Investigations

Mass. Dept. Fires Detective After 'Outside' Probe

Aug. 31, 2012

The firing of Millbury police Detective Kimberly Brothers was the recommendation of outside investigators hired by the Board of Selectmen

The firing of Millbury police Detective Kimberly Brothers was the recommendation of outside investigators hired by the Board of Selectmen, officials said yesterday.

"They all came to the conclusion that she should be terminated," said E. Bernard Plante, chairman of the Board of Selectmen.

"It was a very, very difficult decision for the Board of Selectmen," he said.

Mr. Plante said yesterday he could not release details of the charges against Detective Brothers because the case is ongoing.

After an executive session of the Board of Selectmen Tuesday night in which Detective Brothers was terminated, her lawyer, Leigh Panettiere, said that she plans to fight the decision and will bring it to arbitration.

Mr. Plant released a statement on the firing yesterday.

Mr. Plante's statement on behalf of the board reads in part:

"The Board of Selectmen is currently the appointing authority for police officers for the Town of Millbury. As a result of allegations against Kimberly Brothers, the Board of Selectmen retained outside police investigators to conduct a full investigation in which Ms. Brothers was given the opportunity to participate. After the investigation, the Board retained an attorney to conduct a hearing on the allegations to determine the facts and recommend a disposition of the charges against Ms. Brothers.

"Based upon the findings of fact and the recommendation of the hearing officer, the Board acted yesterday in Executive Session as required under law.

"The Board is charged with the responsibility to ensure that its Police Department is operating in a proper manner and that the rights of the citizens of Millbury are protected and defended. This is a grave responsibility for the Board because public safety has to be maintained by police officers, who have the power of arrest and the authority to enforce the laws of the Commonwealth and the Town of Millbury. The Board has acted in accordance with those responsibilities and the law."

Mr. Plante said the board acted to retain impartiality by hiring outside police investigators and an outside lawyer to serve as hearing officer.

Detective Brothers was asked Tuesday to turn her police equipment in yesterday to Chief Mark S. Moore.