Newton Police Chief Has Been Asked to Leave
Mayor Setti Warren says he is "initiating the process of removal" of Chief Matthew Cummings.
The mayor has asked the police chief to leave.
In a news conference this afternoon, Newton Mayor Setti Warren said he had this morning asked Newton Police Chief Matthew Cummings to leave.
Cummings has, in the meantime, been put on paid administrative leave.
The shakeup comes after a report from an independent investigator found "sufficient credible evidence" of two complaints about Cummings made by the chief's former secretary, Jeanne Sweeney Mooney.
In this afternoon's news conference, Warren said he was "deeply disturbed" and "disappointed."
"This is not the kind of behavior we expect," the mayor said. Warren said he is "initiating the process" of removing Cummings.
Check out our story with more details on the allegations and a video from today's press conference.
Controversy has surrounded the department in recent weeks following charges that Mooney stole from the department. The secretary alleges, though, the charges are retaliation for the complaints she filed against Cummings.
Independent investigator Edward R. Mitnick found "sufficient, credible evidence" that Cummings made "inappropriate and offensive" comments to Mooney, and that, in the summer of 2010, he kicked her foot.
There was no credible evidence found of other complaints made by Mooney.
And there have been no other complaints made against Cummings in the the past. He is a 30+-year veteran of the police department.
Newton Police Captain Howard Mintz has been named acting police chief following an appointment from Mayor Warren.
Mintz said at the news conference that department morale is "good, and that he is "honored" to be appointed.
Stay tuned for more detailed coverage — including video of today's news conference — on Patch.
gary himelfarb
5:08 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Mooney, being a police chief, for so long, should be a shining example, of All, Newton Policeman and growing up in Newton, this bothers me profusely.,G.
Sharyn Filteau
6:08 pm on Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Leaders do not inflict physical abuse on their subordinates! Hats off to the mayor for doing the right thing. And recognizing the truth behind his horrendous behavior!
Bob Kennedy
2:42 pm on Thursday, August 30, 2012
Wow...Let me get this straight...
The Chief, a devoted public servant of the city he was born and raised in, finds probable cause that his secretary was stealing (Framingham district court even later agreed). The Mooney's reaction, take the chief down with her by making several ludicrous claims against him. The result: ALL are unfounded BUT....SURPRISE! Cops use crude humor with one another (we heard nothing about the context these jokes were in (except that it was obviously not malicious), the crude humor she may have used towards him, or what is the "credible" evidence) giving Warren an excuse throw this decorated police officer (without any record of discipline) under the bus and to avoid Mooney's attacks...on the very same day he announces his re-election campaign.
This a perfect example of how out of touch Warren is with how police departments operate and that all he cares about is his own political reputation. Warren needs to remember that it is dedicated cops like Cummings that makes this city so safe.
Quackendorff
5:24 pm on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Interesting to note, Bob Carp, Mooney's attorney is being sued for sexual harrasment by his employee in a California court. Read about this guy, when not an "attorney" he is busy selling pretend "US Airforce One" memorabilia on www.whitehouseattic.com or better yet, he is having his two law schools closed in California by the State Bar of California and is on the web talking to a prospective student while telling the student he is a prominent black attorney, but really a white, Jewish male. You can find it on the internet under California Midland School of Law and an on-line complaint filed there by the prospective student whom he later in the conversation calls the "n" word. What a guy!!!! Defending, quite a woman from what this story seems to reveal. Does anyone know if he has ever paid taxes or carried Workman's Comp insurance on some 80 corporations he has listed under the MA Secretary of State website??? What a cast of characters???? Right out of a California "B" movie. Who said Newton was a classy town, maybe they meant "gassy", lol.