Stoneham Police Dept. under federal probe
Published on July 29th, 1998
STONEHAM, MA - According to Police Chief Eugene Passaro, the Stoneham Police Department has come under close scrutiny in recent weeks by the US Attorney's Office after allegations of favoritism were brought to its attention.
Passaro said that investigators from the US Attorney's Office had spoken to him and had told Passaro that they had received word that at least some members of the Police Department were contracting Stoneham Towing trucks for a large number of police duties (i.e. car accidents and other routine tows). The Stoneham Police Department is required to split towing services equally between the two local towing companies, Stoneham Towing and Franklin Auto Transport Inc.
"That's a near impossibility," Passaro said when asked by the Independent if any members of the department had infringed upon the even split of services. "There's allegations that favoritism was being shown. I laughed when it was brought to my attention. There was nothing in that.
"It was so easy to prove."
Passaro did, however, speculate as to where he believed the investigation was leading, saying that he thought that one former member of the SPD has become the center of attention due to tax evasion.
He said that the US Attorney's Office, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), have focused their attention on this former officer for off-duty, private business practices, but would not identify the individual in question.
"I know of nothing that any officers have done that was wrong. I can't answer for something that officers were doing off-duty, though."
In terms of the allegations leveled against his department, Passaro explained that records dating back to 1988 were presented to the investigators and that they showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that no such violation had occurred.
"I'm not worried about (the investigation) because, if there was anything (in the allegations) I'd know about it."
A spokesperson from the US Attorney's Office said she would not comment on any specifics in the case and would also not either confirm or deny the fact of whether the investigation was ongoing.
Passaro said that he has also been kept in the dark as to the speed and direction the investigation is now taking.
"I'd like to know what's going on," he said. "I have been assured by the investigating authority that they will let me know if they have found any wrong doing by an officer and, as of now, that's not the case."
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