{"schemaVersion":1,"title":"Canton Police Audit — Searchable Report","sourcePage":"https://town.canton.ma.us/1080/Police-Audit-Report","retrievedDate":"2026-10-15","scopeNote":"The authors reviewed policies, procedures and their application. Their report excludes factual or legal determinations concerning ongoing criminal investigations and pending legal matters. The material reflects the published 2025 documents, not a current implementation assessment.","extractionNote":"Searchable text is extracted from the PDF text layers. Layout, Unicode ligatures and a Q&A ff-ligature mapping are normalized for readability. Printed page labels and PDF page numbers are separate. Images, diagrams, tables and text embedded in images may require the original PDF. Only the title and attribution of the image on presentation slide 32 are transcribed. Source PDFs are unchanged.","documents":[{"id":"audit","title":"Independent Onsite Audit","short":"Audit report","author":"5 Stones intelligence","filename":"canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025","date":"2025-04-01","dateLabel":"Town listing: April 1, 2025","displayDate":"April 2025","expectedPages":206,"pages":206,"localUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf","sha256":"97adf5797e1db2524c19f4aff49dc5dc56c0b1b3533cd954ae435a3d80dc0bcf"},{"id":"presentation","title":"April 5, 2025 Presentation","short":"Presentation","author":"5 Stones intelligence","filename":"canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation","date":"2025-04-05","dateLabel":"Presentation: April 5, 2025","displayDate":"April 5, 2025","expectedPages":34,"pages":34,"localUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf","sha256":"50db31d60559acb96a5c54705b21ce54a389cca5c661eb0c9f34f2d5ac209b39"},{"id":"qa","title":"Canton Audit Questions and Answers","short":"Questions & answers","author":"5 Stones intelligence","filename":"canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers","date":null,"dateLabel":"Date not stated in document","displayDate":"Date not stated","expectedPages":12,"pages":12,"localUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf","sha256":"ddc2ac1422114177f3667c612624f2cd240dc3b0212482d620ee8f5d014c344a"}],"sections":[{"id":"front","title":"Front matter","pdfStart":1,"pdfEnd":6},{"id":"executive","title":"Executive Summary","pdfStart":7,"pdfEnd":16},{"id":"background","title":"Background","pdfStart":17,"pdfEnd":23},{"id":"section-1","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","pdfStart":24,"pdfEnd":89},{"id":"section-2","title":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","pdfStart":90,"pdfEnd":110},{"id":"section-3","title":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","pdfStart":111,"pdfEnd":117},{"id":"section-4","title":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","pdfStart":118,"pdfEnd":124},{"id":"section-5","title":"Section 5: Citizens Privacy Protections","pdfStart":125,"pdfEnd":127},{"id":"section-6","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","pdfStart":128,"pdfEnd":135},{"id":"section-7","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","pdfStart":136,"pdfEnd":145},{"id":"section-8","title":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","pdfStart":146,"pdfEnd":150},{"id":"section-9","title":"Section 9: Conflicts of Interest","pdfStart":151,"pdfEnd":153},{"id":"section-10","title":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","pdfStart":154,"pdfEnd":158},{"id":"section-11","title":"Section 11: Recommendations and Compliance Review","pdfStart":159,"pdfEnd":160},{"id":"section-12","title":"Section 12: Recommended Improvements","pdfStart":161,"pdfEnd":162},{"id":"section-13","title":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","pdfStart":163,"pdfEnd":166},{"id":"section-14","title":"Section 14: Evidence Review","pdfStart":167,"pdfEnd":171},{"id":"section-15","title":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","pdfStart":172,"pdfEnd":175},{"id":"section-16","title":"Section 16: Additional Administrative Items to Review","pdfStart":176,"pdfEnd":178},{"id":"section-17","title":"Section 17: Civil Rights Review","pdfStart":179,"pdfEnd":181},{"id":"section-18","title":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","pdfStart":182,"pdfEnd":185},{"id":"section-19","title":"Section 19: Security","pdfStart":186,"pdfEnd":188},{"id":"section-20","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","pdfStart":189,"pdfEnd":206}],"pages":[{"id":"audit-p1","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":1,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"PDF p. 1","section":"Front matter","topic":"","title":"Front matter","text":"Town of Canton,\nMassachusetts\n\nIndependent\nOnsite Audit\nof the Town of\nCanton Police\nDepartment\n\nApril 2025\n\nFiscal Years:\n2015 – 2025\n\nDate of Inspection:\nNovember 18, 2024 – March 30, 2025","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=1","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=1","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p1","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p2","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":2,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"PDF p. 2","section":"Front matter","topic":"","title":"Front matter","text":"2025 Independent Audit\nof the Town of Canton\nPolice Department\n5 Stones intelligence (5Si) was tasked with auditing the\nCanton Police Department in accordance with the scope of\nwork order detailed within. 5Si’s report does not make any\nfindings of fact or conclusions of law regarding ongoing\ncriminal investigations or pending legal matters involving\nthe Canton Police Department.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=2","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=2","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p2","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p3","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":3,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"PDF p. 3","section":"Front matter","topic":"","title":"Front matter","text":"March 30, 2025\n\nDear Police Audit Committee,\n\nOn behalf of 5 Stones intelligence (5Si), we are presenting our review of the Canton Police Department’s\n(PD) adherence to policies and procedures as further detailed in your Scope of Services agreement. Since\nNovember of 2024, 5Si has partnered with Canton town officials, the Canton PD, and Canton residents to\nidentify, evaluate, and recommend structural and systemic improvements that the Canton PD can\nimplement to achieve a shared vision of safe, effective, and transparent law enforcement for the Town of\nCanton.\n\nOur report is the product of constructive collaboration between Canton town stakeholders, the public and\nthe Canton PD. The cooperation, transparency, and efforts of the Canton PD, specifically its leadership,\nare a testimony to the power of collaborative change. We look forward to sharing our findings and our\ncontinued work with you to support the implementation of our recommendations.\n\n5Si’s audit included the evaluation of the Department’s organizational culture, policies, procedures,\nregulations, crime scene protocols, professional standards and accountability, organizational structure\nand governance, citizens privacy protections, management, and operations, hiring and training standards,\ncitizen’s complaints, the internal affairs process, evidence handling and processing, financial resources\nand budgeting, and the effectiveness and the transparency of the department. Our Final Report has\nidentified opportunities for improvement in several areas and offers key recommendations as set forth in\nthe attached report.\n\nWe would like to express our gratitude to the leadership and members of the Canton PD for their\ncooperation and support. They have been receptive to our engagement and have collaborated closely with\nour team to provide the necessary information and resources to gain insight into the Department's\noperations and develop actionable recommendations for enhancement. Additionally, the Canton PD has\nembraced the suggestions put forth by 5Si and are actively working toward the implementation of those\nrecommendations which can be effectively executed.\n\nWe appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with you in reshaping public safety in the Town of Canton. It\nis an honor for us to assist in your efforts to foster a secure and efficient law enforcement environment for\nboth the police force and the communities they serve.\n\nSincerely,\n\nBrian Talay,\nCEO\n5 Stones intelligence\nWashington, D.C.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=3","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=3","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p3","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p4","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":4,"printedPage":"i","pageLabel":"Report p. i · PDF p. 4","section":"Front matter","topic":"","title":"Front matter","text":"Table of Contents\nExecutive Summary ............................................................................................................................................................. 2\n Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................... 2\n Review, Scope, and Methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 3\n Evidence and Crime Scene Protocols ............................................................................................................................... 4\n Professional Standards-Internal Affairs ........................................................................................................................... 5\n Organizational Structure of Governance .......................................................................................................................... 5\n Management Operations and Culture .............................................................................................................................. 7\n Hiring, Training, Standards and Equipment ...................................................................................................................... 8\nBackground ....................................................................................................................................................................... 12\n The Canton Police Department (PD) ............................................................................................................................... 12\n Methodology of Audit ..................................................................................................................................................... 17\nSection 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations ................................................................................................................ 19\n A. Interrogating Suspects / Interviewing Witnesses or Victims ....................................................................................... 19\n B. Evidence, Search and Seizure, Electronic Devices and Chain of Custody ................................................................... 20\n C. Eyewitness Identification .......................................................................................................................................... 23\n D. Testifying ................................................................................................................................................................... 24\n E. Mental Health ............................................................................................................................................................ 26\n F. Handling of Juveniles ................................................................................................................................................. 27\n G. Community Relations ................................................................................................................................................ 29\n H. Hit & Run Investigations ............................................................................................................................................. 30\n I. Motor Vehicle Citations............................................................................................................................................... 32\n J. Protective Custody ..................................................................................................................................................... 33\n K. Telephone and Radio Use Including Personal Cell Phone ........................................................................................... 34\n L. CEO Notification ........................................................................................................................................................ 35\n M. Communications Standards of Conduct .................................................................................................................... 36\n N. Command Protocol and Order of Precedence ............................................................................................................ 38\n O. Dispatch Functions.................................................................................................................................................... 40\n P. Field Reporting........................................................................................................................................................... 42\n Q. Legal Process ............................................................................................................................................................ 43\n R. Media and Public Information .................................................................................................................................... 45\n S. Bias-Free Policing ...................................................................................................................................................... 48\n T. Alternatives to Arrest .................................................................................................................................................. 49\n U. Field Training and Evaluation Program ....................................................................................................................... 50\n V. In Car Video Recording ............................................................................................................................................... 51\n W. Body Camera Recording ............................................................................................................................................ 52\n X. Automated Plate Reader Policy/Flock Cameras ......................................................................................................... 52\n Y. Duty to Intervene........................................................................................................................................................ 53\n Z. Informants ................................................................................................................................................................. 53\n AA. Domestic Disputes .................................................................................................................................................. 56\n BB. Sexual Assaults ....................................................................................................................................................... 57\n CC. Dead Bodies ............................................................................................................................................................ 58\n DD. Cold Cases .............................................................................................................................................................. 61","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=4","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=4","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p4","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p5","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":5,"printedPage":"ii","pageLabel":"Report p. ii · PDF p. 5","section":"Front matter","topic":"","title":"Front matter","text":"EE. Criminal Intelligence................................................................................................................................................ 61\n FF. Internal Affairs (IA) ................................................................................................................................................... 62\n GG. Victim Witness Rights ............................................................................................................................................. 64\n HH. Training ................................................................................................................................................................... 66\n II. Central Records ......................................................................................................................................................... 67\n JJ. Oath of Officer ........................................................................................................................................................... 69\n KK. Domestic Violence Involving LEO ............................................................................................................................. 71\n LL. Code of Conduct....................................................................................................................................................... 72\n MM. Roll Call Policy ....................................................................................................................................................... 73\n NN. Selection Process ................................................................................................................................................... 74\n OO. Dispatch Center Access and Use Policy .................................................................................................................. 75\n PP. School Resource Officer .......................................................................................................................................... 76\n QQ. Professional Conduct.............................................................................................................................................. 78\n RR. Special Operations .................................................................................................................................................. 79\n SS. Compliance with CALEA Standards on Specified Policies and Procedures ............................................................... 80\n TT. Officer Personal Vehicle Use .................................................................................................................................... 81\n UU. Overtime Policy and the Adherence of the Overtime ................................................................................................ 82\n VV. Use of Personal Cell Phones .................................................................................................................................... 82\nSection 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview ....................................................................................................................... 85\n Case File Audit of the Death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe ................................................................................ 87\n Case File Audit of the Death of Sandra Birchmore .......................................................................................................... 99\n Case File Audit of the Death of Craig Casey .................................................................................................................. 102\n Case File Audit of Damage to a House Under Construction ........................................................................................... 104\nSection 3: Professional Standards and Accountability ..................................................................................................... 106\nSection 4: Organizational Structure and Governance ....................................................................................................... 113\nSection 5: Citizens Privacy Protections ............................................................................................................................ 120\nSection 6: Management, Operations and Culture ............................................................................................................. 123\nSection 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment ...................................................................................................... 131\nSection 8: Citizens Complaint Process ............................................................................................................................. 141\nSection 9: Conflicts of Interest ......................................................................................................................................... 146\nSection 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards ............................................................................................. 149\nSection 11: Recommendations and Compliance Review .................................................................................................. 154\nSection 12: Recommended Improvements....................................................................................................................... 156\nSection 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review ............................................................................................................................ 158\nSection 14: Evidence Review ............................................................................................................................................ 162\nSection 15: Police Detail Financial Review ....................................................................................................................... 167\nSection 16: Additional Administrative Items to Review ..................................................................................................... 171\nSection 17: Civil Rights Review......................................................................................................................................... 174\nSection 18: Liaison Interviews .......................................................................................................................................... 177\nSection 19: Security ......................................................................................................................................................... 181\nSection 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary ................................................................................................ 184","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=5","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=5","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p5","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p6","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":6,"printedPage":"1","pageLabel":"Report p. 1 · PDF p. 6","section":"Front matter","topic":"","title":"Front matter","text":"EXECUTIVE\n SUMMARY\n Image source: Boston Globe","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=6","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=6","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p6","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p7","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":7,"printedPage":"2","pageLabel":"Report p. 2 · PDF p. 7","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"EXECUTIVE SUMMARY\n\nIntroduction\nThe Town of Canton, Massachusetts and the Special Police Audit Committee\nselected 5 Stones intelligence (5Si) to conduct an Independent Police Audit (IPA) of\nthe Canton Police Department (PD) in November 2024. Our Audit Team conducted\na thorough review of the scope of work which detailed areas for review including\ncrime scene protocols, professional standards, accountability processes,\norganizational structure, and other operational aspects. This audit included a\nfinancial review of overtime expenditures, asset forfeiture expenditures and police\ndetail finances.\n\nThe residents of Canton commissioned the police audit following the tragic death of a town resident,\nBoston Police Officer John O’Keefe, on January 29, 2022. The community seeks to comprehensively\nassess the department's strengths and identify areas where improvements can be made.\n\nThe audit was conducted from November 18, 2024 to March 30, 2025, reviewing activities spanning from\nFiscal Years (FY) 2015 to March 2025 at Canton PD. 5Si team members were present on-site for\napproximately 12 weeks evaluating the day-to-day operations, the department's adherence to internal\npolicies and procedures, as well as compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including\nMassachusetts General Laws and local by-laws. Over the following several months, 5Si conducted\ninterviews of all members of the Canton Police Department including over forty (40) police officers, and\nother town employees. Many of the interviews were completed under the condition of anonymity. As part\nof the inquiry, our team examined more than 98 policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.\nRecommendations were put forward in various aspects of the project, such as professional standards,\ncivilian grievances and accountability, crime scene protocols, advanced training, and compliance with the\nMassachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.\n\nIn conducting this audit, we received full cooperation from Chief Helena Rafferty and other members of\nthe police department and town employees. Prior to this audit, no member of the 5Si Audit Team had ever\nmet any current or former employees of the Canton PD, the Police Audit Committee, or the Select Board.\nThis report was not provided to any members of the department and/or town employees prior to April 1,\n2025. The Audit Team provided updates to Robert McCarthy, Chairperson on the Police Audit Committee.\n\nOur team conducted interviews with all Canton PD employees. The officers who agreed to be interviewed\nwere candid, cooperative, and forthright. Each officer was interviewed in private with no supervisors\npresent. No senior member of the Canton PD command staff, or Town Officials, interfered with or\nattempted to influence the information and/or findings in this report. The Audit Team operated with\nindependence and autonomy during this audit. The Audit Team has extensive experience in investigative\nprocesses, with expertise in conducting internal investigations, compliance, and inspection related\nissues.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=7","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=7","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p7","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p8","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":8,"printedPage":"3","pageLabel":"Report p. 3 · PDF p. 8","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"Given the interest in this audit, it is important to understand what is included as part of this audit and what\nis outside of the scope of this audit, as summarized below:\n\n INCLUDED in the Audit NOT Included in the Audit\n  Assessment of policy compliance with standards of o Reinvestigation of any cases or\n law enforcement accreditation organizations. finding of fact.\n  Assessment of the application of policy in recent o Analysis of evidence collected in\n investigations. ongoing or prior criminal cases.\n  Assessment of the written policy and protocols as o Rendering any opinion of guilt or\n applied in recent investigations. innocence of a party.\n  Presentation of findings and recommendations.\n\nReview, Scope, and Methodology\nThe audit was conducted in accordance with established criteria such as U.S. GAO Government Auditing\nStandards, Massachusetts Police Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission Standards, and\nCommission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) Standards to ensure rigorous\nassessment of the department's operations. The assessment entailed a thorough evaluation of the Canton\nPD across a broad spectrum of operational and administrative areas. The Audit Team's focus extended\nbeyond mere compliance to encompass the department's effectiveness and efficiency in implementing\npolicies, procedures, rules, and regulations. We reviewed a total of 98 Canton PD policies governing\nprocedures, rules and regulations, as well as reports of investigation, crime scene preservation, and\ntraining opportunities provided by Canton PD command staff. The Audit Team ensured a comprehensive\nand unbiased assessment was completed in each section as outlined in the scope of work.\n\nAdditionally, employee interviews were conducted involving all members of the Canton PD, covering\nleadership, patrol officers and detectives, in addition to key Town of Canton Department Heads, including\nthe Town Administrator, Superintendent of Schools and Select Board members. These interviews\nhighlighted areas of strength and efficiency, areas for potential improvement, and illustrated the\nprofessionalism of the Canton PD officers during what has been described as a tumultuous time in the\nTown of Canton’s history.\n\nAs the Audit Team worked through the scope of work, numerous findings highlighted discrepancies\nbetween written policy and implementation. The Audit Team has put forth recommendations in the body of\nthis report in an effort to assist the Town of Canton in enhancing policy compliance and operational\nefficiency. While the audit covered 20 sections, the areas of: Crime Scene Protocols; Professional\nStandards and Accountability; Organizational Structure and Governance; Management, Operations and\nCulture: Hiring, Training and Equipment: and Evidence, are the main areas in which the Audit Team\nidentified immediate action and development items.