Gloucester police chief agrees to retire, rather than fight firing over alleged obstruction of investigation
Three days after Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken announced she would fire police Chief Leonard Campanello, the city announced Thursday the heralded police chief will instead retire.
Lenny Kesten, the city’s special counsel, told Boston.com the agreement, which came after negotiations with Campanello’s attorney, allows the two sides to forgo a 30-day hearings process, as well as the financial fees it would incur.
Campanello’s lawyer, Terrence Kennedy, had previously indicated his intentions to contest the police chief’s termination, which he had characterized as “without justification” and “a witch hut.”
Instead, Campanello, who is eligible for retirement, will apply for the benefits included in his pension, which Kesten said is controlled by the state. He will remain on paid leave until the end of his contract, January 3, 2017.
Kesten described Campanello and Kennedy as very cooperative during the negotiations.
“We’re very happy that we were able to reach this amicably,” Kesten said.
According to the mayor’s office, Deputy Chief John McCarthy will continue to act as the interim chief of Gloucester’s police department.
Romeo Theken had announced Monday that city would fire Campanello, after officials found he misled and interfered with an investigation into allegations of “inappropriate conduct” with two women. Asked to turn in his city-issued phone, Campanello allegedly lied about its whereabouts and then deleted “thousands” of texts before handing it in.
Prior to the investigation, the Gloucester police chief had garnered national attention and even an award from the White House for his work in initiating a program to help opioid addicts recover, rather than charge them with crimes.
Romeo Theken said that program, known as the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative, will continue to provide services independent of Campanello’s leadership.
“Our city has amazing people who give their hearts and souls to make our community better every day,” she said in a statement.
“We are grateful that there are so many successful stories of recovery, perseverance and triumph provided by past and current city leaders, especially within public safety,” she said. “I will do everything I can as your mayor to continue our positive gains and I know our brightest days are on the horizon.”
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