submit paperwork to get him on the September ballot, with employees dropping off signatures to clerk’s offices during what were typical work hours, according to records obtained by the Globe.
Hayden’s office said the employees’ campaign work did not violate any laws. In each case, all three employees listed as submitting the paperwork for Hayden did so on their personal time, either during unpaid lunch breaks or by using paid time off, according to James Borghesani, a Hayden spokesperson.
Trump administration using military lawyers as temporary immigration judges (WBUR)
At least four lawyers serving in the U.S. military’s legal branch have been seated as judges on federal immigration courts in Massachusetts, after a number of judges were fired by the Trump administration in the Bay State and around the country. …
The ACLU of Massachusetts is suing the federal government to disclose information on the activation of military lawyers as immigration judges. ACLUM attorney Dan McFadden said the practice raises a host of concerns, including whether these lawyers can be fair adjudicators of immigration law.
SJC rules Quincy mayor can’t put Catholic religious statues outside police/fire building while lawsuit is ongoing (WBUR)
The Supreme Judicial Court ruled [on August 20] that the city of Quincy can’t put up statues of saints on a public building amid an ongoing lawsuit over whether the pieces violate religious freedom protections.
The ruling affirms a lower court decision from October 2025, which ordered the city to pause installation of two 10-foot sculptures of Catholic saints outside a new public safety complex.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey succeeded in putting a former prosecutor on the Parole Board after the Governor's Council rejected her previous nominee. Healey, herself the state's former chief prosecutor, said she wanted to “balance the board” and that it was “important to [her].” #mapoli
— Andrew Quemere (@andrewqmr.bsky.social) August 19, 2026 at 3:47 PM
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In case you missed it:
Andrew Quemere
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— Andrew Quemere (@andrewqmr.bsky.social) August 23, 2026 at 4:08 PM
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That’s all for now.