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=8","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=8","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p8","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p9","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":9,"printedPage":"4","pageLabel":"Report p. 4 · PDF p. 9","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"Evidence and Crime Scene Protocols\nThe Audit Team reviewed a series of crime scene incident reports spanning over a decade. While some\ninvestigations were found to be in line with established guidelines, there were cases of policy breaches\nmainly related to the use of digital photography for documenting crime scenes, as required by the Canton\nPD's Evidence Collection and Preservation Policy. Additional shortcomings were identified in the areas of\ncrime scene preservation and detailed incident documentation. Our evaluation included a detailed\nanalysis of the Canton PD Policy and Procedure, with a specific focus on Evidence Collection No. 6.01\ndated October 31, 2013. This policy outlines the responsibilities of first responders in evidence collection,\ncrime scene preservation, and documentation. Initial recommendations were for the sergeant or shift\ncommander to take charge of crime scenes, and for additional training for Canton PD personnel to handle\nor supervise evidence collection.\n\nDuring the examination, the Audit Team assessed the response and crime scene procedures carried out by\nCanton PD officers on January 29, 2022, involving the tragic death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe at\n34 Fairview Road in the early morning hours. These actions were compared against existing policies,\nregulations, and requirements to determine compliance. The review of this major incident encompassed\ncrime scene investigations, police reports, evidence collection, crime scene security, interviews, and\nevidence documentation. Policy violations were identified and are detailed both below and in the Final\nReport.\n\n OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS\n • First Responding Officers should have photographed Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe\n at the location of where he was found before Fire Rescue moved him to the rescue.\n • All interviews of critical witnesses, including Jennifer McCabe and Kerry Roberts, should\n have been conducted at Canton PD on January 29, 2022, after John O’Keefe was\n transported to the hospital.\n • Consensual Recorded Witness Interviews should have been conducted.\n • The MSP along with Canton PD should have maintained a police presence at 34 Fairview\n Road pending the secondary search conducted by MSP crime scene units.\n • ALL video footage (files) maintained on Canton PDs computer systems of Karen Read’s\n Lexus SUV while it was housed at Canton PD from January 29 through February 2, 2022,\n should have been requested and turned over early in the Karen Read case to lead\n investigators for any action as deemed appropriate.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=9","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=9","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p9","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p10","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":10,"printedPage":"5","pageLabel":"Report p. 5 · PDF p. 10","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"Professional Standards-Internal Affairs\nIn evaluating professional standards and processes, the Audit Team conducted an examination of Internal\nAffairs (IA) investigations dating back to 1991. As a result, we found that there was a lack of organization\nand consistency for the investigative files and for investigative efforts, particularly during the tenure of four\n(4) different Canton Police Chiefs, namely John Ruane Jr., Peter Bright, Kenneth Berkowitz, and Helena\nRafferty. We examined seventy-five (75) IA investigative files over a twenty (20)-year period These seventy-\nfive (75) actions resulted in sixty-three (63) clearances and twelve (12) acts of sustained violations. The\ntwelve (12) sustained violations resulted in: four (4) suspensions, one (1) demotion and seven (7)\ncounseling/training sessions. The Audit Team determined that POST requirements were met as they\nrelated to these inquiries and subsequent disciplinary actions. The most recent action occurred on\nOctober 2, 2024. Two (2) complaints and results were sent to POST in accordance with policy.\n\nIt was noted that due to the department's size, establishing a designated Internal Affairs division or the\ndesignation of a full-time Internal Affairs Investigator is not practical. The Audit Team found that complaint\nfiles were not maintained in a consistent manner as methods of investigation, documentation and\nprocesses were varied. While the Deputy Chief of Operations and Investigations is responsible for\noverseeing internal investigations, we found some complaints filed by residents and/or violations of policy\nand procedure by officers were handled directly by the Chief of Police, creating a conflict.\n\n OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS\n • The Canton PD’s Internal Affairs process is inconsistent regarding investigation and\n documentation methods.\n • The Audit Team found no instances where complaints were intentionally ignored, or officer\n misconduct was arbitrarily excused; but the consistency in how cases were handled\n varied greatly.\n • Several misconduct complaints were handled directly by the Chief of Police. The Audit\n Team recommends hiring outside firms for IA investigations where conflicts and potential\n conflicts exist, or cases where multiple officers are involved.\n\nOrganizational Structure of Governance\nThe Canton PD's hierarchy framework and chain of command are well-defined, ensuring that\ncommunication follows the appropriate channels to reach supervisors. Information flows smoothly to the\nnecessary authorities when senior decision-making is needed. By bringing in additional civilian staff\nmembers, such as intelligence analysts, the department could greatly improve communication\ncapabilities, leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness.\n\nThe Audit Team found that the patrol division and investigative division frequently collaborate on crime\nprevention and provide effective support to each other's efforts. Their teamwork and synchronization are\nevident in their combined responses to incidents, such as a non-fatal shooting event in November 2024.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=10","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=10","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p10","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p11","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":11,"printedPage":"6","pageLabel":"Report p. 6 · PDF p. 11","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"During this occurrence, both divisions swiftly reacted, apprehended the shooter, and gathered crucial\nevidence, including the weapon used. Their cohesive approach involved conducting interviews, examining\nevidence, and liaising with prosecutors to file attempted murder charges against the offender. The unity\nand coordination between the patrol and investigative divisions were outstanding and played a crucial role\nin the successful resolution of the case. Patrol officers are actively engaged in cases and maintain close\ncollaboration with the detective division. Additionally, all details and activities were promptly\ncommunicated to senior management and town officials, guaranteeing appropriate notifications within\nthe organization.\n\nCanton PD patrol officers are tasked with handling both 911 calls and other calls for service, dispatching\ncalls for service to patrol units. The Audit Team recommends that the Canton PD should consider\ntransferring their dispatch and 911 responsibilities to the Holbrook Regional Dispatch Center. The\nrelocation of dispatch operations to the Holbrook Dispatch center will not incur any expenses for the Town\nof Canton for a period of 3 years. Furthermore, this transition will ensure the provision of services,\nmaintenance, and upgrades to the radio communication systems such as transmitters and repeaters be\nfunded by the state. A secondary option would be for Canton PD to hire full-time dispatchers to assist\nofficers in taking calls for service, non-emergency, and emergency calls for service and other\nadministrative tasks.\n\nThese recommendations are based on best practices and are anticipated to enhance the efficiency of the\nCanton PD while fulfilling various needs.\n\nWhile the department has established and implemented standards for communicating with the public\nregarding emergencies, the function that permits public feedback has been deactivated. This has limited\nthe possibility of productive discussions. Some individuals in the community along with social media\ninfluencers have continuously targeted the police department and its personnel with scornful comments,\nnegative personal attacks, and severe critique even for the most basic aspects of their duties. This has\nhampered efforts to establish a constructive dialogue.\n\n OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS\n • The Canton PD had three (3) Internal Affairs investigations in the past year as the result of\n police officer dispatch failures.\n • No civilian dispatchers are employed by the Canton PD.\n • The Canton PD has only one (1) part-time civilian employee.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=11","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=11","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p11","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p12","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":12,"printedPage":"7","pageLabel":"Report p. 7 · PDF p. 12","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"Management Operations and Culture\nThe Audit Team observed Chief Rafferty's leadership style and found her approach and decision-making\nabilities to be effective. Chief Rafferty is highly respected by the members of the department and\ncolleagues in the law enforcement community. There is a noticeable decrease in morale among\ndepartment members, largely due to public scrutiny regarding the Canton PD's handling of the crime\nscene and the investigation into the death of Canton resident and Boston Police Officer, John O'Keefe.\nWhile constructive feedback is beneficial, the continuation of personal criticisms has transformed from a\nmethod for improvement to personal attacks. These attacks via various avenues such as social media,\nphone calls, e-mails, and public demonstrations have had a significant negative impact on morale within\nthe department.\n\nSocial media personalities have claimed that the Canton PD deliberately mishandled the crime scene\nwhere Mr. O’Keefe was found on January 29, 2022, and implied a possible cover-up within the department\nto hide the circumstances around Mr. O’Keefe’s death. Following her arrest, Karen Read and her legal\nteam have asserted there is a conspiracy and cover-up involving law enforcement and witnesses.\nInfluential figures on social media from various regions have been tracking and amplifying these claims.\nMultiple Canton PD officers have stated that they have experienced harassment from the public while\nworking, spending personal time with their families and children, and during off-duty police details. A\ngathering of individuals supporting the \"Free Karen Read\" movement regularly protest outside the Canton\nPD. There have been numerous accounts of officers encountering harassment, both in-person and online,\nincluding through e-mails, voicemails, social media platforms, and YouTube. Members of the Audit Team\nhave received e-mails and text messages prompting team members to investigate allegations and alleged\ncover-ups by police.\n\nWhile tensions are strained within the community, it is incumbent upon the leadership for the Town of\nCanton to remain unbiased and objective. Any lack of support from Town leadership coupled with the\nvitriol expressed by some members of the public, has negatively impacted the morale of the officers.\n\nThe following two quotes given by two (2) separate Canton PD officers during their interviews highlight the\nchasm that exist between the Canton PD and the Town Officials.\n\n “No one in this town will care about us until one of us gets murdered, even then\n half the town will probably celebrate that.”\n\n “Elected officials don’t care about us. Now the easiest way to gain popularity or\n get elected is to publicly trash us. They have no political platform, just trash the\n police. That’s it. It doesn't even have to be true, just do it.”\n\n OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS\n • The Canton PD has above average morale as it relates to camaraderie and faith in the\n department.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=12","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=12","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p12","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p13","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":13,"printedPage":"8","pageLabel":"Report p. 8 · PDF p. 13","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"• Interviews conducted by the Audit Team revealed that officers do not feel they have the\n support of Canton Town Officials.\n • The Canton PD officers’ morale as it relates to its relationship with the Town is low.\n • The Audit Team has been informed that Town meetings in the Town of Canton devolve and\n become contentious and unproductive.\n\nHiring, Training, Standards and Equipment\nThe Canton PD is a civil service department, which plays an important role in ranking and selecting new\nofficers. Prior to exercising police powers in the Commonwealth, individuals must successfully complete\nthe prescribed course of study for basic police training authorized by Municipal Police Training Committee\n(MPTC). The Municipal Police Training Committee sets the standards for basic police training for\ncandidates hired by individual police departments throughout the Commonwealth. Those police\ndepartments submit applications for their employees (or sponsored candidates) to the recruit academies.\nHiring practices vary by department and certain departments, operating by Civil Service, (Canton PD) must\nfollow a selection process set forth by statute.\n\nAll Canton PD recruits in accordance with state law must: 1) be a minimum of 21 years old; 2) be\nemployed or sponsored by the Canton PD, and 3) successfully complete the Massachusetts Human\nResource Division's Physical Ability Test (PAT) and medical examination before assignment to the\nacademy.\n\nThe Canton PD hiring process and the standards followed are in alignment with policy, civil service\nrequirements and industry best standards.\n\nAdditional training for Canton PD officers is required. While the Canton PD meets training requirements as\nthey relate to certifications and qualifications, our team recommends Canton PD detectives receive\nadvanced training in crime scene photography, crime scene documentation, evidence evaluation, and\ncollection.\n\nThe Audit Team recommends further training in the areas of crime scene management, report writing,\nevidence collection, expert witness testifying, internal affairs, discovery rules and legal ethics.\nAdditionally, officers have expressed a desire for more training and while the Command Staff attempts to\nfulfill each request, current budget constraints prevent them from doing so.\n\nThe Audit Team has pinpointed locations in the Town of Canton where the Canton PD portable radios are\nnot functional. Given that officers are not equipped with department-issued cell phones, the scenario\nwhere a Canton PD officer may be dispatched from their marked patrol car to address an emergency\nsituation on Washington Street (Canton Central) without any means of communication is realistic and\nconcerning. This situation could leave the Town vulnerable to legal action.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=13","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=13","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p13","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p14","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":14,"printedPage":"9","pageLabel":"Report p. 9 · PDF p. 14","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS\n • The Canton PD detectives need advanced training in crime scene investigations.\n • The Canton PD needs an increased training budget approved by the town.\n • Civil Service Standards place a limitation on who can be hired by the Town of Canton.\n • Portable Radios and their inability to provide complete coverage is problematic.\n • Canton PD officers are not issued department cellular phones.\n\nBelow is a list of a few recommendations as they relate to the above observations and findings. The Final\nReport contains numerous additional findings and recommendations.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n This section sets forth our recommendations for changes in the department.\n Recommendation 1\n Interviews Conducted at the Canton PD. Interviews of witnesses should be conducted at the\n Canton PD whenever possible. These interviews should be recorded and conducted as soon as\n possible after an event.\n Recommendation 2\n All sergeant and patrol vehicles should have full crime scene kits including evidence\n collection bags, sealing equipment and digital cameras. Department phones or digital\n cameras should be placed in patrol cars for officers to document crime scenes. The Audit Team\n identified that officers and detectives used personal phones to photograph crime scenes. Patrol\n officers and sergeants noted that Canton PD has one (1) digital camera assigned to the\n detective division. Chief Rafferty is aware of this recommendation and is in the process of\n purchasing additional digital cameras for officers.\n Recommendation 3\n Re-write Canton PD policy and procedure related to utilization and authorization of personal\n phones to photograph or video crime scenes. All policy should be changed to mandate the\n utilization of ONLY department issued/owned phones to photograph crime scenes. Use of\n personal phones should be strictly prohibited.\n Recommendation 4\n Relinquish 911 and dispatch responsibilities to the Holbrook dispatch Center or Hire full\n time dispatchers. In the past six (6) months, the Audit Team identified three (3) separate\n occasions where patrol officers failed to dispatch officers to calls for service. The Audit Team\n found most neighboring police departments of similar size employ full-time dispatchers or","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=14","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=14","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p14","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p15","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":15,"printedPage":"10","pageLabel":"Report p. 10 · PDF p. 15","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"utilize regional dispatch centers. These options must be evaluated by the Town of Canton as\n either could alleviate overtime costs while providing an extra police body where needed. The\n use of regional or full-time dispatchers would allow overtime funds to be redirected towards\n overtime expenses incurred while attending training. Additionally, the officers covering dispatch\n would be available to perform police functions on patrol instead. If regional dispatch is the\n selected alternative, any expenses from radio system upgrades and maintenance is covered by\n the Commonwealth.\n Recommendation 5\n Increase training opportunities for patrol officers, detectives, and sergeants. Specific training\n of note includes crime scene training, interrogation and witness interviews, and evidence\n documentation practices.\n Recommendation 6\n Chief of the Investigations Division should review all death investigation police reports to\n ensure completeness, accuracy and exhaustion of all investigative avenues. [Note: A Canton PD\n detective wrote that Sandra Birchmore died of a suicide in the initial report. It was later\n determined that she had been killed by strangulation.]\n Recommendation 7\n Provide prompt, proportional, and consistent discipline across the department. Discipline\n must be applied consistently to all employees and administered in a manner that prevents the\n appearance of undue favor to any employee. The Audit Team identified that several Internal\n Affairs cases were handled directly by the Chief of Police and instances where the discipline\n process was not always applied consistently.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=15","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=15","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p15","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p16","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":16,"printedPage":"11","pageLabel":"Report p. 11 · PDF p. 16","section":"Executive Summary","topic":"","title":"Executive Summary","text":"BACKGROUND\n Image source: Boston Globe","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=16","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=16","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p16","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p17","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":17,"printedPage":"12","pageLabel":"Report p. 12 · PDF p. 17","section":"Background","topic":"","title":"Background","text":"BACKGROUND\nIn October 2024, the Town of Canton, Massachusetts, along with a Special Police Audit Committee,\nselected 5 Stones intelligence (5Si) to conduct an Independent Police Audit (IPA) of the Canton Police PD.\nThis audit took place between November 18, 2024 and March 21, 2025, examining activities from Fiscal\nYears (FY) 2015 through March 2025. The audit aimed to assess whether the CDP adhered to internal\npolicies and procedures, and to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, including\nMassachusetts General Laws and local by-laws. The audit adhered to various standards such as U.S. GAO\nGovernment Auditing Standards, Massachusetts Police Officers Standards and Training (POST)\nCommission Standards, and Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)\nStandards. A thorough review was conducted of citizen complaints, conflict of interest issues, crime\nscene protocols, professional standards, accountability processes, organizational structure, and other\noperational aspects. This audit included a financial review of forfeiture expenditures and police detail\nfinances and was carried out in partnership with the Special Police Audit Committee.\n\nThe audit was initiated following a special town meeting in November 2024, where residents of Canton\nvoted to audit the local police department in response to the death of Boston Police Officer, John O’Keefe,\nin Canton and the police’s handling of the crime scene and subsequent investigation. Consequently, the\nCanton Select Board formed a Special Police Audit Committee to oversee the audit. The committee was\nchaired by Robert “Bob” McCarthy, with additional members including David Clough, Kathleen Howley,\nDr. Daniel Muse, and Colonel John Kelly (retired from the Massachusetts State Police).\n\nThe Canton Police Department (PD)\nThe Canton PD is a municipal police force in Massachusetts employing fifty (50) personnel, including forty-\ntwo (42) sworn officers. The department is headed by Police Chief Helena Rafferty, who was appointed in\n2022. Chief Rafferty, a 35-year veteran of the department and an FBI National Academy graduate,\nascended through the department's ranks to her current position. The majority of the department's officers\noperate within the Patrol Division, focusing on responding to service calls and patrolling town streets,\nschools, and businesses.\n\nCanton PD Structure\nThe command structure of the Canton PD is as follows:","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=17","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=17","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p17","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p18","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":18,"printedPage":"13","pageLabel":"Report p. 13 · PDF p. 18","section":"Background","topic":"","title":"Background","text":"When at full staff, the Canton PD has twenty-five (25) patrol officers and seven (7) sergeants. Currently,\nthe Canton PD is down seven (7) officers with another deployed (sergeant) on military leave.\n\nShifts and Staffing\nThe Town of Canton is divided into four (4) sectors: Northwest, Northeast, West and East. On the dayshifts\n(7:45 a.m.- 3:45 p.m.) there is a uniformed officer assigned to each sector, a patrol sergeant who roves\nand responds to any serious calls, and an administrative sergeant in the station. A lieutenant is assigned to\neach dayshift serving as Station Commander. A minimum of one\ndetective is assigned to each dayshift with the remaining\ndetectives on call and available. Additionally, during the week\nthere are four (4) full-time school resource officers each assigned\nto Canton High School, Blue Hills Regional High School and Galvin\nMiddle School, with the fourth officer assigned to service all three\n(3) public elementary schools.\n\nEvening shift (3:45 p.m.- 11:45 p.m.) is staffed the same as the day\nshift, except for the school resource officers.\n\nThe overnight shift (11:45 p.m. - 7:45 a.m.) is staffed with four (4)\npatrol officers and one (1) sergeant. The West and East sectors\nbecome one sector while the Northwest and Northeast remain\nseparate sectors. Each of these three (3) sectors are staffed with a\npatrol officer. The fourth officer is assigned to dispatch, and the\n 11:45 p.m. – 7:45 a.m. shift staff of the\nsergeant patrols city-wide as a roving unit available to respond as Canton PD\nneeded to any sector.\n\nCriminal Investigation Division (CID)\nThe Canton PD has a Criminal Investigation Division (CID) that focuses on investigating violent offenders,\nserious crimes and related offenses. The CID is commanded by a lieutenant detective who overseas one\n(1) detective sergeant and three (3) detectives. The CID performs tactical operations, serves warrants, and\nworks in concert with the Massachusetts State Police (MSP), neighboring state and local law enforcement\nagencies, and federal law enforcement agencies including the DEA, ATF and FBI. The CID Sergeant serves\nas the police prosecutor at Norfolk County Superior Court.\n\nThe CID detectives are also responsible for conducting any internal investigations or inquiries initiated as\nthe result of a civilian complaint or allegation made by another Canton PD employee. The assignment of\ninvestigative personnel is at the discretion of the Canton PD senior leadership.\n\nCanton PD Rules of Conduct\nRules and Regulations H:1 state in part:\n\n “Each employee of the Canton Police Department is expected to show his loyalty\n to the organization through putting forth his best effort to accomplish the\n Department's goals and objectives. Police Department employees must comply","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=18","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=18","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p18","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p19","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":19,"printedPage":"14","pageLabel":"Report p. 14 · PDF p. 19","section":"Background","topic":"","title":"Background","text":"with the rules and regulations set forth by the Canton Police Department and are\n to act both publicly and privately in a manner reflecting the highest public\n interest. Actions taken by an employee contrary to this paragraph shall be\n grounds for disciplinary actions...”\n\nThis regulation is the backbone of the Canton PD expectation of professionalism, courtesy, and integrity.\nThe Canton PD code of conduct contains twelve (12) pages and addresses pertinent issues required by\nCALEA and Massachusetts POST conduct expectations as they relate to such areas as: Professionalism\nwhen working with other agencies, Dissemination of Information, Courtesy and Respect, Interaction with\nthe Public, Courtesy to the Public, Requests for Assistance, Professional Trust, Referrals for Service,\nDiscrimination, Disparaging Terms, Prejudice, Stereotyping, Anti-Semitism, Racism, Sexual Harassment,\nDishonesty, and Political Involvement.\n\nAll employees of the Canton PD, both sworn and non-sworn, are required to familiarize themselves with\nthe provisions of the Department’s Rules and Regulations. All Canton PD policies were reviewed and\nupdated by Chief Helena Rafferty in November 2024. Canton PD policies, procedures and regulations are\navailable via each desktop on the l-drive under the title “Canton Police Department Rules and\nRegulations” and on each officer’s cell phone via the Blue Voice application.\n\n2024 Canton Police Enforcement Statistics\nIn 2024, the Canton PD logged 9,071 dispatch entries of which 8,928 were police actions, calls for service,\nor police-initiated contacts. Of these 8,928 encounters, 310 resulted in an eventual arrest, with 75\nresulting in an immediate arrest and handcuffing of at least one defendant. The other 235 arrests resulted\nfrom indictments, arrest warrants, or surrenders. Of the 310 arrests, 37 resulted in a “use of force”\nincident, representing approximately 12% of all the arrests. The use of force numbers and types are\ndepicted in the chart below.