Chief Says Braintree Police Take Obligation to Report Violations Seriously

Training for officers regarding reporting internal misconduct is scheduled and the issues that arose from the firing of Paul Venuto and the state's recent decision upholding that termination have been addressed, Braintree Police Chief Russell Jenkins said Monday.



"The actions of Paul Venuto during two occasions when arrests were being made for drug offenses were brought forward by members of this Department," Jenkins said in a statement that Mayor Joseph Sullivan said Monday afternoon also reflected his view on the matter.

"The reporting officers then provided information during an internal investigation and testified, first at a department disciplinary hearing and later at a Civil Service appeal."

Jenkins went on to say that some of the issues brought up by the Civil Service Commission's decision – which focused on Venuto's "grave transgressions," but also several officers' failure to report the misconduct in a timely way – "have been addressed with our patrol officers and command staff at roll calls and a staff meeting held after I was appointed as chief of police."

He also defended his department, arguing that the actions of one officer should not affect everyone's reputation.

"It is my sincere hope that the men and women of the Braintree Police Department, who go about their daily duties in a fair and professional manner, are not judged by the egregious actions of a single individual, whose very actions were brought to light by these same men and women," Jenkins said.

He added, "Additional training is being scheduled for our officers on the subject of critical issues of liability in law enforcement and we will continue to use roll call training to remind officers of our rules and regulations and reinforce the message that all officers have an obligation to report violations."