A Statement From The Medfield Police League

Medfield MA

15 June, 2022

3:02 PM

Description

Statement from the Medfield Police League Massachusetts COP Local 257 The members of the Medfield police league, Massachusetts Coalition of Police local 257, are committed to providing the best possible police services to the citizens of Medfield. The Chief of Police has compromised our ability to fulfill this commitment properly by allowing staffing to fall so low that officers are routinely forced into double shifts multiple times per week. This is a dangerous practice that places officers at risk and reduces the effectiveness of patrol shifts. Over the past few years, this practice has been continued by Chief Guerette and has resulted in officers becoming completely exhausted. Chief Guerette has been aware of the situation since she began working for the Medfield Police Department in 2019. Instead of taking proactive measures to improve the situation, she initiated inappropriate investigations targeting union officials who spoke out about the problem. She is currently attempting to terminate two dedicated officers without progressive discipline or prior warning. The officers of the Medfield Police Department have lost trust in the Chief's ability to manage this department. We have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Massachusetts Department of Labor relations, which explains the case in more detail. In response to the Town's press release of June 14, the Union asserts the following: All official police department and Union records supporting the Union's allegations in the unfair labor practice charge are a matter of public record, and they are part of the litigation file at the Massachusetts Department of Labor Relations.The Chief has made no attempt to "rectify" the issue. On the contrary, in March 2022 she started investigating officers for engaging in conduct she knew about and condoned – in accordance with long-standing operating procedures for reactive policing on the midnight shift.The Town Administrator, Selectboard and Human Resources Director have made no effort to interview employees leaving, nor have they made any attempt to speak to any union officials or members regarding the high rate of turnover.The Chief has targeted officers who were performing protected union activity by weaponizing the department's video system to conduct improper surveillance.The Chief hired a private investigator at an undisclosed cost to Medfield taxpayers. This produced zero evidence to support the chief's allegations.The town investigator, attorney and police chief have coerced, bullied and intimidated employees as stated in the ULP.Officers have been volunteering to pick up shifts - yet have been forced into 16-hour double shifts regardless.Since the Chief joined the Department, 12 police officers and six dispatchers have resigned.The department currently has a staff of 12 officers, two of whom are out on administrative leave because of the Chief's investigation. The department currently has two dispatchers. Minimum staffing generally requires eight officers and three dispatchers per day to operate. National standards are 2.4 officers per thousand. Local standards are 1.7 officers per thousand. Medfield is a town with 13,000 residents which means we should have 22 officers. This is not simply a temporary staffing shortage. This is a public safety crisis.The Medfield police officers remain fiercely committed to their sworn duty to protect and serve this community.Medfield citizens can be assured that regardless of the town and police chiefs' inability to provide effective leadership, our officers will continue to provide quality service and protection to all people in a fair and just community-based approach.