Boston Officer Investigated for Alleged Sex Crime

BOSTON --

Boston police are investigating a charge that a police officer sexually assaulted a woman while on duty, the Boston Herald reported Sunday.

"It's an allegation," Superintendent-in-Chief Robert Dunford said. "Based on a preliminary investigation, there are a number of unresolved issues. Because of the unresolved issues, the officer is remaining on duty."

A lawyer for the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association said the accusation is "absolutely" false.

The officer, whose name was not released, is assigned to the B-3 precinct in Mattapan.

The woman told police she was sexually assaulted in a field on Blue Hill Avenue, where police had asked a group who had gathered to drink to leave. Dunford told the newspaper that detectives interviewed the woman and combed the field for evidence.

BPPA attorney Tom Drechsler said there is no physical evidence a crime happened. He told the newspaper that the alleged incident happened sometime in the last two weeks.

"My understanding is that several facts of the allegations have absolutely, positively been proven false," he said. "Based on everything I know, credibility is clearly a problem."

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