Editorial: Police union isn’t helping itself or Dracut

The Lowell Sun

Tensions between superior officers in the Dracut Police Department and members of the police union were exposed like never before in the recent internal investigation that cleared Deputy Chief David Chartrand of wrongdoing in responding to a domestic incident.

Chief Kevin Richardson took umbrage at the union’s leadership for what he believed was a blatant attempt to smear Chartrand’s professional reputation.

Richardson also suggested that leaders of the New England Benevolent Association, the union representing Dracut patrolmen, may have unduly influenced a patrolman to write allegations in an official report charging Chartrand with being under the influence of alcohol.

In turn, Jerry Flynn, NEBA’s executive director, denied Richardson’s charges while insisting that Chartrand was inebriated on the night of Sept. 26. He now wants the district attorney to investigate Chartrand’s actions. Basically, Flynn is alleging a coverup in Richardson’s investigation.

Union leadership clearly refuses to accept the chief’s findings, even when there is little evidence to support the union’s allegations.

If this sounds like a management-union beef, it is — and worse.

Quite frankly, the citizens of Dracut must be growing weary of these internal squabbles that are tarnishing the department’s reputation.

There will be no solution, however, unless both sides commit to dealing with their grievances in a professional manner. This department needs family therapy — and fast.

Since Chief Kevin Richardson was appointed in February 2006, he has had to battle a divisive element loyal to another officer who lost out for the chief’s job. That officer now works with Flynn in the NEBA office.

As Richardson has built his own management team — vowing to rid the department of “negative” influences — the divisions have seemingly hardened among those few who refuse to accept the leadership change.

Richardson is not infallible, but he is a capable and reasonable leader. His decision to get to the bottom of the theft of $80,000 in confiscated drugs from a police evidence locker, ordering lie detector tests for officers and patrolmen, took courage. The “old school,” however, was infuriated to think that officers must submit to a truth test just like common criminals.

We’re convinced that when Richardson’s final report on “Dracut’s Druggate” is written, it will launch another round of criticism from instigators who want to set their own standards.

Overlooked in this latest clash is that the Chartrand incident raises important issues as to when and under what conditions an off-duty officer should respond to an emergency.

Police protocol can always be reviewed with the intent of improving public safety. It should be conducted as a positive exercise with input from both management and the union’s rank-and-file.

We urge NEBA’s leadership to put the acrimony aside and to work for better relations with management. The Chartrand case was a missed opportunity for enhancing the department’s professionalism by all who wear the badge.