\n\n Canton PD Police Enforcement Statistics","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=19","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=19","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p19","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p20","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":20,"printedPage":"15","pageLabel":"Report p. 15 · PDF p. 20","section":"Background","topic":"","title":"Background","text":"Scope of Work and Areas Evaluated\nThe Audit Team was asked to assess the following\nprograms and policies for compliance with\nMassachusetts State POST and Massachusetts\nPolice Accreditation Commission Standards (MPAC)\nrequirements:\n\n• Interviewing witnesses or victims’ policy\n• Search and seizure policy\n• Eyewitness Identification policy\n• Interrogating suspects policy\n• Testifying policy\n• Mental Health policy\n• Handling of Juveniles policy\n• Chain of Custody – Evidence Property policy\n• Community Relations policy\n• Hit and Run Investigations policy\n• Motor Vehicle Citations policy\n• Protective Custody policy\n• Telephone and Radio Use, including personal cell Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission\n Certification\n phone, policy\n• CEO Notification policy • Searching and Seizing Electronic Devices policy\n• Communications Standards of Conduct policy • Internal Affairs policy\n• Command Protocol and Order of Precedence • Victim Witness Rights policy\n policy • Training policy\n• Dispatch Functions policy • Central Records policy\n• Field Reporting policy • Oath of Officer policy\n• Legal Process policy • Domestic Violence Involving LEO policy\n• Media and Public Information policy • Code of Conduct policy\n• Bias-Free Policing policy • Roll Call policy\n• Alternatives to Arrest policy • Selection Process policy\n• Field Training and Evaluation Program policy • Dispatch Center Access and Use policy\n• In-Car Video Recording policy • School Resource Officer policy\n• Body Camera Recording policy • Professional Conduct policy\n• Automated Plate Reader policy • Evidence policy\n• Duty to Intervene policy • Special Operations policy","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=20","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=20","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p20","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p21","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":21,"printedPage":"16","pageLabel":"Report p. 16 · PDF p. 21","section":"Background","topic":"","title":"Background","text":"• Informants’ policy • Compliance with CALEA Standards on Specified\n• Domestic Disputes policy Policies and Procedures\n• Sexual Assaults policy • Officer Personal Use Vehicle policy\n• Dead Bodies policy • Overtime policy and the adherence of the\n overtime policy\n• Cold Cases policy\n • Use of Personal Cell Phones policy and\n• Criminal Intelligence policy\n adherence to the policy\n\nThe requested assessment involved a comprehensive evaluation of the Canton PD in a range of\noperational and administrative areas. The Audit Team reviewed the Canton PD’s policies, procedures,\nrules, and regulations and evaluated Canton PD practices for compliance thereto. Below is a summary of\nthe key components of the assessment:\n\n 1. Review of Documentation: The Audit Team reviewed various documents including policies,\n procedures, department directives, and training requirements provided by Chief Rafferty. The\n assessment aimed to ensure these documents align with Massachusetts State Laws, POST\n requirements, best practices, CALEA standards, and Canton PD’s MPAC certifications.\n\n 2. Interviews Conducted: Approximately 55 interviews were conducted. The Audit Team received\n 100% participation from the Canton PD–from leadership to officers and detectives. Interviews\n were conducted with the Town of Canton department heads, including the Town Administrator, the\n Superintendent of Canton Public Schools, and Select Board members. Multiple Town of Canton\n citizens established contact with the Audit Team and were also interviewed. These interviews\n sought insight on department culture, morale, leadership effectiveness, the influence of the Select\n Board on the department, and community relationships and concerns.\n\n 3. Assessment Criteria: The assessment weighed department policies and their implementation\n against several criteria:\n\n a. Adherence: How well the Canton PD personnel follow existing policies and regulations.\n b. Alignment: The synchronization of policies with strategic and capital planning initiatives.\n c. Efficiency and Effectiveness: Evaluation of resource utilization and goal achievement.\n d. Financial Constraints: How effectively the department works within the town’s budgetary\n limitations.\n e. Compliance: Adherence to standards set by the GAO’s Government Auditing Standards,\n POST Commission, Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission, Massachusetts\n General Laws, Code of Massachusetts Regulations, CALEA, and Town of Canton By-Laws.\n\n 4. Findings and Recommendations: Specific findings and recommendations were not applicable in\n all areas of the audit; therefore, those sections will not be dissected in detail. Many of our findings\n assessed gaps in written policy and policy implementation. Where such gaps were noted, the Audit\n Team included recommendations for enhancing policy adherence and operational efficiency.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=21","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=21","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p21","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p22","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":22,"printedPage":"17","pageLabel":"Report p. 17 · PDF p. 22","section":"Background","topic":"","title":"Background","text":"Canton PD’s internal controls and compliance oversight have improved since the initiation of the Audit\nand are functioning, and Canton PD has effective leadership in place to supervise officers going forward.\nChief Rafferty has been advised of recommendations and implemented necessary changes to improve\ncrime scene and professional standards procedures.\n\nMethodology of Audit\nWhen evaluating the department's policies based on the given criteria, it is imperative to note certain\nlimitations to the assessment when it comes to budgetary evaluations. No law enforcement or public\nsafety policy should be limited for the purpose of operating within the financial restrictions of the town.\nThese policies are formulated to provide directives pertaining to public safety, officer safety, and\nadherence to best practices within the law enforcement industry with the goal of ensuring protection from\nand prevention of criminal actions. The notion that any public safety, officer safety, or effective law\nenforcement practice should be limited to adhering to financial constraints is a decision that cannot be\nendorsed by this Audit Team. This principle extends to Capital Planning Initiatives as well. Any initiatives\nundertaken by the town must be in line with police policies and account for resulting budgetary\nrequirements. These policies and standards that the Canton PD must abide by are mandated by POST,\nMPAC, and Massachusetts State Law, and therefore should not be limited by financial initiatives.\nSynchronization of services with alignment to budgets is a historic challenge to police professionals.\n\nThe Canton PD holds a current certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission\n(MPAC). Recognizing the compliance of the Canton PD with MPAC, the Audit Team has incorporated the\nCALEA requirements (considered the \"Gold Standard\" for law enforcement agencies), the POST\nrequirements, and Massachusetts law into our assessment of policy and procedure.\n\nEach segment of the evaluation focused on specific points delineated by the Canton Audit Committee.\nWhenever feasible, the Audit Team scrutinized documents, reports, and policies provided digitally to gain\na comprehensive understanding of procedures. In instances where digital review was not available, the\nAudit Team examined physical copies of these documents on-site before proceeding with the evaluation\nof the respective topics. The Audit Team meticulously evaluated the actions of the Canton PD against\nestablished policies and procedures. Evaluation considered external factors beyond the Canton PD's\ncontrol and internal factors, such as training, resources, and staffing levels. Our observations have been\ndocumented, and recommendations have been proposed where applicable to rectify identified gaps in\npolicy application and compliance. When the Scope of Work yielded repetitive findings, these were\namalgamated in sections to present a concise overview.\n\nOverall, our audit sought to ensure the Canton PD complied with necessary regulations and operates\nefficiently and effectively going forward – aligning its practices with broader strategic and financial goals\nwhile maintaining strong community relationships. Given the size and nature of the request, the Audit\nTeam structured this report in alignment with the scope of work for ease of review.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=22","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=22","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p22","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p23","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":23,"printedPage":"18","pageLabel":"Report p. 18 · PDF p. 23","section":"Background","topic":"","title":"Background","text":"SECTION 1:\n Policies, Procedures and Regulations\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=23","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=23","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p23","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p24","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":24,"printedPage":"19","pageLabel":"Report p. 19 · PDF p. 24","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"SECTION 1: POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS\n\nA. Interrogating Suspects / Interviewing Witnesses or Victims\nThe policy is outlined under Policy No 2.08, in alignment with CALEA Standards 42.2.1 B, and provides\ncomprehensive guidance on interrogating suspects and interviewing witnesses or victims within the\nCanton PD. Key elements of the policy are as follows.\n\nKey Elements of the Policy\nCompliance with Miranda Requirements:\n• Officers must issue Miranda warnings when appropriate, specifically from a Canton PD-issued\n Miranda warning card or documentation.\n• Awareness of language barriers, fatigue, medications, or mental health issues affecting the suspect's\n ability to understand the rights waiver is crucial.\n\nVoluntary Statements:\n\nVoluntary statements are acceptable under two (2) conditions:\n\n• After a clear waiver of Miranda rights.\n• As unprovoked spontaneous utterances, made freely without officer prompting.\n\nConducting Interviews:\n• Officers are encouraged to follow a structured approach, although the content and methods may vary\n based on the investigation's nature and the interview subject.\n• Proper interview techniques must be employed to enhance productivity, protect public rights,\n maintain professionalism, and increase interview efficiency.\nStandardization and Consistency:\n\nThe review identified inconsistencies in the format, structure, and content of interview reports. These\ninconsistencies indicate a need for a more uniform approach to both interviews and documentation.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Canton PD’s policies regarding interrogations and interviews align with POST and CALEA\n standards, emphasizing the protection of constitutional rights and promoting effective\n investigative techniques. However, establishing a consistent approach to conducting interviews\n and documentation ensures the effectiveness and reliability of statements obtained by the\n department. These efforts will also support legal admissibility and enhance the overall quality of\n investigative work.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=24","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=24","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p24","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p25","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":25,"printedPage":"20","pageLabel":"Report p. 20 · PDF p. 25","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Specific recommendations for the Canton PD include:\n Uniform Approach to Documentation\n Implement standardized templates or guidelines for reporting interviews, ensuring consistency\n in formatting, structure, and essential content. A template should be adaptable to appropriately\n document different types of interviews, but nonetheless provide a consistent structure to be\n used by the department.\n Ongoing Evaluation and Improvement\n Canton PD policies include self-evaluation mechanisms to assess interview effectiveness and\n remediate shortcomings. Commanding officers must consistently review the reports of\n subordinates ensuring effectiveness and thoroughness.\n The Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Investigations Unit should review any interviews deemed\n inadmissible in court or in cases where prosecution is declined. Such a review will identified\n shortcomings in the reports so improvements can be implemented appropriately.\n Separation of Suspects During Questioning\n When conducting interviews of multiple individuals, interviewees should be separated from\n each other prior to and during questioning. Detectives should record all interviews electronically\n when possible. Separating witnesses/suspects is a key factor in corroborating statements from\n multiple individuals.\n Training and Policy Amendments\n Where deficiencies are identified, amendments to existing policies should be made and\n additional training should be provided to ensure the changes are noted and understood.\n\nB. Evidence, Search and Seizure, Electronic Devices and Chain of Custody\nThe audit of the Canton PD’s policies concerning Search and Seizure, Chain of Custody, Seizing Electronic\nDevices and Evidence Handling reveals a comprehensive framework that meets established standards.\nBelow is a summary and review of the policies and related procedures.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nSearch and Seizure:\n• Covered under Policy No. 1.07.\n• Aligns with CALEA and POST Standards, ensuring that the rights of individuals are respected while\n allowing for effective law enforcement operations, specifically the execution of a search warrant and\n the seizing of physical property.\nChain of Custody:\n• Defined as the systematic documentation process that tracks evidence/property from discovery to\n custody with the department.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=25","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=25","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p25","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p26","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":26,"printedPage":"21","pageLabel":"Report p. 21 · PDF p. 26","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"• Critical details recorded include location, date/time, and personnel involved in each transfer, ensuring\n continuity and accountability.\n• Emphasizes the use of a computerized records management system (IMC Enterprise Software\n Platform) for accurate tracking and management.\nEvidence Handling:\n• Detailed in Policy No. 6.02.\n• Differentiates between temporary and permanent storage solutions to secure evidence:\n • Temporary Evidence Room: Includes lockers, shelves, and secure containers for immediate\n deposit.\n • Permanent Evidence Room: Highly secured, long-term storage with rigorous access control,\n monitored by 24-hour video surveillance.\n• Prohibits unauthorized storage of evidence outside designated areas, preventing mishandling or loss.\n • Managed by a designated Evidence/Property Officer who is accountable for the integrity of all\n evidence.\nSeizing Electronic Devices:\n• Follows policy as outlined in Policy No. 6.02\n• Electronic evidence (cell phones / computers / tablets) should only be seized if:\n • Consent was provided to download and search the device.\n • It is anticipated that a search warrant will be obtained to search the device.\n• Canton PD policy calls for all electronic devices seized to be shut off/switched to airplane mode and\n sealed in a Faraday Bag, preventing the reception/transmission of EMF signals altering the contents of\n the device at the time of seizure.\nRoles:\n• Evidence/Property Officer: Responsible for maintaining control over all evidence, ensuring proper\n storage, and processing procedures.\n• Impounding Officer: The initial officer collecting the evidence starts the chain of custody.\n• Confiscated Property: Items seized not directly related to evidence of a crime, e.g., firearms not\n involved in criminal cases, which are to be secured in a department armory.\n• Affiant: Sworn Officer or Detective that provided information under oath to the court magistrate or\n judge to obtain a warrant to search or seize evidence.\n\nAudit Team’s Observations\nBelow is a summary of the Audit Team’s observations of physical facilities:\n\n• Evidence storage areas are under strict video monitoring with access controlled by electronic cards.\n• Evidence documentation is maintained in an electronic log controlled at the Town administration level.\n• Access to the main evidence vault is restricted with detailed entry logs maintained electronically.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=26","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=26","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p26","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p27","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":27,"printedPage":"22","pageLabel":"Report p. 22 · PDF p. 27","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"• Surveillance footage of evidence access areas can be reviewed, but not altered, by either the primary\n or alternate evidence custodian.\n• All sworn officers have electronic card access to the temporary evidence holding and processing\n room, which is under 24-hour video surveillance.\n• All evidence brought into the station after hours for submission into evidence is logged in and then\n deposited into a secure temporary evidence container, pending final processing by the evidence\n custodian. Once evidence is secured in the temporary evidence container, the only person(s) that can\n retrieve the evidence are the Canton PD evidence custodian(s).\n\nInspection, Inventory, and Audit of Evidence Room in consideration of CALEA Standards\nThe Audit Team inspected the temporary storage, the evidence room, and evidence currently being held by\nthe Canton PD. In addition, we conducted spot checks of random evidentiary items upon arrival in\nNovember of 2024. This review determined that the Canton PD is in compliance with policy and\nprocedures as recommended by CALEA Standards. [Note: Chief Rafferty provided the Audit Team with the\n2022, 2023 and 2024 yearly audits of the evidence room, which covered the inspection of all seized money,\nnarcotics, firearms, sexual assault kits, and property evidence].\n\nThe 2022, 2023 and 2024 audits revealed that firearms were being stored along with other evidence in the\nmain system. While not a violation, a recommendation was in alignment with best practices to separate\nfirearms from traditional evidence. The Audit Team confirmed that the recommendations made from the\nprevious October 2024 audit had been adhered to and implemented. All firearms are now stored\nseparately and secured in a separate area in the evidence room.\n\nThe evidence room was recently re-organized into five (5) different areas: Narcotics Evidence, Firearms,\nSexual Assault Kits, Property and Alcohol. In February of 2025, the Audit Team conducted a second audit.\nThis audit was unannounced and included a review of a randomly selected part of the evidence room and\nits contents. The Audit Team requested the production of randomly selected pieces of evidence spanning\nmultiple decades and types of cases. The Canton PD evidence custodian immediately located and\nproduced all evidentiary items requested, which were properly secured and maintained.\n\nIt is important to understand that there is not a policy that can tell an officer what will be classified as\nevidence. The collection of evidence depends on the type of investigation and the role of the investigator.\nSupervision, experience and discretion are key to correctly identifying evidence in an investigation. The\ngoal is to be thorough and fair while minimizing the impact to the lives and rights of the public. An officer\ncannot simply take everything and sort it out later. The seizure of property has a direct impact on civilians\nand what officers choose to seize must be considered to have immediate evidentiary value.\n\nThe Canton PD policy delineates the difference between the handling of drug evidence and non-drug\nevidence and includes separate processing procedures for gun evidence, adhering to CALEA Standard\n84.1.2B.\n\nThe Canton PD procedures and policies as they relate to evidence handling have been found to be\nconsistent with CALEA Standards 84 “Property and Evidence Control,” specifically 84.1.1 through 84.1.7;\n83.2.1 (1D) (1F).","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=27","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=27","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p27","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p28","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":28,"printedPage":"23","pageLabel":"Report p. 23 · PDF p. 28","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"The Canton PD's policies on search, seizure, and evidence handling emphasize accountability, security,\nand adherence to legal standards. The integration of technology, such as the IMC Enterprise Software\nPlatform and comprehensive surveillance systems, demonstrates an effort to ensure these practices. The\ndepartment does not allow unauthorized storage and tracks all evidence interactions. Overall, the Canton\nPD demonstrates a commitment to best practices in law enforcement evidence management, ensuring\nboth legal compliance and the protection of evidence integrity throughout the process.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n All Canton PD sergeant vehicles should be equipped with digital cameras for photographing and\n memorializing crime scenes, specifically the acquisition of evidence. Further, this equipment\n standard should be required by policy. All evidence should be photographed at the time of\n seizure by detectives and captured on body-worn cameras by patrol officers when possible.\n These photographs should be entered into evidence as a separate exhibit and their acquisition\n documented in the reporting of events.\n The Canton PD was found to be in compliance with evidence procedures during annual\n announced audits. The Audit Team recommends that the leadership of the Canton PD conduct\n “unannounced audits” with both the Evidence Custodian and the Alternate Evidence Custodian\n at different times. Doing so will ensure day-to-day operations remain in compliance with policy\n and requirements. Additionally, audits of this nature confirm that both the evidence custodian,\n and his alternate, can locate and retrieve exhibits in a correct manner according to policy.\n As recommended in Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview, patrolmen and responding\n detectives should attend a “Crime Scene Preservation Class.” The Canton PD may only process\n minor crime scenes, but the ability to memorialize, preserve and maintain the crime scene until\n a processing unit arrives is crucial. “Minor” crime scenes may eventually become “major” crime\n scenes in the event of the later discovery of relevant evidence.\n All Canton PD marked units should have crime scene preservation kits (Crime Scene Tape,\n scribe equipment, etc.) and evidence collection kits in their vehicles. All sergeant and detective\n vehicles should have full crime scene kits including bags and sealing equipment.\n\nC. Eyewitness Identification\nThe audit highlighted several key practices within the Canton PD's Eyewitness Identification Policy, such\nas:\n\n• Blind Administration: Ensuring that the officer conducting the lineup does not know the identity of the\n suspect to prevent any unintentional cues to the witness.\n• Sequential Presentation: Presenting lineup members one at a time rather than all at once, which has\n been shown to reduce the risk of mistaken identification.\n• Use of Fillers: Carefully selecting non-suspect participants in lineups (fillers) who match the\n description of the perpetrator to ensure fairness.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=28","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=28","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p28","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p29","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":29,"printedPage":"24","pageLabel":"Report p. 24 · PDF p. 29","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"• Comprehensive Instructions: Providing witnesses with clear and neutral instructions that emphasize\n the importance of accurate identification. For example, nothing that the suspect may or may not be\n present in the line-up.\n• Documenting Identifications: Meticulously recording the witness's confidence statement and the\n conditions of the identification process to maintain a clear and traceable record.\n\nThe review of actual cases and investigations confirmed that the Canton PD's policies were clearly\ndocumented and effectively implemented. For example, in cases where a suspect was identified by an\neyewitness, the documentation showed consistent adherence to the policy, preserving both the validity of\nthe identification and the protections against wrongful conviction.\n\nOverall, the Audit Team found Canton PD was in compliance with evidence-based practices and prioritized\nsafeguarding the rights of individuals involved in criminal investigations. A commitment to procedural rigor\nand ethical standards not only helps in convicting the guilty, but more importantly in protecting the\ninnocent, thereby upholding the fundamental principles of justice.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.\n\nD. Testifying\nBased on the review of the Canton PD policy 1.11 “Testifying in Court,” which was revised on January 1,\n2024, the Audit Team noted the Canton PD practices adhere to the professional standards and\nexpectations when testifying in court.\n\nPresenting evidence in court is a crucial step in a criminal case, marking the culmination of police efforts.\nThe effectiveness of this presentation hinges largely on the competency of the officer testifying. No matter\nhow thorough the investigative work leading up to the court appearance, a weak, incomplete, or\nunsatisfactory testimony can undermine it all. The court evaluates not just the quality and quantity of the\nevidence, but also how it is delivered. The officer's demeanor, appearance, attitude, and ability to\narticulate clearly can heavily impact the credibility of their testimony, shaping the trial’s outcome\nsignificantly. Despite personal investment in a case, officers must strive to present facts objectively during\ntestimony. It is paramount to avoid both downplaying and exaggerating circumstances to maintain\nimpartiality.\n\nNavigating the legal complexities of criminal investigations and prosecutions demands collaboration\nbetween police and prosecutors. Each party contributes unique skills to the prosecution team, with police\nrelying on prosecutors for legal expertise and prosecutors relying on police for investigative expertise.\nTrials serve as a learning opportunity for police officers, allowing them to refine their skills and their\napproach to future cases.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=29","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=29","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p29","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p30","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":30,"printedPage":"25","pageLabel":"Report p. 25 · PDF p. 30","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Audit Team has certified that the Canton PD policy regarding court testimony is clear and\n encompasses the requirements for successfully testifying at trial. In alignment with best\n standard practices, paragraph 5, Canton PD policy 1.11 which states:\n\n “Every court appearance should be a learning experience for a police officer. After every\n trial, especially if the case is lost, the officer(s) should go over their testimony and the\n evidence with the prosecutor and any other officers that were involved to learn further\n about the strengths and weaknesses in the case so as to improve the prosecution of the\n next case. Any objections or points of law that were raised during the trial that the officer\n does not understand should be clarified.”\n\n With that directive as guidance, the Audit Team recommends:\n Training on Testimony Clarity\n Our team recommends training to improve officer skills in understanding questions during\n testimony. Accurately and professionally answering questions establishes credibility and\n clarity for the officer and the information presented by the prosecution team. Additionally,\n professionalism in testimony limits the cross-examination parameters of the defense.\n Handling Disagreements Professionally\n Officers should understand it is ok to disagree with counsel and it can be accomplished\n without being confrontational. This includes understanding how to maintain composure and\n professionalism, even if the questioning becomes challenging, personal and contentious.\n Identifying Assumed Truths\n Training should include techniques for identifying and addressing assumed truths within\n questions. This skill helps officers provide accurate and precise answers, ensuring that their\n testimony remains consistent and credible.