Controversy continues over police discipline
Date: 10/11/2013
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.comCHICOPEE – Mayor Michael Bissonnette refuted an assertion made in a news report on ABC40 that he had known about the nature of the disciplinary actions given to police officers involved in police officers photographing the body of murder victim Amanda Plasse with a cell phone before he announced it to the public in earlier then he previously stated.
ABC40 reporter Brendan Monahan reported on Oct. 8, “Last week, Mayor Bissonnette denied knowing of the photos taken of Amanda’s body until the summer of 2012. ‘If in fact this had been brought to my attention at the outset I think the results would have been a little bit different,’[Bissonnette said].
“That’s what Bissonnette told us last week about the investigation. ‘The department issued letters of reprimand internally,” Bissonnette said, ‘Now the way the process works, Brendan, is that unless a suspension is imposed the mayor isn’t notified.
“Exclusive details now show otherwise. On April 19, 2012, Bissonnette was sent a letter by former Police Chief John Ferraro Jr., notifying the mayor that the officer who snapped the photos was given three extra, unpaid shifts, essentially a working suspension, as punishment for his actions.”
Speaking to Reminder Publications, Bissonnette said the letters he received from then Ferraro did state the punishment involved, but did not supply any details of the infraction that prompted it.
In a letter forwarded to the mayor by Ferraro dated April 19, 2012 that was sent to one of the officers involved, the police chief only stated, “The specific reason for the punishment tours of duty are as follows: On Saturday Aug. 26, 2011 around 1145 hours, you violated Chicopee Police Department Rules and Regulation: 300:19 Section C, Incompetence as documented in Deputy Chief William Jebb’s Internal Investigation 11-05-IA.”
In the letter Ferraro sent to Bissonnette, also dated April 19, 2012, the chief wrote, “Please be advised that I have assigned officer [redacted] three days of extra duty as punishment. A copy of the notice of punishment is enclosed. There is another that must be sent by you to the personnel administrator. That form is available through the City Human Resource Department.
“By statute, either concerned party can made the hearings public, by request. For my part, I request that the hearing not be public.
“Kindly keep me informed of all developments in this matter and feel free to consult me at your convenience.”
Bissonnette said, “There were no red flags in the letters.”
The mayor said he did not find out any details until June 2012 at which point he conducted a meeting with Ferraro and the city solicitor. He then wrote a letter to District Attorney Mark Mastroianni about his concerns how the incident could affect the Plasse investigation. In October 2012, the district attorney said he would not seek criminal charges against the officers involved in the incident.
Bissonnette also supplied part of an email to Deputy Chief William Jebb from Detective Sgt. E. Watson dated Oct. 4, 2011 that read, “On Sept. 28, 2011 at 1745 hours, Wilson Mathieson contacted the detective bureau office. Mathieson is the stepfather of Amanda Plasse (homicide victim- 11-315-OF). Wilson states that his wife Michelle Mathieson (Amanda’s mother) was contacted by a friend identified as [redacted]. [Redacted] told Michelle that there was someone who had pictures of the crime scene on their phone.”
This would indicate that family members were aware of the incident before Bissonnette spoke about it publicly in June 2013.
Bissonnette believes the story indicated an effort from the International Brotherhood of Police Officers to protect its members
“[It is] an unfortunate political distraction from the real task of finding Amanda’s killer. The union is worrying about protecting its members. I am more worried about seeing a murderer brought to justice,” Bissonnette said.
He added the story would not change his efforts “cleaning up the Police Department.” An outside auditor is conducting an investigation into 40 internal affairs cases.
Bissonnette did not see any controversy caused by the television report as an issue in his effort to seek re-election.