Dozens of instructors at Massachusetts police academies have serious complaints against them

BOSTON — A months-long WBZ-TV investigation has found that dozens of instructors who teach police recruits in Massachusetts have problematic records, including serious and sustained complaints and criminal behavior.

46 police instructors sanctioned

WBZ-TV obtained the full list of 2,492 police officers who are certified instructors for the various police academies run by the Municipal Police Training Committee, or MPTC. Of those, 46 have been disciplined at their various local police departments for serious and sustained complaints against them that violate the MPTC code of conduct. Three have had their MPTC instructor certification suspended since the investigation began. One had his instructor certification reinstated after an appeal.

According to MPTC’s 2023 and 2024 Codes of Conduct, instructors must maintain good standing or face suspension or revocation of their certification. The Code of Conduct states the following:

“Good standing with your employer (…) will mean that the certified instructor will never:

• received a significant disciplinary sanction {resulting in a suspension for more than five (5) days without pay; or
• received a reduction in rank due to the imposition of a disciplinary sanction; or
• received a suspension for excessive use of force; or
• received a suspension for a civil rights violation; or
• been the subject of a sustained complaint of domestic violence; or
• been the subject of a complaint sustained by a criminal charge; or
• Has been the subject of action by POST resulting in suspension or revocation of police certification”

Among the 46 instructors who violated the Code of Conduct, WBZ-TV found officers accused of falsifying timesheets, others involved in alleged domestic violence, and alleged assault and battery off duty. One officer was arrested and then arrested again for violating a restraining order against the same victim. Another officer was charged with illegal drug use and another was accused of drinking alcohol before his shift. WBZ-TV found another officer who was disciplined for using a police information system to conduct searches on seven people unrelated to his police work.

All of these sustained complaints were found in the public complaint database provided by the state’s police oversight body, the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, or POST.

Massachusetts officers are the subject of journalistic investigations

WBZ-TV found officers who were already the subject of news stories related to their alleged conduct. One of them is Salem State University interim captain Stephen Turcotte. Turcotte was the subject of a WBZ I-Team Investigation 2012Salem State has settled the lawsuit against him, accusing him of sexual harassment and gender discrimination. Turcotte declined to comment at the time.

Another officer is Rehoboth Police Officer Arthur Beaudoin. CBS affiliate WPRI in Rhode Island published a story about his resignation from the Seekonk Police Department after a 2014 internal investigation confirmed four charges of criminal mischief against him related to a domestic violence incident. Those charges arose from an administrative investigation and he was never criminally charged. Beaudoin could not be reached for comment.

WBZ also uncovered a 2023-2024 training video released by MPTC that features a demonstration by former Hudson Police Officer Kevin Johnson. Johnson’s certification to be an officer in Massachusetts was suspended by the state in 2023. Court documents indicate Johnson was arrested for assaulting and kicking a man in the head and shoving his girlfriend. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge.

“It all starts with one small transgression that becomes accepted, then it leads to another and that one becomes accepted,” said Larry Smith, a former Massachusetts State Police sergeant and CEO and founder of the Stirm Group, which conducts independent internal affairs investigations for law enforcement agencies.

Smith says MPTC’s problems stem from its leadership under CEO Robert Ferullo, who retired July 29.

In recent months, MPTC academies have faced other problems. In April, WBZ revealed that a Stoneham police officer he quit his job For allegedly saying the n-word, he was an MPTC instructor. The board eventually revoked his certification.

Last summer, the WBZ investigative team learned a Cheating Investigation An incident was taking place at two MPTC academies. Four student officers were disciplined at the time.

Training Committee makes changes following WBZ-TV investigation

A 2023 Civil Service Commission report also claimed MPTC ignored “numerous red flags” regarding former Methuen police detective Sean Fountain’s training records. Fountain was accused of acting as a police officer for years after falsifying a training certificate. The Stirm Group led an external investigation into Fountain’s conduct.

“The CEO who is in charge was in charge of all of this. You can’t keep making mistake after mistake,” Smith said.

WBZ-TV asked Gov. Maura Healey if our investigation warrants a closer look at MPTC instructors.

“As a former attorney general and now as governor, I am committed to ensuring we have the right people and staff when it comes to all matters of public safety,” Healey said.

MPTC issued a statement to WBZ-TV saying in part:

“The Municipal Police Training Committee remains deeply committed to ensuring that our staff and nearly 2,500 instructors maintain the highest standards of integrity, competence and professionalism.”

The committee said it has initiated a notification process in which POST will notify them if an officer is suspended or decertified. It also now requires instructors to self-report complaints filed against them to the MPTC.

WBZ-TV reached out to the various police departments mentioned in this story. Salem State University and the Rehoboth Police Department did not respond to our requests for comment.

An MPTC spokesman says he is not aware of former Hudson Police Officer Kevin Johnson ever being an MPTC instructor.