\n Exposure to High-Profile Cases\n Given the challenges that arise from limited exposure to high-profile cases, Canton PD should\n consider mock trials or role-playing exercises, in conjunction with the District Attorney’s (DA)\n Office, as part of their training to simulate the pressure and the delivery of accurate testimony.\n Continuous Skill Development\n Regular workshops and refresher courses could be implemented to ensure officers remain up\n to date with best practices and case law in courtroom testimony. Training sessions can be\n conducted in conjunction with the prosecutor's office and administered with limited expense.\n By focusing on these areas, the Canton PD can enhance the effectiveness and reliability of its\n officers' testimonies, particularly in high-stakes legal environments.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=30","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=30","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p30","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p31","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":31,"printedPage":"26","pageLabel":"Report p. 26 · PDF p. 31","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"E. Mental Health\nThe audit of the Canton PD mental health policy highlighted the successful implementation of a system\nidentified as the Canton Co-Response Jail Diversion Program. This program effectively addresses\nindividuals experiencing mental health and substance abuse issues and provides care, direction and\nguidance to the family without law enforcement intervention. Key proactive measures, which were led by\nCanton PD Chief Rafferty and Deputy Chief Patricia Sherill, have produced significant improvements in the\nhandling of mental health cases.\n\nProactive Steps and Achievements\nIdentification of Needs:\n• From 2020 to 2022, Canton PD responded to over 400 mental health-related calls and over 200\n substance abuse-related calls, indicating a need for specialized support.\n• Chief Rafferty and her team recognized the trend and subsequent need for a dedicated Mental Health\n Professional (MHP).\nFunding and Implementation:\n• In December 2022, Canton PD successfully secured a grant from the Massachusetts Department of\n Mental Health for a Mental Health Professional (MHP) position.\n• The MHP works closely with officers, responding to calls and offering on-site mental health services to\n the Canton community.\nResponse and Effectiveness:\n• On average, the Canton PD and the MHP respond to around 40 calls per month, with the highest\n volume of calls occurring during evening shifts.\n• The MHP aids in de-escalating situations, provides immediate support, and reduces the necessity for\n legal actions.\n• Regular follow-ups and referrals to community-based services lower the likelihood of repeat police\n interactions.\nTraining and Collaboration:\n• The MHP provides training and shares valuable insights that preempt potential crises through\n collaboration with hospitals, churches, and recovery groups.\n• Knowledge shared with Canton PD officers enhances their response and documentation skills, aiding\n in mental health intervention.\nInternal Benefits:\n• Canton PD officers recognize the MHP’s value in efficiently handling mental health calls. Interviews\n revealed unanimous sentiment that the Canton PD MHP is one of the most valuable assets within the\n department.\n• Though the MHP does not provide counseling, the MHP will guide officers to an appropriate personal\n mental health professional and appropriate resources to meet their personal needs.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=31","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=31","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p31","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p32","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":32,"printedPage":"27","pageLabel":"Report p. 27 · PDF p. 32","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Sustainability Concerns:\n• Although Canton PD secured initial funding to hire a full-time MHP, funding delays from the DOJ\n highlight potential sustainability issues.\n\nThe Canton PD’s initiative to incorporate a full time MHP resulted in a valuable community asset in\nmanaging the growing number of mental health crises. The presence of a MHP effectively decreases the\nreliance on law enforcement actions, presents an on-site resource for the families of the affected and\nfosters a collaborative environment between law enforcement and community resources. The ongoing\nchallenge remains securing consistent funding for the full-time MHP position to ensure continued support\nand improvements within the department and the community.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Budget allocations should be considered by the town of Canton leadership. Canton PD should\n work with town officials at various levels to secure funding for the full-time MHP position should\n the grant no longer be available. The loss of this position could create a significant negative\n impact on the Town of Canton and surrounding communities.\n\nF. Handling of Juveniles\nThe Audit Team found the departmental attitude as it relates to the handling of juveniles to be consistent\nwith the mental health policy of the Canton PD. The Canton PD command staff realizes that officers of the\nCanton PD must have a basic understanding of the social and psychological factors that contribute to\njuvenile behavior and further be familiar with societal conditions that can contribute to juvenile\ndelinquency.\n\nCanton PD Policy No.1.12 “Handling of Juveniles” aligns with all requirements as set forth in CALEA\nStandards 41.4.4 / 44.4.5 / 42.2.0 / 44.1.1 / 44.1.2 / 44.2.1 / 44.2.2 / 44.2.3 / 44.2.4 / 44.2.5 / 82.1.1 /\n82.1.2 and 82.3.5. Further, these Canton PD procedures and guidelines for the handling, arresting, and\ndetention of juveniles follow the best standards and practices in the profession. Below is a summary\nhighlighting the key points in the Canton PD policy emphasized by Canton PD leadership.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nJuvenile Definition and Arrest Overview\n• Juvenile Age: Defined as anyone under 18 years.\n• Under 12 Years: Cannot be charged with a crime.\n• Ages 12 to 18: Preferred method to bring juveniles to court is via summons unless there is a good\n standing belief they will not appear.\n• Arrest Warrants: Issued if there is reason to believe the juvenile will not respond to a summons, has\n not appeared as summoned, or violated probation terms.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=32","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=32","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p32","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p33","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":33,"printedPage":"28","pageLabel":"Report p. 28 · PDF p. 33","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Handling of Juveniles\n• Designated Officer for Juvenile Matters: Typically, this is the School Resource Officer (SRO) who is\n trained in juvenile justice and stays updated with laws and handling directives.\n• Diversionary Programs: The SRO is knowledgeable about- and can direct intervention programs for\n juvenile offenders.\n• Responsibility Sharing: All department personnel must support juvenile operations.\nEnforcement Alternatives\n• Considerations: Nature of the offense, juvenile's age, prior police contacts, community rehabilitation\n program availability, and complainant/victim recommendations.\n• Alternatives:\n • Release with no action or informal counseling.\n • Referral to community social services.\n • Limited custody with station house warning.\n • Citation, summons, or complaint.\n • Referral to juvenile court.\nJuvenile Arrest and Detention Guidelines\n• Supervision: Notify patrol supervisor.\n• Rights: Advise juveniles of their constitutional rights using a Miranda Form specifically for juveniles.\n• Transport: To be done without unnecessary delay.\n• Notification: Inform parents/guardians promptly.\n• Documentation: Complete a detailed report of the juvenile process.\n• Right to Counsel: Ensured at every stage.\n• Constitutional Rights: Not lost due to age; greater protection during questioning and rights waiver.\nSpecial Detention and Interrogation Considerations\n• Cell Holding Use: No secure custody for juveniles under 14 years of age. Secure custody can involve\n detention cells, locked rooms, or handcuffing juvenile defendants to stationary objects.\n• Supervision: Constant supervision required for juveniles in detention.\n• Separation from Adults: Juveniles must be separated from adult detainees by sight and sound.\n• Interrogation: Interrogations are conducted with limited officer presence, preferably with Family\n Services Unit involvement, and frequently scheduled breaks.\nSupervisor's Role During Juvenile Arrests\n• Parental Notification: Ensure at least one (1) parent or legal guardian is informed.\n• Cause Inquiry: Confirm proper cause for arrest and legal treatment compliance.\n• Release Decision: Evaluate the release without a warrant.\n• Bail Magistrate Notification: In case of detention.\n• Agency Notification: Inform relevant agencies if the juvenile is in their custody.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=33","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=33","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p33","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p34","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":34,"printedPage":"29","pageLabel":"Report p. 29 · PDF p. 34","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n The guidelines reflect Canton PD's emphasis on minimizing coercive actions and ensuring the\n protection and rights of juveniles during their interactions with law enforcement. Careful\n attention is paid to the specifics of juvenile detention, rights advisement, and the appropriate\n handling of each case to align with legal and departmental standards. Based upon the serious\n nature of handling juvenile offenders properly, we recommend that the Canton PD institute an\n annual training be attended by all sworn personnel concerning the handling of juvenile\n offenders. It is further recommended that officers certify that they have read and understood\n the corresponding policies related to the same.\n\nG. Community Relations\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD’s Community Relations policy as described in the rules and\nregulations Section 1.17. The policy is in alignment with CALEA Standards 45.2.1 and emphasizes the\nimportance of an ongoing Community Relations Program to ensure effective communication between the\nCanton PD and Canton citizens regarding department activities. The goal of a Community Relations\nProgram is to involve the public in problem solving and planning in cooperation with the department.\nSpecific points of consideration include the public perspective on new and old Canton PD programs as\nwell as alternatives to ineffective or unproductive policing practices.\n\nThe policy allows Canton PD to retain a position for a Community Relations Officer to serve as a liaison\nbetween the Department and the community with the goal of identifying community concerns. During\nSupervisor Staff Meetings, the Chief of Police will request information on current community concerns,\npotential problems they have with law enforcement activities, and recommended actions addressing\npreviously identified concerns. Canton PD officers are required to report any public concerns of urgent\nnature to their immediate supervisor upon gaining knowledge of the situation. Such situations include\npotential racial unrest, potential labor/management conflicts that could result in violence, etc. The\ninformation shall be passed to the Chief of Police who will develop a plan for an appropriate response. The\nChief of Police will seek feedback from the Community Relations Officer annually regarding overall\ndepartment performance, overall competence of the department, officers’ attitude and behavior toward\ncitizens, concern over safety and security within the community, and any recommendations or\nsuggestions.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Considering the current political climate and the current state of the public’s trust in the\n Canton PD, any adaptations to this policy should be conducted as a joint effort by the Canton\n PD administration and Town Selectman.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=34","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=34","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p34","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p35","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":35,"printedPage":"30","pageLabel":"Report p. 30 · PDF p. 35","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"H. Hit & Run Investigations\nThe Audit Team conducted a review of Canton PD’s Hit and Run Investigations policy in section 1.19 of the\nrules and regulations. The policy states the objective of a hit and run investigation is to determine\nresponsibility for the collision and to identify both the offender and the vehicle involved. The policy directs\nduties for both on-scene response and follow-up investigation following a hit and run incident.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nOn-Scene Duties:\n• The policy states that officers responding to a hit and run should first make provisions for the medical\n treatment of the victim if necessary. The officers must follow-up on the condition of the victim after\n he/she is transported to the hospital to ensure appropriate charges are filed, including motor vehicle\n homicide if it appears the victim may die or has died.\n• Officers should obtain the best possible description of the operator and the vehicle from the victim\n and witnesses. Important observations include vehicle make, model, year, color, extent and location\n of damage, license plate (including partial numbers or letters), unusual markings or equipment,\n direction of travel before/after the collision, number of passengers, if any, and their descriptions.\n• Any descriptive information obtained shall immediately be communicated to the dispatching officer.\n• Officers should search the area around the scene of the crash including the automobile (or pedestrian)\n which was struck for physical evidence.\n [Note: The policy makes a point to note that in the event a pedestrian is struck and injured, the officer\n should ask the hospital, if possible, to secure any such evidence which may have been dislodged from\n the victim’s clothing during transport. Further, officers should request hospital personnel give the\n victim’s clothing and any associated paint chips or glass fragments to police].\n• Photographs and measurements should be taken at the scene when required at the direction of the\n Shift Supervisor or detective on scene. Officers should examine the person and the clothing of the\n victim for evidence, particularly for traces of the vehicle. If necessary, an officer may take and preserve\n articles of clothing or other samples of evidence such as hair, blood, etc.\n• Officers should be observant for potential persons to be interviewed in the area of the scene. Where\n appropriate, officers should conduct a door-to-door canvas of residences and businesses in the\n vicinity of the hit and run scene.\n• A preliminary search for the suspect car and driver should be conducted as soon as possible.\n Notification of subject and vehicle descriptions should be made to all police on patrol, State Police\n and adjacent police departments via the BAPERN radio network. If motor vehicle homicide charges are\n being considered, the Chief, or the Chief’s designee, may decide to contact the media to enlist the\n public to aid in locating the suspect vehicle and driver.\n• If a reasonable effort to apprehend the offender is unsuccessful, officers should communicate such to\n dispatch and return to regular patrol duty unless directed otherwise by the proper authority.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=35","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=35","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p35","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p36","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":36,"printedPage":"31","pageLabel":"Report p. 31 · PDF p. 36","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Follow-up Investigation Protocol:\n\nThe policy states that an in-depth or follow-up investigation should be conducted upon the direction of the\nDetective Sergeant.\n\nThe follow-up investigation, if any, should include the following types of activity: records checks for stolen\nvehicles, communication of relative information regarding the vehicle and driver to nearby departments, a\nsecond search of the accident scene covering a wider area, repeated visits to- and surveillance of the\nscene at the same time of day during which the accident occurred, and visits to local establishments\nwhere a vehicle may be located for service (car washes, auto shops, etc.).\n\n• If the vehicle involved in the accident is located, it should be carefully examined. Specifically:\n • Dents and body damage should be measured as to width, depth and pattern. Photographs should\n be taken if possible.\n • Obtain samples of paint chips, broken glass, pieces of clothing, dirt, evidence of blood, hair, flesh,\n etc.\n • Inspect the interior for personal articles which may identify the offender.\n • Observe and note any signs of recent repair or any broken or missing parts.\n [Note: The policy is careful to note that the above steps should be taken in accordance with\n departmental policy and procedure. In the event a search warrant is sought, the vehicle should be\n kept under surveillance until a warrant is obtained. The identity of any person attempting to enter\n the vehicle or destroy evidence should be established.]\n• If the operator of the suspect vehicle is located, he/she should be questioned promptly, following\n Miranda procedures if applicable.\n\nFinally, the policy requires that any hit and run accident reported with personal injury, with a suspect, or\nwith damage of approximately one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, must be followed up with a full and\ncomplete report, including details about the accident and the particulars of any follow-up investigation.\n\nFindings\nThe relationship of this policy as it relates to the events of 34 Fairview Road is relevant only through\nhindsight. At the time of the Canton PD response to 34 Fairview Road and the discovery of Boston Police\nOfficer John O’Keefe, the Canton PD did not know they were responding to the scene of an alleged Hit and\nRun. The call for police came in as a complainant reporting an unconscious male discovered in the snow.\nCanton PD initially prepared for an unattended death, and subsequent investigation by the MSP.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Follow the policies within Canton PD manual as appropriate to Hit and Run scenes.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=36","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=36","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p36","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p37","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":37,"printedPage":"32","pageLabel":"Report p. 32 · PDF p. 37","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"I. Motor Vehicle Citations\nThe Motor Vehicle Citations policy is detailed in Section 1.23 of the Canton PD policy guidelines and\nreferences CALEA Standards 61.1.2 / 61.1.4 / 82.2.5 and 82.3.3. The Canton PD uses the Massachusetts\nMotor Vehicle Citation form and the Motor Vehicle Automated Citations and Crash System (MACCS),\notherwise known as “E-Citations,” to record motorist violations. Citations are the method used to formally\nnotify the violator, the courts, and the Registry of Motor Vehicles that a violation has been committed by\nthe person named.\n\nCanton PD officers have discretion as to what type of citation to issue a violator within the parameters of\nCanton PD policy. The policy provides guidelines for issuing a citation to ensure officer actions are in line\nwith applicable laws and clearly prohibits an officer from justifying a stop or seizure of an individual\nthrough racial, age, gender, or other type of profiling. Five (5) general categories of enforcement actions\nare noted: a written warning, civil citation, criminal complaint, verbal warning, and physical arrest. Section\n1.23 provides specific procedures to be followed with respect to each enforcement action.\n\nThe Motor Vehicle Citations policy requires officers to provide the violator with a copy of the citation in\nsome form. Officers are required to provide a copy in person as a primary option, but if the circumstances\nare such that he cannot do so, he must provide a copy by mail. Officers are strongly encouraged to retain\ncopies of any citations issued for their own records for a minimum of one (1) year from the Date of\nIssuance. Prior to the end of a shift, officers must place any citations issued into the appropriate secure\ncitation box. In the event a citation results in a criminal complaint or arrest, the officer must file a\ncomplete report and fill out an Application for Complaint form according to procedures. Both must be\nprovided to the local Prosecutor through the Prosecutor’s box.\n\nThe Chief’s Administrative Assistant is responsible for removing any written citation copies from the\ncitation box daily, excluding weekends. Standard procedures for processing and notifications are\nstipulated within the policy for three (3) categories of citations: written warnings, non-criminal citations,\nand criminal traffic complaint and arrest reports.\n\nAll un-issued motor vehicle citation books shall be stored in the dispatch room and are accounted for\nusing “sign-out” logs. If an officer needs to “void” a citation, a written explanation as to why will be\nforwarded to the on-duty Lieutenant.\n\nOverall, the policy sets forth clear guidelines and procedures for issuing and documenting citations. There\nare defined procedures for tracking and managing issued citations as well – from initial citation to turnover\nto a prosecuting party if necessary.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=37","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=37","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p37","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p38","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":38,"printedPage":"33","pageLabel":"Report p. 33 · PDF p. 38","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"J. Protective Custody\nThe Audit Team conducted a review of Protective Custody of Incapacitated Person(s) policy in Section\n1.24 of the rules and regulations. The Canton PD policy aligns with CALEA Standards 44.2.2 / 72.5.1 and\n72.7.1. The goal of the policy is to ensure officers can appropriately recognize an incapacitated person and\nensure they are taken into protective custody as needed. Canton PD policy acknowledges that alcoholism\nis recognized as a disease and public intoxication is not a crime. Massachusetts law M.G.L.C. 111B\nguarantees detoxification facilities for persons suffering from alcoholism and protective custody for\npersons incapacitated from consumption of alcohol or controlled substances.\n\nThe policy makes clear that a person taken into protective custody is not considered to have been arrested\nor charged with a crime. However, the stipulations of 111B does not negate criminal responsibility for\noffenses related to driving under the influence, etc. To ensure clarity in the guidelines, formal definitions of\n“alcoholism,” “facility,” and “incapacitated” are detailed within the policy.\n\nIn situations where action is necessary, but there is no criminal activity, Canton PD officers are permitted\nto assist an incapacitated person, with or without their consent, to his/her residence, a treatment facility,\nor the police station. The officer is to place the person in protective custody to transport the person to the\nappropriate facility immediately.\n\nIn regard to handling of incapacitated persons, the policy provides guidelines for search and transport, the\nsafeguarding of their wellbeing at the station, circumstances surrounding release, and reports\ndocumenting relevant information. The guidelines note Massachusetts Law requirements throughout, and\ntailor the policy directives to ensure adherence to the relevant laws. The policy instructs officers on when\nto seek medical assistance based on the condition of the incapacitated person.\n\nOfficers may request a person to submit to standard field sobriety tests to determine whether the person\nis intoxicated but cannot force them to submit to tests. The policy notes any incapacitated person assisted\nto the police station shall have the right to submit to a breathalyzer test and be informed of said right in\nwriting. Detailed within the policy is a template for the notice of rights required by law.\n\nOverall, the policy clearly defines protocol for dealing with incapacitated persons in a manner that\nprioritizes citizen safety.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=38","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=38","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p38","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p39","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":39,"printedPage":"34","pageLabel":"Report p. 34 · PDF p. 39","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"K. Telephone and Radio Use Including Personal Cell Phone\nThe Audit Team conducted a comprehensive review of the regulations and policies concerning telephone,\nradio, and personal cell phone usage within the department.\n\nAccording to Section 2.12 of the rules and regulations it is mandated that all employees, specifically\nofficers, must possess a cellphone through which the department can reach them. Any changes to their\ncontact numbers must be promptly reported. The Audit Team confirmed that the use of personal cell\nphones by Canton PD officers at crime scenes is permitted only as a last resort under the current policy.\nWhen personal phones are used in such instances, they are subject to potential seizure as evidence.\nOfficers should opt to use department-issued tablets, laptops, or digital cameras when at crime scenes\ninstead of personal devices.\n\nThe primary mode of communication for officers receiving radio calls is through the Canton PD radio\nsystem, a computer-based platform containing multiple channels that enable simultaneous\ncommunication between officers on different channels. This system is operational 24/7 and allows\nofficers to communicate with dispatch, other officers within their patrol, counterparts from Fire Rescue\nand neighboring police departments. Handheld radios with attachments are utilized when officers are\naway from their patrol cars.\n\nA thorough examination of the system monitoring logs spanning from 2020 to 2024 revealed no significant\nissues or outages concerning the radio system. The Town of Canton has enlisted the expertise of a\ntelecommunications systems specialist, referred to as the resident IT specialist, responsible for\ntroubleshooting, maintaining, and overseeing the radio equipment, mobile data components, and\ncommunication radio rooms. The specialist adheres to a preventive maintenance approach, conducting\nroutine inspections, repairs as necessary, and ensures the regular upkeep of portable radios. It remains\nunclear whether the repairs are handled in-house.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted an inventory of all portable radios and found that all radios were properly\naccounted for in inventory.\n\nDuring the interviews with sworn officers, the Audit Team discovered that the Town of Canton has several\nareas within the city limits where the portable radios do not have any reception or transmission\ncapabilities. These areas specifically, along Washington and Neponset streets, are in the center of town.\nLack of reliable communications in these areas creates a serious safety concern.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Audit Team recommends that the use of personally owned cell phones to conduct official\n police business be prohibited immediately. The Audit Team further recommends the issuance\n of department owned cell phones to all sworn officers. If it is not financially feasible to issue all\n sworn officers a cellular phone, phones should be issued to officers of the rank of sergeant or\n higher. Phones for patrol officer use could be issued to the department and signed out at the\n beginning of each shift. Another option is to purchase individual phones to be assigned to each","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=39","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=39","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p39","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p40","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":40,"printedPage":"35","pageLabel":"Report p. 35 · PDF p. 40","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"patrol car. Under no circumstances should a sworn officer use his or her personal phone for\n police business.\n The areas that do not provide reception or transmission capabilities for the portable radios\n must be addressed. This is a serious safety concern for the officers and could place the town in\n a legally liable situation should the officers fail to have radio communications. A failure in\n communications could result in injury to the officers or the inability to radio for medical\n services for a member of the community. Multiple officers notified the Audit Team that they\n were concerned about the portable radios not working properly in certain areas of the town.\n The Audit Team spoke with the Information Technology Specialist who is aware of the issues.\n\nL. CEO Notification\nThe CEO Notification Policy for the Canton PD (Policy No.1.31) outlines a structured process for reporting\ncertain incidents, ensuring that relevant parties within the department are informed promptly about\ncritical situations. Below is a summary of the key points.