Acton Police Chief James A. Cogan reports that the Acton Police Department has charged a retired police official from another community, and placed an Acton police supervisor on administrative leave, amid questions about the handing of an OUI investigation. (In Massachusetts, OUI, or “Operating Under the Influence” refers to operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol or drugs.)
On Saturday, May 3, at 12:41 a.m., an Acton police officer conducting field training officer duties with a new patrol officer conducted a check of a liquor store parking lot on Main Street. The officers noticed a 2024 Toyota Highlander running in the parking lot, and the officers made contact with the owner, who was sitting in the driver’s seat and immediately exited the vehicle when the officers arrived.
The officers requested that a supervisor respond to the scene. The officers noticed an odor of alcohol on the vehicle owner’s breath and observed an open can of Twisted Tea brand malt beverage sitting in a cup holder.
The Highlander had a severely flat passenger front side tire but no other damage was noted.
The supervisor responded to the scene and transported the individual to his home in Acton. The other officer was instructed by the supervisor to transport the man’s passenger, a 55-year-old Acton woman, to her home.
The matter was reviewed the following day by Acton Police commanders, including Chief Cogan and Lieutenant Ed Lawton, and the decision was made to file charges and summoned the man to Concord District Court on: operating under the influence and possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
As this matter is a summons, and a criminal complaint has not been issued at this time, the suspect is only able to be identified as a male 64-year-old Acton resident who had worked as a police official in another town prior to his retirement.
The supervisor on duty who responded to the scene that evening has been placed on paid administrative leave, consistent with the policies of the Acton Police Department and the Department’s collective bargaining agreement, pending the outcome of an internal affairs investigation into the handling of this matter.
Chief Cogan has also been in contact with the office of Middlesex District Attorney Marian T. Ryan for guidance and he has notified Town Manager John Mangiaratti, as is standard.
“The Acton Police Department is a modern, state-accredited police department, and the laws we swear to apply to our residents apply equally to current and former members of law enforcement agencies,” Chief Cogan said. “Our public rightly demands that we enforce the law evenly, and we will conduct a full and thorough review of the handling of the situation.”
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.