SHIRLEY -- Selectmen have overturned the police chief's suspension of a police sergeant accused of misconduct at a Lunenburg restaurant in April while she was off-duty.
Selectmen Chairman Andy Deveau said Monday an anonymous complaint was filed with Police Chief Greg Massak that Sgt. Alfreda Cromwell was allegedly out at Sean Patrick's Restaurant in Lunenburg wearing her uniform pants and had her department-issued gun and badge in plain sight.
Cromwell was not on duty at the time. After an internal investigation, Massak suspended Cromwell for three days without pay.
"He suspended her, and she grieved it with the union," Deveau said. "The union suggested there was no wrongdoing done, and the charges should be dismissed and her record cleared and she should be made whole for the loss of her wages. The union grieved it back to the chief, and he denied it, and that's when it came to the selectmen."
Deveau said the selectmen determined there was no proof that Cromwell was drinking alcohol at the restaurant.
Selectman Dave Swain said no information was presented that showed a violation had occurred.
"I've been in numerous establishments where there have been police officers, and members of correctional institutions have been in uniform and out," Swain said. "There was no evidence presented to find she was in violation of any department rules."
A formal hearing was held in executive session with the selectmen, Cromwell and her attorney, as well as the town's attorney and Massak.
"The testimony presented came to a clear conclusion that no wrongdoing occurred," Deveau said. "She was reinstated for her time lost, and her record is clean. There was a complete lack of testimony and, clearly, a lack of evidence. There was no evidence of any wrongdoing."
Shirley police Sgt. Peter Violette said he could not comment on the matter, but generally speaking, when an individual lodges a complaint against an officer, it is investigated thoroughly, and depending on the allegations, an officer could be allowed to continue working throughout the duration of the investigation.
The department also has no policy on officers not being allowed to wear their department-issued uniforms in public, while on duty or not.
Cromwell joined the department in January 2007 and became the first female sergeant in the department in 2010.
In addition to her police work, she works with children at the Shirley Middle School and Lura A. White Elementary School as a volunteer teaching dance and karate.
She is a sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve station with the 25th Marines at Devens. She graduated from the Lowell Police Academy in November 2006.
In 2011, Cromwell helped to institute a Citizens Police Academy in town in which residents learn what goes into being a police officer and how they can play a more active role in keeping the community safe.
The decision made by selectmen was unanimous, Selectman Kendra Dumont said, adding that she could not elaborate on all of the details of the executive session.
"I made that decision only on the evidence given to us that it was not a thorough and complete investigation by our Police Department," Dumont said. "She's more than capable. I consider her one of our best police officers."
Enrico Cappucci, a former selectman and police chief, said officers have a right to a personal life like anyone else.
"If a police officer is in a bar and they have four or five empty beer bottles in front of them, and are screaming at the sporting event on TV, that's inappropriate. But if they go in and have one drink with dinner, I don't see any problem in that," Cappucci said, while noting that he and his wife have a good relationship with Cromwell.
"I would recommend her as chief for any town, and in the long run, she will wind up being a city chief," he said. "I have appointed 12 chiefs, either working privately or through recommendations through other towns. She is, by far, the brightest I have ever recommended. ... She could be the chief here tomorrow, no doubt."
Neither Cromwell nor Massak returned phone calls seeking comment Monday.
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