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nPurpose\n\nThe policy aims to facilitate a coordinated response to issues and ensure that information about\nsignificant events is shared with command and appropriate administrative level supervisors, especially\noutside normal business hours.\n\nNotification Process:\n• General Protocol: Department members must report incidents through their chain of command. The\n Deputy Chief has the authority to report directly to the Chief of Police.\n• Immediate Notification: The Chief must be notified immediately for serious incidents, including:\n • Severe personal injury, death, or • Missing juvenile cases\n potential death • Serious injury or arrest of a Canton PD employee\n • Major events like civil disorders or power • Incidents at local schools\n outages • In-house custody attempted suicides\n • Mass casualty incidents • Home invasions\n • Hostage situations • Crimes involving firearms\n\n• Later Notification: For less urgent incidents, notification to the Chief can be delayed:\n • Arrest of other municipal employees • Active building fires\n • Sexual assaults • Civil rights violations\n • Psychiatric or medical incidents • Suicide attempts\n involving violence • Events likely to attract press inquiries","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=40","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=40","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p40","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p41","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":41,"printedPage":"36","pageLabel":"Report p. 36 · PDF p. 41","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Responsibilities:\n\nThe highest-ranking officer on duty is responsible for making the necessary notifications, ensuring the last\non-duty Lieutenant and the Deputy Chief are informed as well. In the Chief’s absence, the Deputy Chief\nacts as the Acting Chief.\n\nWritten Reports:\n\nAll incidents requiring notification also require a written report to be forwarded to the Chief of Police as\nsoon as possible after completion. This policy ensures that critical incidents are handled with appropriate\nurgency and communicated effectively within the department.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n While the Canton PD is following CALEA Standards 11.4.4 and Canton PD officers follow\n departmental policy, given the political climate of the town and considering the size of the\n department, we recommend the Deputy Chiefs and the Chief be immediately notified of all\n significant events listed above including those events that allow for delayed notification.\n\nM. Communications Standards of Conduct\nUpon reviewing the Canton PD policy No. 1.32, “Communications and Standards Conduct Policy”, the\nAudit Team found the directives to be clear, concise and in alignment with CALEA Standards 41.3.7 /\n81.1.2 / 81.2.2 / 81.2.3 / 81.2.4 and 81.2.10. Additionally, it was noted that the majority of officers are\ncompliant with the policy guidelines. The departmental communication policy states that all employees\nmust promptly, accurately, and comprehensively transmit official communications to other officers and\npromptly notify their Officer-In-Charge of any critical police-related matters. Additionally, they are\nrequired to inform relieving officers of any unresolved or potential issues for the next shift.\n\nThe Audit Team found that officers are generally consistent in adhering to communications procedures,\naccurately conveying information, promptly notifying supervisors of significant police matters or calls\nrequiring their attention and utilizing roll calls to disseminate important updates related to police\nactivities. The protocols to accomplish this are in place, clearly conveyed and understood, though there\nhave been a few recent failures regarding this policy.\n\nFindings\nA notable incident occurred in 2024 when a veteran Canton PD police officer failed to notify supervisors\nabout a restraining order situation at an early childhood education center in Canton, leading to a child\nabduction incident. Despite being informed by school representatives, the officer did not communicate\nthis critical information to his superiors or patrol officers. Consequently, the child was abducted by the\nsubject of the restraining order. Canton PD immediately responded to the abduction, issued a statewide\nalert, and collaborated with law enforcement in Pawtucket, R.I., to apprehend the perpetrator. Chief","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=41","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=41","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p41","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p42","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":42,"printedPage":"37","pageLabel":"Report p. 37 · PDF p. 42","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Rafferty took appropriate action by suspending the officer for three (3) days due to the failure to comply\nwith departmental policies and procedures on departmental communications.\n\nIn conclusion, while most officers at Canton PD adhere to communication protocols, the incident\nunderscores the consequences of non-compliance with the department's policies and the importance of\ntimely and accurate communication in law enforcement operations.\n\nActions Taken\nChief Rafferty, recognizing the failure to adhere to the communications policy, enforced disciplinary action\nagainst the officer in question, resulting in a three (3)-day suspension.\n\n• The policy violation had the serious consequence of a delayed response to a child abduction incident.\n This highlights the importance of adherence to policy.\n• Chief Rafferty’s immediate internal actions:\n • Corrected the behavior of the employee in question.\n • Demonstrated to the department that failure to adhere to departmental policy will not be tolerated.\n\nConsequences and Resolution\n• Despite the initial failure in communication, the Canton PD responded effectively once the issue was\n known, resulting in a BOLO and successful coordination with other law enforcement authorities to\n apprehend the subject.\n• Despite the failure of an individual officer, Chief Rafferty and the departmental leadership acted\n quickly and decisively performing their functions effectively and returning the child safely while also\n apprehending the subject.\n\nImplications for Future Conduct\nThe results of the audit and the above-mentioned incident can be used for training and practical\nimprovements within the department.\n\nAdditional emphasis is recommended regarding the vital role of communication in preventing similar\nincidents.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Review and Reinforce Policies\n Continuous education on the importance of communication practices should be implemented\n to prevent similar lapses in the future. Consider hiring full-time dispatchers to work alongside\n officers to take emergency calls and non-emergency calls, evaluate other service needs, and to\n dispatch officers for calls for service.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=42","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=42","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p42","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p43","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":43,"printedPage":"38","pageLabel":"Report p. 38 · PDF p. 43","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Incident Analysis\n The specific breakdown in communication should be analyzed to understand why the officer\n failed to act according to policy and to improve training and protocols accordingly.\n Strengthen Accountability Measures\n Ensure clear consequences for not following policy to reinforce the seriousness of compliance.\n Monitor Effectiveness of Reforms\n Post-incident evaluations should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of any\n implemented changes after such an event.\n Enhance Support Systems\n Consider additional support or backup systems to prevent single points of failure in\n communications, perhaps through technological means or by ensuring multiple people are\n made aware of critical information as it occurs, limiting the possibility of a communication\n failure.\n It is essential that the policies, such as No 1.32, are not only well written, but are effectively\n communicated, understood, and followed by all members of the police department to maintain\n high standards of community safety and trust.\n\nN. Command Protocol and Order of Precedence\nThe Audit Team conducted a comprehensive review of the regulations and policies concerning command\nprotocol and order of precedence, specifically the Command Protocol and Order of Precedence in Section\n1.34 of the rules and regulations. The policy aims to establish a clear chain of communication and\nauthority within the department and regulations and aligns with CALEA Standards 11.2.1 / 11.3.2 / 11.3.1\nand 12.1.2.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nAccording to Section 1.34, it is mandated that the designated chain of command be used in all internal\ncommunications and the established order of command precedence shall be adhered to by officers. The\npolicy differentiates reporting requirements during field situations, administrative and routine situations,\nand exceptional situations. In field situations, the command protocol is in the order as follows:\n\n 1. Chief of Police\n 2. Deputy Chief\n 3. Lieutenant (on shift or just coming off shift)\n 4. Shift Sergeant\n 5. Senior Police Officer\n 6. Police Officer\n 7. Probationary Police Officer","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=43","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=43","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p43","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p44","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":44,"printedPage":"39","pageLabel":"Report p. 39 · PDF p. 44","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"In administrative and routine situations, the command protocol is in the order as follows:\n\n 1. Chief of Police\n 2. Deputy Chief\n 3. Lieutenant (on shift or just coming off shift)\n 4. Sergeant\n 5. Senior Police Officer\n 6. Police Officer\n 7. Probationary Police Officer\n\nThe policy provides for circumstances where the Chief of Police is absent, thereby allowing the Deputy\nChief to act in his/her capacity with authority to carry out day-to-day operations of the department. In\nemergency situations where the Chief of Police and Deputy Chief are unavailable, the Lieutenant on shift\nwill be in charge.\n\nSection 1.34 notes that each employee is accountable to only (1) supervisor at a given time and shall be\ndelegated authority commensurate with their responsibilities. Employees are responsible for activities\nwithin their delegated authority and Supervisory personnel are accountable for the activities and\nperformances of personnel under their immediate control.\n\nIn exceptional situations, such as civil disturbances, hostage situations and other critical incidents, the\nIncident Commander under ICS protocol will be in command. The policy cites the “All Hazards Plan” as\nthe guideline for exceptional situations. Guidelines exist within the policy to ensure there are no conflicting\nleadership circumstances. The policy provides protocols for command in exceptional circumstances,\nincluding instances when multiple supervisors are involved in an operation, or where command may be\nrelinquished to an officer of lesser rank with specialized training or expertise.\n\nThese protocols are clearly defined and followed within the Canton PD. It is impossible to predict or\noutline situations which would justify deviation from this policy.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=44","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=44","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p44","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p45","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":45,"printedPage":"40","pageLabel":"Report p. 40 · PDF p. 45","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"O. Dispatch Functions\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Dispatch Functions Policy, No 4.22. This review and analysis of the dispatch\nfunctions policy shows it followed and aligned with the requirements as outlined in the CALEA Standards\n81.3.1 and 81.3.2. This policy highlights the procedures and protocols in place for handling emergency\nand non-emergency calls, accessing the dispatch center, protecting equipment, handling 911 calls,\nbackup resources, and external monitoring.\n\nIn 2024, Canton PD responded to a total of 9,108 calls for service with an average response time of around\nfive (5) minutes. All incoming calls are automatically logged in an electronic system that captures\nimportant details such as caller ID, location, nature of the issue, units dispatched, outcomes, and\ntimestamps with corresponding comments for each step. The department operates with two (2) radio\nsystems: a primary system for dispatching units and logging all radio and call center activities, and a\nsecondary system primarily used as a backup, or for direct communication with neighboring towns. As a\n911 emergency response center serving multiple surrounding towns, there is a protocol in place to divert\noverflow emergency calls to the independent 911 call center operated by the Sharon Police Department.\n\nCurrently, the Canton PD utilizes a free 911 recording service to archive radio communications, with an\nagreement set to expire in two (2) years (2027). The department is preparing to incur costs for storing\ncommunications and videos once the current agreement ends. Currently, recordings are retained for 12\nhardlines within the police station, but there are plans to expand this to include recordings from all\nhardlines after the new contract is in place.\n\nKey Points of Note\n• The Canton PD uses full-time police officers as dispatchers and has a computer-aided dispatch\n system in place.\n• Officers rotate assignments to dispatch in their regular shift rotation.\n• Access to the dispatch center is restricted to specific personnel to minimize distractions and ensure\n operability.\n• Essential communications equipment is securely stored and accessible only to authorized personnel.\n• The department handles a significant volume of calls for service with an average response time of\n approximately five (5) minutes. The time is largely dependent on the location of the request and the\n officer in that sector, or at the nearest location.\n• There are backup radio systems in place for communication redundancy.\n• Retention of recordings and communication data is a priority for the department, including a plan to\n build out future storage.\n• Backup resources and power supplies are available to ensure continuous operation in case of\n emergencies and power outages.\n• The department chose not to join a regional dispatch center due to concerns about effectiveness,\n maintenance costs, and potential risks to citizen safety with response times being dramatically\n increased. This decision was made based on the findings that the regional center would not be as\n efficient as the current setup.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=45","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=45","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p45","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p46","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":46,"printedPage":"41","pageLabel":"Report p. 41 · PDF p. 46","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"In January of 2025, the Audit Team reviewed the results compiled by “The Commonwealth of\nMassachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, State 911 Department,” for the function of\nthe Canton PD dispatch and 911 capabilities. The report was compiled and authored by Ms. Monna\nWallace, Director of Programs, and recorded the testing results between the dates of July 1, 2024, and\nDecember 17, 2024. The testing was random and conducted without the knowledge of the department.\nMultiple tests could occur on one day and on consecutive days. On August 5, 2024, the department was\ntested multiple times in both the morning and evening hours and tested again on consecutive days in early\nSeptember of 2024. The Canton PD Dispatch was tested on 34 occasions and passed each test.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The audit report indicates that no onsite corrections were reported, which suggests that the\n department's communication center is operating according to established policies and\n procedures. Overall, the information reviewed reflected a thorough examination of the\n Dispatch and Radio Call Center operations and highlights areas of strength and areas for\n potential improvement or future planning.\n Data Retention\n It is essential to address data retention: The department currently retains recordings of\n communications from various sources, including hardlines, radios, security cameras, booking\n rooms, cell recordings, and 911 calls. It is important to prepare for the upcoming expiration of\n the free recording service agreement and plan for the retention of these recordings in the future\n to avoid data loss.\n Civilian Dispatchers\n Additionally, as will be mentioned in Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance, the\n Audit Team recommends the addition of civilian dispatchers to work alongside the officers.\n Currently, a sergeant and patrolmen are assigned to work the dispatch on each shift. The\n sergeant should be rotated onto the patrol shift as a fifth vehicle for the day and evening shifts,\n and as a fourth vehicle on the overnight shift. The civilian dispatcher can handle the majority of\n calls while referencing the institutional knowledge of the sworn officer.\n Based upon the Audit Team review of call volume, two (2) civilian dispatchers should be hired\n and assigned to work radio communications in the evening, allowing for the sworn officer to\n serve as a fourth patrol unit. This would also align the patrol sectors to match the day and\n evening rotations providing the greatest services to the citizens of Canton. [Note A patrol officer\n should still be assigned to dispatch along with a dispatcher to handle walk-in complaints, and\n be available for arrested subjects who are housed overnight at Canton PD.]","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=46","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=46","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p46","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p47","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":47,"printedPage":"42","pageLabel":"Report p. 42 · PDF p. 47","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"P. Field Reporting\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Field Reporting System as documented under Canton PD policy No. 1.36.\nThis policy provides guidelines for creating various types of reports, standards for completing them, and\nprocesses for review and submission. The initial Implementation of this policy was February 5, 2015, and it\nwas updated in 2017, 2020 and in January 2023. The policy and all updates meet the CALEA Standards\n82.2.1 and 82.2.4 as written.\n\nOfficers can write reports for virtually any scenario that requires documentation. The decision to\ndocument an incident cannot always be dictated by policy and requires the discretion of both the officer\nand the officer's supervisor.\n\nBasic Types of Reports and their Requirements\n• Incident Reports: Needed for certain police responses, some requiring detailed narratives. This\n classification is used as a catch-all and can document everything from a response to a call, to the\n observation of an officer.\n• Arrest Reports: Generated by the personnel responsible for or participating in the arrest of an\n individual and documenting the “who, what, when, where and why” elements of the arrest.\n• Complaint Applications: Filed when criminal charges are pursued. Must follow the assignment of an\n Arrest Report number and completion of an Arrest Report.\n• Motor Vehicle Crash Reports: Required under defined situations.\n• Field Interview Reports: Created and updated as necessary and covers both witnesses and suspects.\n• Citation Entry: Required for issuing any motor vehicle citations.\n\nAll relevant details pertaining to any incident with Canton PD involvement must be accurately documented\nin the appropriate sections of the report, encompassing information about suspects, victims, witnesses,\noffenses, addresses, vehicles, and property, among others. The report narrative and its fields must\naddress the following: who, what, when, where, how, and why (if known). The narrative should provide a\nthorough account of the incident along with the actions taken or planned by the responding personnel. It is\ncrucial that the report narratives are clear, succinct, and factual, with information presented in a logical\nand chronological manner. Errors in spelling, grammar, and sentence structure must be avoided, and\nsimple language should be used when necessary.\n\nThe responding officer is responsible for entering all details into the appropriate report upon completion of\nthe activity, or when time allows. Reports, regarding incidents, arrests, citations, accidents, or field\ninterviews, are to be finalized before the end of a shift, unless authorized by a supervisor for completion at\na later time. In such cases, the CAD narrative should contain sufficient information about the incident until\nthe full report is completed. All reports must be submitted to the shift supervisor for approval.\n\nSupplemental narrative reports are to be submitted by an officer when further explanation or elaboration\non information from the initial field report is required. These reports can be filed by the initial officer, the\nCanton PD’s Field-Reporting System supervisor, an assigned investigator, or additional responding\nofficers. They not only serve to provide more detailed narratives, but also to include confidential","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=47","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=47","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p47","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p48","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":48,"printedPage":"43","pageLabel":"Report p. 43 · PDF p. 48","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"information that was not part of the initial report, such as investigative leads or unsubstantiated details\nthat could aid investigations. Supplemental reports should undergo the same review process as outlined\nabove.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n In line with the recommendations made in the interrogation and witness interviews section, the\n Audit Team recommends Canton PD must standardize their report writing requirements and\n institute a required format with minimum standards and expectations. While not all reports will\n address the same areas, a consistent format should be implemented for reports reflecting\n consistency, regardless of the report's author and that author's position (Patrolman, Sergeant,\n Detective, etc.). Fields that are not applicable can be marked as such. Uniformity and\n consistency are required in report writing to establish and manage expectations and ensure\n completeness in reporting.\n As an example, all arrest reports should contain a section entitled “Use of Force.” Considering\n the statistics provided in this report, we know that 90% of the Canton PD’s arrests did not\n involve use of force. Statistically speaking, in 90% of the reports the recommended “Use of\n Force” section would read, “Use of Force: None.” Documenting a negative in this situation is\n very important because it hinders a defendant or the defendant's attorney from later claiming\n that an improper use of force was used while affecting the arrest. Consistent and complete\n documentation to include negatives leads to greater credibility when testifying and minimizes\n questions regarding content.\n\nQ. Legal Process\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Canton PD’s Legal Process policy as well as the Canton PD’s adherence\nthereto. The Legal Process policy, detailed in the Canton PD rules and regulations No. 1.38, outlines the\nprocedures for appropriately handling legal processes and aligns with CALEA Standards 74.1.1 / 74.1.2 /\n74.1.3 / 74.2.1 / 74.3.1 / 74.3.2 and 74.4.1.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nCanton PD Policy No. 1.38 defines criminal processes to include summonses, subpoenas, arrest\nwarrants, and search warrants issued by a Court of Law within the Commonwealth and civil processes to\ninclude abuse prevention, harassment prevention or other orders issued by Massachusetts District\nCourts, Family Courts and Probate Courts. The policy specifies procedures for execution of legal\nprocesses and documentation thereof, including the following:\n\n• Any arrests made on a warrant must be supported by documentation that some agency has the\n warrant in its possession, and that to the best of their knowledge it is still in effect or that the warrant is\n active in the Warrant management System.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=48","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=48","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p48","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p49","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":49,"printedPage":"44","pageLabel":"Report p. 44 · PDF p. 49","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"• No officer shall make an arrest on a warrant unless he/she confirms the present status of the warrant\n immediately before making the arrest.\n• Legal processes will be documented, and every reasonable attempt shall be made to serve them\n promptly.\n\nThe Canton PD has a Record of Legal Process form that is to be completed and associated with every legal\nprocess document received by the department. The form serves as documentation that a legal document\nhas been received and appropriately addressed.\n\nThe policy acknowledges Canton PD officers have no authority to conduct an arrest or search outside of\nthe Commonwealth of Massachusetts and provides guidelines for legal process actions that occur within\nthe state of Massachusetts and outside of the Town of Canton. Massachusetts law allows any sworn\npolice officer to arrest any person at any place within the Commonwealth, providing the officer is aware\nthat there is an outstanding warrant for that person. As a matter of courtesy and professionalism, the\npolicy requires the shift supervisor to notify the lieutenant on duty and make appropriate notification to the\nlocal Department with jurisdiction in the location that an arrest is occurring, if outside the Town of Canton.\nCanton PD officers are required to ask the local Department for their assistance and cooperation in the\nmatter (allowing the agency to make the arrest or provide an escort for the Canton PD officers).\n\nCanton PD policy specifies procedures regarding civil processes and asset forfeiture functions to ensure\nCanton PD is in compliance with applicable Massachusetts laws. The policy cites the procedures in the\nEvidence Collection and Preservation policy as an outline for recording, retaining, and maintaining seized\nproperty. The Officer in Charge of the Detective Bureau is tasked with acting as a liaison with the District\nAttorney’s Office to ensure compliance with all procedures relevant to legal forfeiture of property seized\nunder a search warrant or MGL C94C-547 (Property Subject to Forfeiture Under the Controlled Substances\nAct). The designated officer is responsible for recording and filing copies of the documents and disposition\nthroughout the process and shall report directly to the Deputy Chief regarding these proceedings.\n\nThe Canton PD policy does not allow officers to request issuance of a “no-knock” warrant from a judge\nunless: 1) probable cause was established that if the officer(s) announced their presence, their life or the\nlives of others will be endangered; and 2) the officer filling out the affidavit attests that there is no reason\nto believe that minor children or adults over the age of 65 are in the home, unless there is a credible risk of\nimminent harm to the minor or adult over the age of 65 in the home.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=49","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=49","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p49","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p50","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":50,"printedPage":"45","pageLabel":"Report p. 45 · PDF p. 50","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"R. Media and Public Information\nThe Audit Team conducted a thorough review of the Canton PD Media and Public Information Policy as\noutlined in the Canton PD policy No.1.39, last reviewed on May 7, 2023. The Audit Team reviewed the\nCanton PD’s current practices and protocols for proactively soliciting public comments concerning high-\nprofile incidents and crisis communications for consistency with the Media and Public Information policy,\nwhich is in alignment with CALEA Standards 46.1.2 / 54.1.3 / 54.1.1 and 54.1.4. Chief Rafferty and Deputy\nChief Sheryll were interviewed regarding the Department’s policy, to include the use of Social Media\nplatforms to communicate with the community.\n\nDeputy Chief Patricia Sheryll advised that a patrol officer is assigned the collateral duty of monitoring the\nCanton PD’s social media postings and responses. Deputy Chief Sheryll said the designated patrol officer\nis the only officer with “Administrator Privileges” for the platforms and has been properly trained and\nequipped to handle this responsibility effectively. The Audit Team interviewed the patrol officer about his\nresponsibilities coordinating and running the social media platforms for the Canton PD. He advised that he\nhas been managing the social media platforms for the police department since the end of 2021 towards\nthe beginning of 2022.