Former Methuen Police Chief Facing More Scrutiny Over Salary
The Methuen Police Department headquarters, in Methuen, Mass.
Meredith Nierman / WGBH News
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Methuen Police Contract
A federal grand jury is investigating police contracts in the city of Methuen, according to The Boston Globe. The city s police department has been in the news over the sky-high salary of its former chief, Joseph Solomon. Methuen is a small city, but Solomon was one of the highest paid chiefs in the entire country. Now, the Department of Justice is apparently looking into whether he and others may have committed a crime in securing huge salaries. Northeastern University law professor and GBH legal analyst Daniel Medwed discussed the case with GBH All Things Considered
Methuen Police Chief Joseph E. Solomon. (Courtesy photograph.)
Methuen Police Chief Joseph E. Solomon, who has announced plans to retire as Methuen’s police chief, called accusations made against him by the state’s inspector general as “blatantly false.”
Solomon, in a letter dated last Friday to Methuen Mayor Neil Perry said Inspector General Glenn A. Cunha’s office “never interviewed” him or gave the chief the “most basic common courtesy to respond to accusations.”
“The impact that another long, drawn-out fight would have on the city, the department, and on my family is something I believe should be avoided at all costs,” Solomon said, appearing to reference his previous battles with the city.
METHUEN, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts police chief who is among the highest paid in the nation has been placed on paid administrative leave following the release of a state
Updated.
The Massachusetts Inspector General concluded Wednesday there was a “failure of leadership at all levels” in Methuen when a police contract was approved that allowed substantial raises.
The Massachusetts Inspector General concluded Wednesday there was a “failure of leadership at all levels” in Methuen when a police contract was approved that allowed substantial raises.
Fallout from the report came quickly with Police Chief Joseph E. Solomon and Capt. Gregory Gallant being placed on paid administrative leave by Mayor Neil Perry. Executive Capt. Kristopher McCarthy was named acting chief of police and Lt. Randy Haggar was named captain of Field Operations.