James Quilty News Today

Ashland Manager Town Manager Michael Herbert said Police Chief Cara Rossi is returning to lead the department on April 2 after being on leave.

Ashland Police Chief Cara Rossi returned to her job on Tuesday morning, after being on paid administrative leave for more than two months, according to Town Manager Michael Herbert and published reports.

Cara Rossi had been on paid administrative leave while facing a hearing around her handling of a dispatcher’s sexual assault complaint against a male officer in 2020 while Rossi was a Natick police lieutenant.

Ashland Police Chief Cara Rosi had a pre-hearing Wednesday with the POST Commission. A final hearing is scheduled for March 22.

Former Natick police Sgt. James Quilty has not responded to a civil suit filed by the victim and her lawyer is seeking to have a judge default Quilty.

The former Natick police dispatcher, who has been on leave, filed her lawsuit for lost wages and emotional distress.

The town also released the independent investigation from 2020 that faults then-Lt. Cara Rossi for failing to fully investigate the incident.

Natick police Sgt. James Quilty was also sentenced to three years of probation and must complete a sex offender treatment program.,

A Natick Police Sergeant allegedly groped a female dispatcher during an incident in 2020. He pleaded guilty to indecent assault Monday.

The police sergeant, who remains on unpaid administrative leave, has been ordered to register as a sex offender.