\n\nSocial Media Accounts\n\nThe Canton PD social media accounts were created in 2014 by the police department and have been\nmaintained regularly by a sworn police officer. The officer indicated that there are four (4) active platforms,\nwhich include Facebook, X, Instagram, and Google Biz. In March 2021, there was an attempted illegal\ntakeover of the police department’s Google Biz platform. Canton PD officers promptly responded and\nworked with Google to identify the perpetrator and prevent disinformation from being posted. The\nattempted takeover was perpetrated by a town resident who was determined to be mentally unstable. For\nthis reason, no charges were filed. The Canton PD no longer utilizes the Google Biz platform to post any\nmessages. [Note: Canton PD tries to post on all platforms simultaneously, however based upon site visits\nthat indicate that the most popular social media platform is “X,” most of Canton PD’s posts are sent on the\nX platform.]\n\nWith regards to Instagram, the Deputy Chief advised that the Chief had made the decision to block public\ncomments due to the large volume of inaccurate, threatening, or crude responses made to posts created\nby the Canton PD, even to posts regarding community events or safety alerts. These comments made by\ncertain community members and outsiders have affected the morale of the officers in a negative way,\nwhich will be detailed later in the report.\n\nPlatform Usage\n\nThe Canton PD is active on social media. It is crucial to consistently manage and monitor these platforms\nto engage with the community and provide accurate information. According to the Canton PD website\n(http://www.cantonpolice.com) the department has an active presence on various Social Media platforms\nincluding Facebook, X and Instagram, and an inactive presence on Google Biz. An open-source search of\nthese platforms, a cursory analysis of the postings made by the department, and the community replies\nrevealed certain information, prompting some recommendations for improvement.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=50","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=50","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p50","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p51","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":51,"printedPage":"46","pageLabel":"Report p. 46 · PDF p. 51","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Posting Frequency\n\nIt is noted that due to differing site visit frequencies, the majority of the Canton PD’s posts are sent on the\n\"X\" platform. While it is important to prioritize the most popular platform, efforts should also be made to\nmaintain a consistent presence across all active platforms.\n\nThe department is operating within policy and departmental standards; however, the Audit Team has\nfound that the posts made by the Canton PD are not consistent across all social media platforms. For\nexample, “Missing Person Alerts” and follow-up messages should be posted in equal frequency. In 2021,\nthere were two (2) Missing Person related messages posted on Facebook, zero (0) posted on Instagram\nand five (5) posted on X.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n • Conduct regular training sessions for officers involved in social media management,\n reviewing security protocols for social media accounts.\n • Institute a social media manager for the Patrol and Detectives divisions as well as a\n Senior Lieutenant.\n • Resume posting to social media outlets as it relates to immediate community concerns,\n such as accidents, construction closings and police activities.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=51","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=51","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p51","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p52","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":52,"printedPage":"47","pageLabel":"Report p. 47 · PDF p. 52","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"• Ensure consistent and timely communications across all platforms to effectively engage\n with the community.\n • Consider implementing a social media platform management software (i.e., HootSuite,\n Monday.com, etc.) to push social media posts simultaneously to all social media\n platforms used by Canton PD, to schedule posts, and to track social media activity across\n all three (3) platforms.\n • Post the same messages across all social media platforms especially Safety Alerts and\n Missing Person Alerts.\n • Secure social media accounts with two-factor authentication, whenever possible.\n • Leave comments off.\n Public Comments on Social Media\n The decision for public comments on departmental social media, especially in the context of\n law enforcement and public safety, must be carefully weighed. Transparency and community\n engagement are critical components of modern policing and can foster trust and cooperation\n between the police department and the community it serves. Allowing the public to post\n comments can often provide valuable feedback, help the department address community\n concerns, and allow for a more open dialogue.\n However, there are associated risks with allowing public comments, especially concerning the\n potential dissemination of personally identifiable information (PII) of officers, or witnesses\n involved in police incidents, such as:\n • Officer Safety: Public posting of PII could lead to targeted harassment or threats against\n officers and their families, compromising their safety and wellbeing.\n • Privacy Concerns: Ensuring the privacy of both officers and civilians is imperative, and\n any platform that allows public comments could inadvertently become a channel for\n privacy breaches.\n Given these concerns, any policy allowing public comments should include strict moderation\n policies and procedures to protect officer PII. Additionally, a clear set of community standards\n should be established which detail what type of comments are permissible and the actions\n that will be taken if someone violates these standards.\n Ultimately, the decision to allow public comments should be made in consultation with all\n stakeholders, including legal advisors, to ensure that any policy implemented is both beneficial\n to the community and protective of the individuals involved.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=52","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=52","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p52","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p53","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":53,"printedPage":"48","pageLabel":"Report p. 48 · PDF p. 53","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"S. Bias-Free Policing\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD Policy No. 1.41, Bias Free Policing and found that it aligns and meets\nthe requirements as established in CALEA Standards 41.4.0. Further, the Audit Team has reviewed reports\nof police encounters spanning the past two (2) decades and have found no evidence of biased policing\nbased upon race, gender, or ethnicity.\n\nThe Canton PD has implemented several measures to identify and address instances of profiling based on\nrace, gender, or bias. These measures include:\n\n• Mandatory documentation of all interactions with motorists in the Canton PD’s computer system,\n including the individual's race, gender, age, reason for the interaction/stop, and search results, to\n track and analyze the diversity of citizens engaged with by the police department.\n• Utilization of citizen complaint procedures to investigate allegations of profiling filed directly with the\n Canton PD, or through state agencies, ensuring transparency and accountability in handling bias-\n related complaints.\n• Proactive review of performance, complaint, and employment information by supervisors to identify\n and address potentially problematic behavior among personnel, with a focus on promoting\n professionalism and addressing any concerns regarding disparities in interactions with motorists.\n• Directing officers to collect specific data on race, gender, and reasons for interactions and searches\n as per established protocols by the Secretary of Public Safety, when necessary, to ensure the\n collection of relevant information for analysis.\n• Conducting an annual administrative review of agency practices and citizen concerns by a designated\n Superior Officer selected by the Chief, who will examine written complaints, data on interactions with\n motorists, and any other formal or informal correspondence, and report findings to the Chief of Police\n for further action as needed.\n\nThese measures provide an effective method to address and prevent bias-based profiling while promoting\nfair and equitable policing practices within the community.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n While the program protecting against bias is robust, public forums are always recommended\n for community feedback.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=53","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=53","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p53","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p54","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":54,"printedPage":"49","pageLabel":"Report p. 49 · PDF p. 54","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"T. Alternatives to Arrest\nThe Canton PD policy No 1.43 concerning arrest alternative, emphasizes the protection of constitutional\nand statutory rights for individuals who are arrested and taken into custody. It mandates immediate\nrelease of an individual if an arrest is determined to be invalid and requires notification of the Chief of\nPolice or their designee in such cases.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nThe department's procedure under Policy No. 1.43 includes options for alternatives to arrest and grants\nofficers some discretion in certain situations. Officers are encouraged to consider the public interest and\nthe context of the situation, possibly opting not to arrest despite having justification.\n\nCircumstances warranting discretion include:\n\n• Avoiding arrest to prevent escalating community tensions or sparking disorder.\n• Prioritizing response to more serious crimes or emergencies.\n• Acting as a mediator in minor disturbances like neighborhood quarrels or noisy parties (this is an\n example of a direct benefit of community policing).\n• Handling minor juvenile offenses with warnings and parental involvement.\n• Issuing summonses for minor offenses as an effective alternative to arrest.\n\nThese guidelines are designed to balance community law enforcement with community relations and a\neffective policing strategy. The lack of law enforcement support from the community has drastically\naffected Canton PD’s ability to allow officers to exercise discretion, thereby limiting the benefits of\nemploying a community police force.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n We strongly recommend officers default their actions according to the documented laws and\n departmental policies. Any discretion utilized by officers exposes both the officer and the\n department to allegations of misconduct and prejudicial treatment; therefore, the\n recommendation of the Audit Team is to enforce the laws as written.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=54","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=54","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p54","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p55","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":55,"printedPage":"50","pageLabel":"Report p. 50 · PDF p. 55","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"U. Field Training and Evaluation Program\nA comprehensive review of the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) Policy as outlined in Canton\nPD policy No.1.45 and current application was conducted by the Audit Team, as well as in-depth\ninterviews with the Field Training Officers (FTO). The Audit Team found Canton PD policy No.1.45 to be in\nalignment with CALEA Standards 1.3.12 / 33.4.2 / 33.4.1 and 33.4.3.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nThe primary objective of the FTEP is to equip trainee officers with the necessary skills to effectively carry\nout their duties as police officers and to advance the standards of professionalism in law enforcement\nthrough ongoing quality enhancement. The program model is based on the widely recognized \"San Jose\nModel,\" which involves pairing a student officer with specifically trained FTOs.\n\nThe Training Officer and the Training Coordinator will go over the expectations with each new recruit. A\nreceipt form will be submitted to record the issuance, receipt, and instruction provided. This process will\nbe completed before the officer is assigned to work independently. Each probationary officer will then\nparticipate in a four (4) week on-the-job training/evaluation program with designated FTOs. This training\nperiod will not change the one-year probationary period, which all newly appointed full-time officers in\nMassachusetts must complete. (Source: Massachusetts Law 33.4.3 (a)).\n\nDuring the training period, the Probationary Officer will be required to rotate their field training\nassignments between at least two (2) different FTOs. The FTOs will document their evaluation of the\nprobationary officers, providing daily and weekly observation reports that cover various police activities\nand interactions. Following the supervisory phase of field training, the evaluation process will continue\nwith periodic evaluations completed by the probationary officer’s supervisors.\n\nDuring the review process, interviews were conducted with the Deputy Chief and the Training Coordinator,\nwho are responsible for the management and supervision of the FTEP. New full-time officers must\nsuccessfully complete an internal field training initiative, while all sworn officers are mandated to\nparticipate in in-service training every two (2) years. The FTEP training officers are talented and well-\nrespected officers who have a sincere passion for law enforcement and the Town of Canton.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Audit Team conducted interviews with both FTOs as well as new police officers within the\n Canton PD. Interviews with the FTOs revealed that new officers completed the required\n minimum four (4) weeks of FTEP training, meeting all Massachusetts state and CALEA\n minimum requirements. It is recommended that the FTEP program be expanded to eight (8)\n weeks, as opposed to the current four (4) week program. An eight (8)-week program expands\n the opportunity for additional exposure to the various types of calls and responses necessary\n as a police officer.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=55","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=55","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p55","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p56","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":56,"printedPage":"51","pageLabel":"Report p. 51 · PDF p. 56","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"V. In Car Video Recording\nThe Canton PD follows policies outlined in Policy No. 146 and CALEA Standards 41.3.8 to ensure\ncompliance with procedures related to their in-car camera program. The primary objective of the\ndepartment's use of audio-visual recordings is to provide an accurate representation of events to facilitate\neffective evidence gathering and documentation. This practice serves to defend against civil lawsuits and\nallegations of officer misconduct. The use of mobile video recording systems in police vehicles also serves\nas a safeguard for patrol officers against unfounded accusations of misconduct during traffic stops.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\n• Recording audio and video footage of motor vehicle stops, pursuits, and police responses in vehicles\n equipped with recording equipment.\n• Retaining video and audio recordings in accordance with records retention standards and making\n them available for court proceedings.\n• Ensuring that all police vehicles are equipped with motor video recording systems, with officers\n conducting pre-shift checks to ensure their operability.\n\nOfficers are trained in the proper use of In-Car Video (ICV) systems and are only authorized to use them\nduring on-duty engagements related to police functions, if safety allows. The use of ICV is required during\nspecific incidents such as calls for service, encounters with armed individuals, arrests involving the use of\nforce, search warrants, pursuits, and motor vehicle stops. Officers have the discretion to activate ICV\nduring incidental public interactions, and once activated, the recording should continue until the event\nconcludes to maintain data integrity. If an officer fails to deactivate the ICV, they are required to document\nthe reason for doing so.\n\nUnder state law, ICV footage may not be admissible in court if the camera was not properly mounted on\nthe vehicle. Moreover, ICV recordings in Massachusetts are limited to events occurring in public areas or\nwithin public view, excluding private properties.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=56","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=56","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p56","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p57","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":57,"printedPage":"52","pageLabel":"Report p. 52 · PDF p. 57","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"W. Body Camera Recording\nIn 2024, the Canton PD implemented the use of Body-Worn Cameras (BWCs) as\noutlined in policy No. 146. A senior lieutenant who is responsible for overseeing\nBWC reviews within the department stated during an audit interview that the\nCanton PD has recently acquired BWCs and has not encountered any operational\nissues thus far.\n\nBefore utilizing the BWCs, all officers receive training on proper usage, operations\nand calibration, and this training is documented in their records. Detectives and\nSchool Resource Officers are specifically assigned BWCs and are required to\nactivate them during high-risk activities. Motorola Body Worn\n Camera utilized by\nOfficers are instructed to make a reasonable effort to inform civilians that they are Canton PD officers.\nbeing recorded by the BWC, unless under exigent circumstances, immediate\nthreats, or concerns for safety. Consent is not required for recording, but officers must state the reason\nwhen deactivating the BWC. If a BWC fails to record an incident, officers must document this failure in\nwriting. Officers are prohibited from using the BWCs to record violations of the Canton PD policy. Duty\nSupervisors are assigned to monitor officers using the department-issued BWCs, and any instances of\nnon-compliance are investigated by the Chief of Police or their designee.\n\nThe supervisor of the BWC program reported no issues regarding the activation or non-activation of the\ncameras. Body camera recordings are securely uploaded to a cloud storage location managed by the\nvendor, Motorola, who also supplies and maintains the BWC equipment. Officers are not allowed to use\nflash drives to access the video files to prevent potential file corruption. Any necessary redaction of video\nfootage is done in collaboration with the District Attorneys' office as required.\n\nObservations\nOur team spoke with Chief Rafferty and her team that oversees the BWC program and noted that all\nexpress positive feedback toward the BWCs and their usage.\n\nX. Automated Plate Reader Policy/Flock Cameras\nCanton PD has Flock cameras placed in certain locations throughout the town. The cameras were\npurchased with equitable sharing funds at no cost to Canton residents. The cameras have assisted\nofficers and detectives to solve several crimes that have occurred in the town. They have become a\nvaluable law enforcement tool for the Canton PD. The Canton PD does not authorize or use the traditional\nLPR systems.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The department should purchase additional cameras to be placed in areas where traffic is\n heavy, near schools, and other heavily populated areas within the town.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=57","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=57","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p57","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p58","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":58,"printedPage":"53","pageLabel":"Report p. 53 · PDF p. 58","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Y. Duty to Intervene\nIn accordance with the Canton PD Rules and Regulations as outlined in Canton PD policy 1.51 and as\ndelineated in Section 15 (a) of MGL Chapter 6E of Section 30, Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2020, it is\nmandated that if an officer witnesses another officer using physical force, including deadly force, that is\ndeemed excessive or not objectively reasonable given the circumstances, they must intervene to halt the\nuse of unjustifiable force. However, this intervention should not take place if it puts the officer or another\nindividual at immediate risk of harm.\n\nMoreover, as per Section 15 (b) of MGL Chapter 6E of Section 30, Chapter 253 of the Acts of 2020, if an\nofficer observes another officer utilizing unwarranted physical force, they are required to promptly report\nthe incident to an appropriate supervisor, ensuring this is done before the end of their shift. The reporting\nofficer must then draft a comprehensive written statement detailing the event in accordance with the\nestablished uniform procedures. This detailed statement should be included in the supervisor's official\nreport. The Audit Team reviewed over ten years of investigations and police encounters and did not find\nany evidence of failure to abide by these policies and regulations.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Audit Team discovered no evidence or information that this policy is not being followed.\n Our recommendation is to include this policy in an acknowledgment and certification to be\n signed and acknowledged by individual officers annually.\n\nZ. Informants\nInformant Guidelines\nThe Canton PD’s Informants Policy and Procedures as outlined in Canton PD policy No. 2.01 are in line\nwith CALEA Standards 42.2.7, which emphasize the importance of maintaining confidentiality and ethical\nconduct when dealing with informants.\n\nConfidential Informant Management\nConfidential informants will be given a unique code number to ensure their anonymity. The Officer in\nCharge of the Detective Bureau will keep a comprehensive file containing personal details, criminal\nbackground, contact information, and past involvement in operations of each informant. This file is\ncontained in a lock file container with access limited to detectives and senior officials. Senior investigators\nat Canton PD will assess the potential risks to the public associated with using the informant. The decision\nto engage the informant will depend on the level of risk involved and the type of criminal activities the\ninformant can help uncover.\nHandling of Informants\n\nOur team found that Canton PD detectives utilize confidential sources (Informants) for information on\ncrimes that occur or have occurred in the town. The Officer in Charge of the Detective Bureau is","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=58","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=58","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p58","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p59","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":59,"printedPage":"54","pageLabel":"Report p. 54 · PDF p. 59","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"responsible for ensuring officers and detectives follow the policy and informants are treated courteously\nirrespective of their background. Investigators should fulfill all ethical promises made to the informants to\nmaintain trust. Informants should never be allowed to take control of any part of an investigation.\n\nJuvenile Informants\n\nSpecial precautions are necessary when using juvenile informants. Permission from at least one (1) parent\nor legal guardian is required, and meetings with juvenile informants should involve two (2) officers. Our\nteam recommends that the Canton PD should not utilize juvenile informants to assist in cases. The Canton\nPD as a practice does not use Juvenile Informants.\n\nDealing with Criminal Activity\n\nApproval from the Chief of Police, or their designee, is required for informants to engage in activities that\nwould otherwise be criminal. Unauthorized criminal activity by an informant should be reported to the\nChief of Police for appropriate action. Currently the Canton PD has not authorized an informant to engage\nin criminal activity.\n\nRemuneration of Informants\nThe remuneration of informants is under the purview of the Officer in Charge of the Detective Bureau. Only\ninformants registered in the master file are eligible for compensation, and rigorous records of payments\nshould be maintained. The Canton PD does not offer financial compensation to informants. Those utilized\nby the Canton PD are known as \"defendant informants\" and cooperate with the aim of potentially reducing\ntheir sentence or charges. Any decisions related to sentence reduction or charge alteration are\ndetermined by the presiding judge in the case, not by the Canton PD. The Canton PD does not make any\nassurances or definitive statements to informants about their legal outcomes. Instead, the level of\ncooperation provided by the informant is conveyed to the district attorney's office for review and\npresentation to the judge.\nDismissing Informants\n\nIf an informant becomes undesirable due to various reasons the OIC Detective Bureau should be informed\nof the circumstances and decide on further use. The reasons for dismissal should be documented in the\nmaster file.\n\nAdditionally, while the Canton PD is not required to obtain approval from the District Attorney’s Office for\ninformant use, the District Attorney’s Office can assist in strategy decisions for informant use in\nconsiderations of safety and legal processes. Informants are often utilized to initiate proactive\ninvestigations and are kept out of the investigative reports to ensure their safety and confidentiality.\nProtective measures are taken to safeguard informants, and in some cases, this may lead to a case\ndismissal to prevent exposure to the informant's identity. The District Attorney’s Office commended the\nmanner in which Canton PD initiates, controls, and utilizes their informants and source of information.\n\nAfter a review of investigations and established informant usage, the Audit Team determined all Canton PD\ninformants are established and utilized in conjunction with all policies and regulations. The Audit Team","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=59","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=59","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p59","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p60","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":60,"printedPage":"55","pageLabel":"Report p. 55 · PDF p. 60","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"reviewed several informant files and found them to be in proper order. All policies and regulations are\nfollowed.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n While the Audit Team observed nothing that contradicted policy concerning informant\n establishment and usage, the following recommendations are strongly encouraged to be\n added to the current operating procedures and policy manuals.\n • A minimum of two (2) sworn officers be required when meeting with an established or\n potential informant. No exceptions.\n • Every time Canton PD officers meet with the informant, officers should search the\n informant for contraband and weapons, regardless of the length of usage. This enables\n the informant to testify in court that they are searched every time they meet the\n controlling officers negating any insinuations concerning contraband seized.\n • Canton PD will conduct thorough background checks to include a full Criminal History\n including photos and fingerprints when documenting or establishing the informant.\n • Canton PD sergeant will provide a summary of the informant's reliability and their\n planned usage to the lieutenant over investigations (intelligence/operational).\n • Canton PD detective will author an Initial Activation Report to be approved by a lieutenant\n or higher-ranking Canton PD official.\n • CDP Lieutenant of Investigations, or higher-ranking Canton PD official, will conduct\n periodic assessments (180 days) for validating continued establishment and use of an\n informant. This will include meeting with the informant outside the presence of the\n Canton PD controlling officers and ensuring all rules and policies are met and fulfilled.\n • All usage, debriefings and information obtained from or through the use of an informant\n will be documented, and copies of those reports will be maintained in the informant file\n as well as the respective case file.\n All informants will be debriefed every 90 days, at minimum, and this quarterly debriefing will be\n maintained in the informant file.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=60","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=60","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p60","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p61","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":61,"printedPage":"56","pageLabel":"Report p. 56 · PDF p. 61","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"AA. Domestic Disputes\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD policy No.2.02, Domestic Disputes. The Canton PD acknowledges\nand teaches its officers that Domestic Violence is a widespread issue that impacts individuals across all\ndemographics and does not discriminate. The objective of their policy is to set forth protocols and provide\nguidance to officers when addressing domestic violence incidents. Domestic violence is a criminal\noffense, and in cases where there is sufficient evidence, arrest is considered an appropriate and preferred\ncourse of action by the court. Regardless of one's profession, every individual is accountable for their\nactions that infringe upon laws such as M.G.L. c. 208, 209, 209A, 209C, and/or Superior Court orders. This\napproach is in compliance with CALEA Standards 41.4.5.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nWhen a law enforcement officers respond to domestic disturbances, they frequently have little to no\ninformation on the aggressor or domestic dynamics, which presents a very dangerous situation. Canton\nPD policy dictates that in situations involving domestic violence officers must promptly respond to the\ndispute due to the high risk of injury to either party or household member. When dispatched to a\nsuspected domestic call it is advisable to send two (2) officers to the scene if possible. Additionally,\nofficers should be equipped with the following information:\n\n• Any existing warrants through CJIS and the Warrant Management System.\n• The suspect's criminal history.\n• Any protective orders against the suspect, including those held by individuals other than the victim.\n• Other pertinent details known to the department, particularly relating to past incidents at the address\n or involving the parties, as well as the potential presence of firearms.\n• Information on firearms identification cards and/or licenses to carry issued to the residents.\n\nThis protocol is crucial for ensuring the safety and well-being of all parties involved in domestic disputes.\n\nOne of the resources on staff at the Canton PD is the Mental Health Professional (MHP) described in\nSection 1, Part E. The MHP collaborates with uniformed officers and provides prompt counseling options\nand alternatives to law enforcement engagement. According to Massachusetts law, if officers witness any\nphysical harm being done or observe injuries or evidence of abuse on either individual, they must\napprehend the aggressor. Examples of injuries or markings stated in this section encompass bruising,\nscratches, and red marks. In the absence of these physical signs, the domestic disturbance scenario\ntransforms into an argument, or counseling session where both parties allege mistreatment by the other.\n\nGiven the unpredictable nature of domestic disturbance calls and the inability for law enforcement to\nascertain the relationship dynamics of the parties, the number of individuals involved, weapons present,\nprevious injuries, etc., the policy must outline parameters within which to work. The Canton PD policy\nprovides clear instruction on what must be addressed and how to safely navigate a domestic disturbance\nsituation.\n\nThe Canton PD provided the following statistical data related to domestic violence and family services\ncalls for service.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=61","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=61","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p61","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p62","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":62,"printedPage":"57","pageLabel":"Report p. 57 · PDF p. 62","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Domestic Violence incident statistics for the time period between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024\nindicated that Canton PD had a total of 321 log entries (calls for service), listed below in the IMC\ncomputer database. During 2023, Canton PD reported 52 arrests/complaints for domestic violence\nrelated offenses. In 2024, Canton PD reported 66 arrests/complaints for domestic violence related\noffenses.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.\n\nBB. Sexual Assaults\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD policy No. 2.03: Sexual Assault Investigations. This policy has been\nimplemented since 2009 and previously reviewed in 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2023. Further\nexamination of this policy confirms it complies with CALEA Standards 33.6.1 and 82.2.1.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nThe Canton PD policy concerning sexual assault is consistent with Policy No. 2.02 as outlined above in\nthat it emphasizes key laws which must be adhered to while dealing with an extremely sensitive and\nhorrific crime. The Canton PD takes extra measure to ensure its officers understand Massachusetts Rules\nof Evidence Section 413, “First Complaint of Sexual Assault” (a) and (b) which states in part:\n\n “(a) Admissibility of First Complaint. Testimony by the recipient of a\n complainant's first complaint of an alleged sexual assault regarding the fact of\n the first complaint and the circumstances surrounding the making of that first\n complaint, including details of the complaint, is admissible for the limited\n purpose of assisting the jury in determining whether to credit the complainant's\n testimony about the alleged sexual assault, not to prove the truth of the\n allegations.(b) Admissibility of Additional Reports of a Sexual Assault Under an\n Alternative Evidentiary Basis. When otherwise admissible testimony or evidence\n other than the first complaint includes or implies that a report of a sexual assault\n was made, it may be admitted only if the trial judge determines that (1) it serves\n an evidentiary purpose other than to corroborate the testimony of the alleged\n victim and (2) its probative value outweighs its prejudicial effect.”\n\nThe first interview in these types of investigations is extremely crucial and could fall under the “First\nComplaint” doctrine. Canton PD personnel are required to be well-versed in the \"First Complaint\" doctrine\nand its significance in cases of rape and other sexual assaults. According to this doctrine, a witness can\ntestify about a sexual assault victim's initial report of the crime regardless of how much time has passed\nsince the incident occurred. The witness can provide details about the crime, the circumstances\nsurrounding the victim's report, and why the report was made at that time. There is no longer a\nrequirement for the victim's complaint to be made promptly or reasonably after the assault. Only one (1)\nwitness can testify about the victim's initial complaint, which should be the first person the victim","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=62","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=62","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p62","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p63","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":63,"printedPage":"58","pageLabel":"Report p. 58 · PDF p. 63","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"confided in about the assault. Since police officers and investigators often serve as the first recipients of\nsuch complaints, they must meticulously document every detail shared by the victim to testify accurately\nand effectively in any subsequent legal proceedings.\n\nRape is an inherently damaging experience for the victim, causing both physical and mental harm. It is\ncrucial for law enforcement officers to understand that investigating a rape case requires utmost\nsensitivity and tact to gather all the necessary information about the crime and the perpetrator's method\nof operation. Investigating rape and sexual assault is one of the most challenging tasks for any police\nofficer, and successful prosecution becomes nearly impossible without the victim's full cooperation. A\nwell-conducted and professional interview can yield vital information for apprehending the suspect and\ncollecting evidence for a conviction.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Given the gravity of these investigations and the potential impact of Massachusetts Rules of\n Evidence Section 413 on the successful prosecution of a sexual assault case, it is\n recommended that the Canton PD ensure at least two (2) detectives receive training in\n handling sexual assault cases, interview techniques, and crime scene processing and\n preservation. The Audit Team recognizes that the Massachusetts State Police will ultimately\n handle and process the crime scene in instances of sexual assault. However, since Canton PD\n officers have a singular opportunity to document these scenes as first responders and\n considering the significance of the \"First Complaint\" doctrine, it is imperative that Canton PD\n officers undergo specialized training in dealing with such crimes.\n\nCC. Dead Bodies\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Canton PD policy No.2.05, “Dead Bodies,” which in summary, dictates the\nfollowing actions to be taken by its officers.\n\n• Classify a death into one of four (4) categories (the Manner of Death): Homicide, Suicide, Accidental\n Death, or Natural Cause. It is vital to act promptly and knowledgeably in response to the discovery of a\n dead body, adhering to established policies.\n• As per Massachusetts General Law (MGL) Part 1, Title VI, Chapter 38, Section 3, individuals must\n immediately notify the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner under various circumstances, such as\n deaths involving criminal violence, accidents, suicides, suspicious circumstances, abuse suspicions,\n poison or drug-related deaths, among others.\n\nThe responsibility of establishing the cause of death falls under the jurisdiction of the medical examiner,\n(cause of death is the specific injury or disease that leads to death) while determining the manner of death\ngenerally lies with the police. As indicated in MGL C.38s.4, manner of death is the determination of how\nthe injury or disease leading to death occurred. The medical examiner takes charge of the deceased's body\nand any personal property found, unless the property is considered evidence of a crime.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=63","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=63","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p63","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p64","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":64,"printedPage":"59","pageLabel":"Report p. 59 · PDF p. 64","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"In cases of unnatural deaths, all property, including potential evidence like suicide notes, must be\nretained by the police department unless directed otherwise by the District Attorney’s Office. It is essential\nto maintain the integrity of the crime scene and handle the deceased person's belongings with care.\n\nIn incidents of unattended deaths or deaths falling under the criteria listed in MGL C. 38 s. 3, both the\nmedical examiner and the District Attorney’s Office must be informed. However, in attended deaths where\nthe cause appears natural and non-suspicious, the medical examiner may not need to be present at the\nscene, provided a death certificate is signed by an appropriate individual.\n\nUnattended death procedures require immediate actions by the responding officer, including initiating\nresuscitation if applicable and notifying the necessary authorities. The scene should be secured, and\nefforts made to preserve any potential evidence until the arrival of the medical examiner and District\nAttorney’s representatives.\n\nFindings and Observations\n\nOverall, the handling of deceased individuals requires thorough adherence to statutory provisions, careful\ndocumentation of the scene, cooperation between law enforcement and medical examiners, and proper\nnotification of relevant authorities following established protocols.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed policy, procedures, evidence collection, and the preservation of evidence related\nto death investigations, to include the death investigation of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe. We made\nobservations and recommendations listed below. Our team made additional recommendations and\nfindings which are detailed later in this report. See below.\n\n• First responding officers should have photographed the scene (location of Mr. O’Keefe) before fire\n rescue arrived.\n• The Canton PD properly notified the Massachusetts State Police (MSP); however, the MSP were not\n decisive in their response to the notification. Pending MSP acceptance, it is a Canton PD crime scene\n and should have been handled as such.\n• The arriving Canton PD units were not properly equipped with crime scene equipment allowing for\n proper crime scene processing (evidence bags, digital camera, collection kits, etc.).\n• The Canton PD should have maintained a presence with at least one patrol officer and marked patrol\n unit at 34 Fairview Road to preserve the crime scene, pending further investigation by MSP.\n\nIt is important to acknowledge that despite the challenging blizzard conditions and the delayed response\nfrom the MSP, the Canton PD officers made an effort to uncover and protect evidence. The innovative use\nof a leaf blower to systematically search through the snow-covered crime scene was instrumental in\nuncovering evidence near Mr. O’Keefe's body. Considering the delayed arrival of the MSP and absence of\ncrime scene equipment on hand, the Canton PD officers were resourceful in their attempts to safeguard\nphysical and biological evidence.\n\nOn March 20, 2025, at approximately 5:28 p.m., Canton PD responded to a report of an unconscious male\nwho was believed to be overdosed. When officers arrived, they were met by the calling party, who\ndiscovered the male subject in the doorway to the house. Canton PD officers observed the male subject","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=64","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=64","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p64","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p65","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":65,"printedPage":"60","pageLabel":"Report p. 60 · PDF p. 65","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"laying on the floor in front of the doorway. Officers immediately secured the scene and notified Detective\nSergeant and other detectives who responded to the scene. Canton Fire Department and Paramedics\nresponded on scene and pronounced the male subject deceased at 5:35 p.m.\n\nNotifications were made to the Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Norfolk District\nAttorney’s Office and the medical examiner's office in conjunction with Massachusetts Law, who then\nresponded to the scene. Prior to their arrival, the Canton PD took digital photographs of the scene,\nsecured evidence, and obtained witness statements (recorded on body worn cameras) from individuals at\nthe scene who had critical information. This investigative action was in line with Canton PD policies,\nprocedures, and best practices. The Canton PD noted in reports that the manner of death was sudden\ndeath (overdose).\n\nThese actions demonstrate that the Audit Team’s recommendations related to crime scene preservation\nand handling are being successfully implemented and making effective changes in the operations of the\nCanton PD.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Scenario-Based Tabletop Training\n In line with previously recommended training focused on Crime Scene Preservation and\n Documentation, it is also recommended the department implement scenario-based tabletop\n exercises for uniformed officers in a classroom setting during in-service training. These\n exercises can simulate a variety of crime scenes scenarios. Moreover, these scenarios should\n include the detective division as well as third line supervisors, to illuminate the communication\n process and expose possible gaps to current procedures.\n Tabletop exercises provide an opportunity for officers to anticipate potential challenges and\n initiate constructive discussions without the need for elaborate setups or travel. This cost-\n effective training method allows for simultaneous training of all officers and is a common\n practice employed by federal law enforcement agencies as well as all military branches. By\n engaging in these scenarios, officers can gain essential knowledge on the proper procedures\n while familiarizing themselves with potential obstacles that could arise. This proactive\n approach enables the department to equip each officer effectively and ensure they are well-\n prepared to fulfill their duties.\n Standard Evidence Collection Equipment\n It is further recommended that all patrol officers have standard evidence collection equipment\n in their patrol cars. The Audit Team understands that while the MSP will ultimately handle and\n process crime scenes involving dead bodies, the Canton PD officers will be the first responders\n and should be equipped to adequately secure the scene and pertinent evidence until MSP\n arrival. As the first responders, Canton PD officers should receive training on evidence\n collection and preservation relevant to crime scenes involving dead bodies in the event that the\n MSP response is not timely to prevent the erosion of pertinent evidence.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=65","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=65","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p65","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p66","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":66,"printedPage":"61","pageLabel":"Report p. 61 · PDF p. 66","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"DD. Cold Cases\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD policy No.2.06, “Cold Key Definitions:\nCases” and found it to be in alignment with CALEA\n • Cold Case: A criminal investigation that\nStandards 42.2.9. remains unsolved after one year, with all\n known leads exhausted. A suspect may or\nThe objective of this policy is to ensure that all major cases\n may not have been identified during the\nare diligently investigated while appropriate procedures original investigation.\nare in place for handling unsolved cold cases.\n • Major Cases: Major cases include homicide,\nThis policy reflects Canton PD’s commitment to any suspicious death, rape, kidnapping,\ninvestigating all major cases until resolution while assault resulting in serious bodily harm,\n arson, terrorism-related incidents, and other\nmanaging limited investigative resources effectively . If a\n cases as determined by the Criminal\ncase remains unsolved after one (1) year with no new Investigations Unit Supervisor.\nevidence or leads, it will be deemed a \"cold case\" and is\nthen subject to the procedures outlined in the policy.\n\nThis policy allows the Canton PD to maintain its commitment to pursuing justice for victims and holding\nperpetrators accountable, even in cases that have grown cold over time.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.\n\nEE. Criminal Intelligence\nThe Audit Team reviewed COD Policy No. 2.07 “Criminal Intelligence” and found it in alignment with\nCALEA Standards 42.1.5 and 2.1.4.\n\nThe policy covers intelligence activities which primarily focus on gathering, analyzing, and disseminating\ninformation regarding suspicious occurrences and criminal intelligence, which may not always be directly\ntied to an ongoing criminal inquiry. Maintaining the legal and ethical integrity of the information collection,\nhandling, and distribution processes is crucial. Legal mandates and privacy regulations prohibit law\nenforcement agencies from obtaining and sharing data that is not considered relevant to criminal activity.\n\nThe Canton PD has instituted several safeguards regarding its legal obligations and in consideration of the\nrights of its citizens. The policy states in part:\n\n• Intelligence gathering efforts shall not interfere with the exercise of constitutionally guaranteed rights\n and privileges; and\n• No intelligence information shall be gathered or retained unless it specifically relates to criminal\n conduct or to activities that present a threat to the community.\n\nThe Canton PD policy clearly outlines the requirements and expectations as it relates to\nMaintaining/Storing, Safeguarding/Processing and Utilizing intelligence.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=66","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=66","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p66","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p67","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":67,"printedPage":"62","pageLabel":"Report p. 62 · PDF p. 67","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n Consistent with the recommendations as they relate to Informants and Documentation and\n Report Writing, the Audit Team suggest careful consideration be given to the documentation of\n all intelligence, with special consideration given to verbal debriefings. A clear chain of custody\n is easier to establish for physical evidence such as documents, electronic records, video and\n audio recordings, but quite often the most valuable intelligence is gleaned through informant\n debriefings as well as witness statements. At the time a statement is acquired it may not have\n relevance or be thought of as intelligence. Consistent formatting in recording and\n memorializing this type of information will assist in preserving and maintaining the integrity of\n reports.\n\nFF. Internal Affairs (IA)\nThe Audit Team conducted a thorough review of both the internal affairs (IA) policy as documented in\nCanton PD Policy No. 4.01 as well as the existing IA investigations. This section will speak only to the\npolicy. The policy, its implementation and the IA investigations are thoroughly assessed in Section 3:\nProfessional Standards and Accountability.\n\nPolicy No.4.01 as documented is in alignment with and meets the requirements of CALEA Standards\n11.4.4 / 26.1. / 26.1.2 / 26.1.14 / 26.1.5 / 26.1.7 / 26.1.8 / 45.2.1.1 / 52.1.2 / 52.1.3 / 52.1.4 / 52.1.5 /\n52.2.1 / 52.2.2 / 52.2.3 / 52.2.4 / 52.2.5 / 52.2.6 / 52.2.7 / 52.2.8 and 52.2.9, as well as Massachusetts\nPOST REC-01 / IA-01 through IA-06 and Conduct 01. This policy was last reviewed on January 15, 2025.\n\nA relationship built on trust and confidence between the employees of the police department and the\ncitizens of the community is crucial for achieving law enforcement goals. All police personnel are\nexpected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on themselves and the department,\nboth on and off duty. Upholding a high standard of conduct establishes the reputation of the department,\nin turn garnering support from the community for department objectives. In the Canton PD, the IA function\nmay be delegated by the Chief to the Deputy Chief, who can then assign a lieutenant to investigate. For the\npurpose of this policy, the term Internal Affairs Section will encompass any of the aforementioned roles.\n\nThe IA function is vital for ensuring professional conduct within a law enforcement agency. The\ndepartment's integrity is directly corelated to the personal integrity of each employee. The quality of IA\ninvestigations in response to misconduct allegations significantly shapes the public perception of the\ndepartment. The primary purpose of the IA function is to address allegations of misconduct within the\npolice department and among its staff to ensure department integrity and preserve community trust. An\nofficer tasked with conducting an IA investigation must oversee the investigation of complaints against all\nemployees, supervise inquiries into alleged misconduct within the department, and uphold the\nconfidentiality of IA investigations and records. A thorough IA investigation is essential for maintaining the\ndepartment's integrity, ensuring objectivity, fairness, and justice through comprehensive and impartial\nreviews.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=67","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=67","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p67","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p68","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":68,"printedPage":"63","pageLabel":"Report p. 63 · PDF p. 68","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"The policy is thoroughly written and provides clear instruction and guidelines on the IA process. Primary\nobjectives include:\n\n• Protection of the public • Removal of unfit personnel\n• Protection of the employee • Correction of procedural problems\n• Protection of the Department • Address training deficiencies\n\nAny initiated IA investigation must begin promptly upon receipt of the complaint and should be concluded\nwithin ten (10) days after the assigned officer contacts the complainant. In cases of extenuating\ncircumstances, the officer must provide written notice documenting the reasons for the delay to the Chief,\nwho has the authority to approve an extension of the investigation timeframe. Formal complaint forms are\naccessible at the Canton PD, and once submitted, the arrival time and date will be recorded with a copy\nbeing furnished to the complainant. In cases where a violation is considered minor, the Canton PD will\nadhere to the minimum standards stipulated by the POST Commission policies. These complaints may be\nshared with the Commission upon request or in alignment with any relevant Commission policy.\n\nTo align with the Police Reform Act requirements, all IA investigations regarding officer misconduct\ncomplaints must be completed with a final decision reached within one (1) year of the complaint's\nsubmission or notification from the Commission regarding the filed complaint. The Commission reserves\nthe right to extend the investigation timeline for valid reasons. All applicable Policies and Procedures will\nbe revised to comply with these regulations. The Canton PD policy itself is well written and detailed. It\nencompasses all aspects of an IA investigation as well as the proper procedure to be taken.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Recommendations as they relate to Canton PD policy No 4.01 are addressed thoroughly in\n Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability. There are no specific recommendations\n to the policy itself as it is well written. The recommendations made in Section 3 will address the\n overall Internal Affairs program and recommend changes to the implementation of and\n adherence to this policy.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=68","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=68","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p68","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p69","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":69,"printedPage":"64","pageLabel":"Report p. 64 · PDF p. 69","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"GG. Victim Witness Rights Key Definitions:\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD Policy No. 4.03. • Victim: A person who suffers physical, financial, or\nThis policy dealing with the rights of both Victims and emotional harm as the direct result of a specified\nWitnesses meets and exceeds the requirements crime or delinquency offense committed upon his\n person or property. Also regarded as victims are:\nestablished in CALEA Standards 55.1.1 / 55.1.2 / 1.) a spouse, child, parent, or legal guardian of a\n55.2.1 / 55.2.2 / 55.2.3 / 55.2.24 / 55.2.5 / 55.2.6 and minor victim; and 2.) a spouse, child, sibling,\n22.2.4. Beyond ensuring the rights are understood by parent, or legal guardian of a homicide victim. (The\nits officers, the Canton PD takes extra steps to ensure definition excludes any person involved in a crime\nthe officers understand the impact of being a victim of as a perpetrator or accomplice).\na crime, as well as being a witness and having to • Victim Advocate: A person authorized by the\nnavigate the legal system as a civilian. District Attorney’s Office or another agency to\n assist victims in specified ways. Such advocates\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed may be paid employees of the District Attorney’s\n Office or trained volunteers (unpaid citizens).\nThe Canton PD policy No. 4.03 prioritizes the care and\n • Witness: A person who--as determined by the law\nsupport of crime victims and witnesses. Historically,\n enforcement agency--has information or evidence\nlaw enforcement agencies have focused primarily on relevant to the investigation of a specified crime\napprehending offenders, unaware of the needs of those (all felonies, all misdemeanor crimes against\naffected by the crime until they are required to testify in persons, and, upon the recommendation of the\ncourt. When victims and witnesses feel they are not responding officer, other crimes). When the\ntreated well, or feel threatened, their willingness to witness is a minor, the term \"witness\" includes an\ncooperate with the authorities may be compromised. appropriate family member. \"Witness\" includes\n neither defense witnesses nor anyone involved in\nThis lack of full cooperation can significantly impact\n the crime as a perpetrator or accomplice. All\ninvestigations and legal proceedings. victims are witnesses.\nThe Canton PD efforts to raise awareness about this issue are aimed at improving the relationship\nbetween the police and victims/witnesses. By maintaining a positive connection, victims and witnesses\ncan better handle the aftermath of the crime, enhance the perception of the police as a community-\nfocused organization, and ultimately increase their cooperation in ongoing investigations and legal cases.\n\nMassachusetts General Law Part111, Title IV, Chapter 258B states:\n\n “Rights Afforded to Victims, Witnesses and Family Members”, (d) states in part:\n “(d) for victims and witnesses, to be provided with information by the prosecutor\n as to the level of protection available and to receive protection from the local law\n enforcement agencies from harm and threats of harm arising out of their\n cooperation with law enforcement and prosecution efforts.”\n\nIn accordance with Massachusetts General Law Chapter 258, the Canton PD Policy instructs that\nindividuals who have faced threats, or have credible reasons to fear intimidation, should be provided with\nimmediate support and protection. In cases of victim/witness intimidation, the following protocol should\nbe followed:","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=69","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=69","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p69","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p70","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":70,"printedPage":"65","pageLabel":"Report p. 65 · PDF p. 70","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"• If an officer becomes aware of victim/witness intimidation they should:\n • Notify the Shift Supervisor without delay to arrange for the safety and protection of the victim or\n witness. The level of assistance provided should be based on the specific circumstances and the\n level of danger faced by the victim/witness. Measures should be taken to ensure the safety of the\n individual.\n • Take necessary legal actions against the perpetrator, including filing charges and seeking a\n warrant, if required.\n • Inform the Criminal Investigation Unit and Department Court Prosecutor for further potential legal\n proceedings.\n• In situations where the victim/witness is located outside the jurisdiction of the police department:\n • The Shift Supervisor should immediately contact the relevant police agency in that area to inform\n them of the threat and request necessary precautions be taken.\n • Efforts should be made to alert the victim/witness about the potential danger and inform them that\n local authorities have been notified.\n • Notification should also be sent to the Department Court Prosecutor to initiate appropriate legal\n actions in response to the situation.\n\nThe Canton PD policy is detailed and in compliance with CALEA Standards. Additionally, the Canton PD\nupheld and implemented this policy effectively on two (2) occasions as it related to Witness Intimidation\ninvolving witnesses in the trial of Ms. Karen Read.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n On two (2) occasions, the Canton PD responded to threats of witness intimidation and took\n appropriate actions as dictated and required by Massachusetts General Law Chapter 258b.\n The Audit Team reviewed both of those police actions, one of which was a more in-depth\n investigation, and found in both instances the Canton PD acted within policy and within the\n best interests of the citizens in Town of Canton. Those investigations, while required by law, did\n not coincide with the public opinion and have been scrutinized on social media. These two (2)\n instances cited above were just two of the many incidents reviewed by the Audit Team that\n qualify as Victim/Witness intimidation.\n The Audit Team recommends that the Canton PD enforce all laws as applicable and as cited in\n Massachusetts General Law Chapter 253b regardless of public sentiment.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=70","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=70","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p70","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p71","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":71,"printedPage":"66","pageLabel":"Report p. 66 · PDF p. 71","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"HH. Training\nThe Canton PD Policy No. 4.04 relates to Training, Organization and Administration. CDP Policy No.4.04 is\nin compliance with CALEA Standards 33.1.1 / 33.1.2 / 33.1.3 / 33.1.4 / 33.1.7 / 33.2.1 / 33.3.1 / 33.3.2 /\n33.4.1 / 33.4.2 / 33.5.1 / 33.5.3 / 33.6.2 / 33.7.1 / 33.7.2 / 33.8.2 / 1.13.12 / 72.1.1 / 1.1.11 / 1.1.12 and\n1.1.13.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed the training policy in depth. While recommendations will be made regarding the\ntraining requirements, opportunities and necessities, those requirements will be made under Section 7:\nHiring, Training Standards and Equipment.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nCanton PD Policy No.4.04 clearly defines and acknowledges that training has been consistently\nrecognized as a crucial responsibility within every law enforcement organization. Firstly, officers who are\nwell-trained are typically better equipped to confidently and appropriately handle a wide range of\nsituations. Secondly, training contributes to improved productivity and efficiency among personnel. Lastly,\nit promotes teamwork and a shared sense of purpose within the agency. Recently, there has been a\ngrowing trend for agencies to be legally liable for the behavior of their staff and for any deficiencies in\ntraining, whether initial or ongoing.\n\nTraining initiatives must be designed to meet the specific needs of the agency and ensure that all training\nactivities are accounted for. It is essential that the training aligns with the goals and objectives of the\ndepartment and town. Training opportunities are largely dependent on budget restrictions.\n\nThe Canton PD’s official training committee, which reports directly to the Chief of Police and is led by the\nTraining Coordinator, will convene on an annual basis. This committee will have the responsibility of\nassessing and appraising all internal training initiatives to ensure they align with staff and operational\nrequirements, comply with legal mandates, and uphold agency regulations. It will also provide\nrecommendations for new training focus areas and contribute to the refinement and creation of programs\naccordingly. The committee will operate under the jurisdiction of the Chief of Police. The current\ncomposition of the Training Committee includes the following members:\n\n• Chief of Police • Family Services Unit Supervisor\n• Deputy Chief • Training Coordinator\n• Detective Bureau Supervisor • Principal Field Training Officer\n\nThe Chief of Police retains ultimate authority over the appointment and substitution of committee\nconstituents. The Canton PD training coordinator was interviewed at length on multiple occasions by the\nAudit Team. In addition to his duties as Training Coordinator, he is also the primary “Use of Force”\ninstructor for the Canton PD. The Training Coordinator is well versed on Canton PD Policy No. 4.04 and his\nresponsibilities for the coordination of training.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=71","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=71","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p71","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p72","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":72,"printedPage":"67","pageLabel":"Report p. 67 · PDF p. 72","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n There are no recommendations as they relate to the training policy. Several training\n recommendations have been noted and will be provided in Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols,\n Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability, and Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards\n and Equipment.\n\nII. Central Records\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Central Records policy of the Canton Police Department in Section 4.06 of\nthe rules and regulations. Section 4.06 aligns with CALEA Standards 72.1.3 / 82.1.1-.9 / 82.2.1-.5 / 82.3.1-\n.5 / 17.4.2 / 17.4.3 and 42.1.3. The purpose of the Central Records policy is to designate records reporting\nand management procedures that allow Canton PD to provide effective law enforcement services and\nsatisfy legal requirements and responsibilities.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nThe Deputy Chief is responsible for managing Records procedures which include the following: report\nreview, report control, records maintenance, records retrieval, dissemination of records and destruction\nof any record. The policy notes that Canton PD permits the dissemination of public data in compliance\nwith the standards of the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board. The dissemination of\ndepartment records is strictly controlled by Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) guidelines and\nM.G.L. C66.S10. The Deputy Chief approves the release of all reports. The policy stipulates that records\ncan be requested from the Deputy Chief through a Records Request form left in the Deputy Chief’s\nmailbox or through an email request to the Deputy Chief.\n\nKey points regarding records management policy expectations:\n\n• Officers assigned to work at the desk are required to record the following activity that occurs within the\n community:\n • Citizen reports of a crime\n • Citizen complaints (crime related)\n • Citizen requests for service when an officer is dispatched, an employee is assigned to investigate,\n or an employee is assigned to follow up\n • Criminal and non-criminal cases initiated by officers\n • Incidents involving arrests, citations or summonses\n• Dispatching officers are required to initiate a Call Number (Log Entry) whenever a member of the\n public makes a call for service and to record all pertinent information to the request.\n• Complete and accurate data entry responsibilities regarding the IMC system are the responsibility of\n the desk officer and the patrol officer or shift Supervisor.\n• Desk officers must enter all necessary data into IMC as specified within the policy.\n• The Chief of Police will assign designees responsible for each of the following records:","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=72","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=72","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p72","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p73","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":73,"printedPage":"68","pageLabel":"Report p. 68 · PDF p. 73","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"• Department Written Directive Systems • Motor Vehicle Citations\n • Control of Copy Reproduction • UCR and NIBR’s reporting\n • IMC data review and updates.\n\nThe policy details precise procedures the Canton PD must follow to ensure accurate, complete, and\nrelevant data be recorded and maintained. Shift supervisors are responsible for reviewing the reports of\npatrol officers assigned to them based on specific criteria delineated within the policy (including\nneatness, grammar, content, etc.). The Deputy Chief is responsible for reviewing reports to ensure\ncompliance with NIBRS reporting as well as quality metrics. An evaluation report on the Report Review\nprocess must be submitted twice annually to the Chief of Police, noting the number of reports reviewed,\nthe number returned for correction, a breakdown of most frequent errors, the names of individuals\nneeding remedial report writing training, and suggestions for improving the process.\n\nThe Canton PD most frequently uses the following types of reports in daily operations:\n\n• Incident Reports • Restraining Order Reports\n• Offense Reports • Property Reports\n• Arrest (Booking) Reports (Criminal History File) • Motor Vehicle Crash Reports (generates a log\n• Supplemental Reports entry and requires completion of the IMC/IMC\n traffic form)\n• Field Interview Reports\n • Motor Vehicle Citations\n• Warrant Reports\n\nThe Central Records policy not only notes specific instructions associated with the most frequently used\nforms but also delineates standards for regularly reviewing existing forms to improve functionality,\neliminate obsolete or repetitive forms, and ensure uniformity and simplicity in design. The policy ensures\nrecord retention procedures are in compliance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, Section 8\nwhich requires police departments to retain records in accordance with the Supervisor of Public Records'\n“Retention Schedule.” The Deputy Chief is responsible for ensuring compliance to this policy.\n\nCanton PD has procedures for handling funds specified within the Central Records Policy as well, to\ninclude the following requirements:\n\n• The Chief of Police does not authorize officers to accept cash payments for special services\n contracted through the department, such as printing off copies of crash/incident reports. Payments\n must be made in the form of a personal or cashier’s check.\n• All officers and clerical staff should be aware of costs associated with copying and mailing police\n reports, a breakdown of which is to be maintained in the records office.\n• The officer in charge of issuing gun permits is required to document all fees collected for the licenses\n and ensure that payment has cleared prior to the issuing of the license.\n\nCanton PD policy strives to ensure information is maintained accurately and securely, while still being\naccessible as needed to perform police functions. Records security is ensured by the Deputy Chief. The\nRecords Section of the police department is restricted access to ensure security of department records.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=73","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=73","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p73","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p74","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":74,"printedPage":"69","pageLabel":"Report p. 69 · PDF p. 74","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"Dissemination of public records is strictly controlled by CORI standards and the Massachusetts General\nLaws Chapter 66, Section 10. Operational records are always accessible through the IMC system to\nfacilitate investigations and other law enforcement services. When Police Reports are removed from the\nfiles for law enforcement purposes (i.e. court, civil litigation, etc.) a note is left in place of the records\ndocumenting the following: date removed, name of the officer or person removing the report, incident\nnumber of the report, and the purpose for removal.\n\nProtection of police intelligence is imperative to law enforcement operations, as evidenced by the\nguidelines in the Central Records policy. The Canton PD computer system is only accessible through\npasswords used by department employees. The Information System Manager (ISM) is appointed by the\nTown of Canton and is responsible for controlling access security. The ISM is responsible for performing\nweekly scheduled data back-ups and proper storage of computer data files, including on-site and off-site\nstored information. The ISM is also responsible for reporting any access violations directly to the Chief of\nPolice.\n\nRecords are only authorized to be released pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 6, Section 172, as stated in the\npolicy. Canton PD requires officers and civilian personnel be trained in the use of IMC systems\naccordingly. Canton PD restricts access to sensitive cases, including sexual assault reports. A lieutenant\nmust approve access to these reports. Reports involving juveniles are to be clearly marked “JUVENILE”\nand access to arrest information is strictly limited to those who have a legal right to access the\ninformation. Information dissemination of such sensitive files is specifically addressed in the policy to\nensure clarity.\n\nOverall, the Central Records policy thoroughly addresses the standards and procedures for retaining,\nmaintaining, securing, and disseminating information.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.\n\nJJ. Oath of Officer\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Oath of Office policy detailed in Section 4.07 of the rules and regulations. The\npolicy is uniform with CALEA Standards 11.1.0 / 16.3.0 / 26.0.1 and 26.0.2 and encompasses the mission\nof the police department in a form that satisfies state and local requirements, as well as affirms the\ncommitment to upholding the Constitution of the United States. The Canton PD Oath of Office, mission\nstatement, and Code of Ethics ensures members of the department reflect a commitment to each.\n\nOath of Office\nAll newly hired officers are required by policy to appear before the Town Clerk and take the Oath of Office,\nthen maintain a sworn, signed copy of the Oath in their personnel file. The policy cites Massachusetts\nGeneral Laws, Chapter 41, Section 98, entitled “Powers and Duties” as the basis of authority for their\nsworn officers.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=74","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=74","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p74","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p75","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":75,"printedPage":"70","pageLabel":"Report p. 70 · PDF p. 75","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"The Oath of Office is as follows:\n\n “I, _________ do solemnly swear that I support the Constitution of the United\n States of America, and the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of\n Massachusetts, the by-laws of the Town of Canton, and the Rules, Regulations\n and all lawful directives (written as well as unwritten) of the Canton Police\n Department, and that I faithfully discharge the duties of the office of\n ______________, to which I have been appointed according to the law and the best\n of my ability.”\n\nMission Statement\nIn addition to the Oath of Office, the policy clearly defines the mission statement of the Canton Police\nDepartment.\n\n “It is the primary mission of the Canton Police Department to deliver professional\n police services to the residents and business owners of Canton as well as those\n who visit our community regardless of race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual\n orientation.”\n\nThe mission statement reflects Canton PD’s commitment to quality policing practices and establishing\nprotocols that ensure such practices. Every member of Canton PD is required by policy to accept\nresponsibility for achieving the mission.\n\nCode of Ethics\nThe Oath of Office policy details a code of ethics to be followed by their officers, and a code of ethics to be\nfollowed by civilian employees. The Code of Ethics for sworn officers is as follows:\n\n “As a Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to mankind; to safeguard\n lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against\n oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to\n respect the Constitutional rights of all man to liberty, equality, and justice.\n\n I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all; maintain courageous\n calm in the face of danger, scorn, or ridicule; develop self-restraint; and be\n constantly mindful of the welfare of others. Honest in thought and deed in my\n personal and official life, I will be exemplary in obeying the laws of the land and\n the regulations of my department. Whatever I see or hear of a confidential nature\n or that is confided to me in my official capacity will be kept ever secret unless\n revelation is necessary in the performance of my duty.\n\n I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities or\n friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with\n relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and\n appropriately without fear or favor, malice or ill will, never employing\n unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=75","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=75","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p75","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p76","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":76,"printedPage":"71","pageLabel":"Report p. 71 · PDF p. 76","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"I recognize the badge of my office as a symbol of public faith, and I accept it, as a\n public trust to be held so long as I am true to the ethics of the police service. I will\n constantly strive to achieve these objectives and ideals, dedicating myself to my\n chosen profession... Law Enforcement.”\n\nThe Canton PD Code of Ethics reflects a commitment to the personal and professional standards of an\nexemplary law enforcement officer and in turn, to the community they commit to serve. To ensure\ncommitment to the code, Canton PD officers are required by policy to receive ethics training twice a year\nat a minimum.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n While no recommendations are being made under this section the Audit Team has observed\n that Canton PD officers demonstrate a notable commitment to their code of ethics by\n continuing to serve/perform policing duties despite the perception that they have limited\n support from members of the community or elected officials. More information will be provided\n in this report under Section 6: Management Operations and Culture.\n\nKK. Domestic Violence Involving LEO\nThe Audit Team reviewed and assessed CDP Policy No. 4.10 and found it to be in alignment with and\nfulfilled the requirements of CALEA Standards 11.4.4 and 52.2.2.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nIncidents of domestic violence involving law enforcement personnel pose particular challenges for\ninvestigating officers. Officers must balance protecting the victim from further harm while enforcing\ndomestic violence laws. Victims of such abuse may be hesitant to report the incidents against an officer,\nmaking it crucial for responding officers to take appropriate action based on evidence, regardless of the\nabuser's occupation. Police officers responding to domestic violence incidents involving their colleagues\nhave an added and increased responsibility to uphold the integrity of their profession and the trust placed\nin them by the public. Failing to enforce the law in such cases not only harms the victim but undermines\nthe credibility of law enforcement as a whole and erodes the trust of the community.\n\nCanton PD policy No.4.10 recognizes that officers may be involved in domestic violence incidents and\nestablishes clear procedures for addressing such matters involving law enforcement personnel. The\npolicies provide guidance on how to manage situations where an officer is implicated in domestic violence\nto ensure compliance with all legal requirements while caring for the safety and security of the victim. The\nCanton PD’s policy on Domestic Violence Involving Law Enforcement Personnel is designed to assist\nofficers in navigating these complex scenarios by upholding the principles of justice and accountability\nwithin the law enforcement community.\n\nThe Canton PD’s policy reflects a firm stance against domestic violence involving police officers,\nregardless of jurisdiction. When allegations of police officer involved domestic violence arise, swift action","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=76","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=76","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p76","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p77","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":77,"printedPage":"72","pageLabel":"Report p. 72 · PDF p. 77","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"will be taken to safeguard the victim, apprehend the offender, and conduct thorough internal and criminal\ninvestigations. If an officer is proven guilty of domestic violence in court, their law enforcement authority\nmay be revoked.\n\nAll reported incidents of domestic violence involving members of the law enforcement community will be\ndiligently investigated by, or under the supervision of, a senior officer. It is the duty of the supervisory\nofficer to ensure that all necessary enforcement measures consistent with departmental policies and\nprocedures be taken in response to domestic violence cases. Immediate notification of any domestic\nviolence incidents involving a department member should be made to the Chief of Police, or their\ndesignated representative, or to the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen if the Chief is directly involved.\n\nThere are no exceptions for incidents of domestic violence involving law enforcement personnel from\nother agencies within the Town of Canton jurisdiction. Those allegations will be meticulously investigated\nunder the guidance of a supervisory officer, who is responsible for informing the Chief of Police. Failure to\nadhere to the statutory requirements, departmental rules, and policies related to handling domestic\nviolence situations will result in disciplinary measures. The policy clearly and concisely explains relevant\ndefinitions, pertinent case laws, and mandatory In-Service Training for patrolmen and supervisors.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.\n\nLL. Code of Conduct\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Canton PD Code of Conduct policy in Section 4.11 of the rules and\nregulations. The policy references CALEA Standards 26.0.3 / 26.1.1 / 12.1.3 and 22.3.4. Section 4.11\nsummarizes the Canton PD approach to discipline and states the policy is to be read in conjunction with\nPolicy 1.49 Professional Conduct. There are five (5) interdependent disciplinary processes noted within\nthe policy: Selection, Training, Direction, Supervision, and Accountability.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nThe policy details expectations and standards for professional responsibilities on duty and prohibited\nconduct, including conflicts of interest potentially affecting performance of duties. Most notably, officers\nare expected to provide assistance when requested in an expeditious manner, maintain appropriate\nphysical fitness and neat appearance, maintain a knowledge of the Town of Canton community, and state\nfacts truthfully at all times. Furthermore, professional standards of conduct include standards of care and\nsecurity for department issued firearms and awareness of department activities upon entry to duty. To\navoid conflicts of interest or the appearance thereof, the policy provides guidelines for participation in\npolitical activities, outside employment, membership in organizations, testimonials, and gifts. Canton PD\nofficers are strictly forbidden from using their official position for personal or financial gain, obtaining\nspecial privileges, or avoiding consequences of illegal acts.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=77","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=77","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p77","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p78","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":78,"printedPage":"73","pageLabel":"Report p. 73 · PDF p. 78","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"In addition to the professional standards described above, Canton PD officers are expected by policy to be\ncourteous and considerate to members of the public and their fellow officers. Canton PD officers are\nrequired to demonstrate attention to duty, avoiding activities, such as cell phone use in public, which may\nconvey a lack of conscientiousness on the part of the officer.\n\nDisciplinary actions addressing failures in any of the above derive from state statute Mass. Gen. Laws Ch.\n31 § 43, or other measures deemed appropriate by the Chief of Police. The state statute provides for a\nreview of disciplinary procedures before the Civil Service Commission and by the state courts when\nnecessary. Disciplinary actions range from a letter of reprimand to discharge from the department.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n While the Audit Team has no recommendations as it relates to policy, there are\n recommendations regarding the process and the documentation of both civilian complaints\n and internal affairs investigations. These items are covered in detail in Section 3: Professional\n Standards and Accountability.”\n\nMM. Roll Call Policy\nThe Audit Team conducted a review of the Roll Call Policy and conducted interviews with the Deputy Chief\nof Operations, Deputy Chief of Administration, all patrol sergeants as well as the sergeant of the detective\ndivision. This policy was put into effect in 2010, and has since been evaluated in the years 2014, 2016,\n2018, and 2020. Section 4.15 is in alignment with CALEA Standards 41.1.1 / 41.1.2 / 1.3.9 / 12.1.4 / 42.2.6\nand 33.5.2.\n\nRoll Call serves as a crucial communication tool between officers on duty and their immediate\nsupervisors. It also functions as a training tool, facilitating the dissemination of information, directives,\nand documents within the department. Moreover, Roll Call is utilized to inspect officers' attire and\nequipment, inform the oncoming shift of any significant events, and to encourage constructive feedback\non department policies and activities. The primary method for sharing Roll Call information is through the\ndispatch daily log provided by the Station Officer in the form of a briefing to the oncoming shift. To ensure\ncomprehensive reporting, each log entry should ideally include as many details as possible, such as the\ncaller's name and contact number, locations of officers dispatched to significant events, as well as the\nnames and contact numbers of involved parties, witnesses, and/or suspects.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=78","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=78","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p78","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p79","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":79,"printedPage":"74","pageLabel":"Report p. 74 · PDF p. 79","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"NN. Selection Process\nAdditional information will be provided to the process and its application in Section 7: Hiring, Training\nStandards and Equipment.\n\nCanton PD’s Selection Process policy is detailed in Section 4.16 of the rules and regulations. The policy is\nin alignment with CALEA Standards 32.1.1-.4 / 32.2.1-.6 / 16.3.2 and 16.3.8. Rigorous standards for\nselection and hiring detailed within the policy demonstrate Canton PD’s commitment to selecting the best\ncandidates to become Canton PD officers, while ensuring a fair and equitable application process.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nSelection guidelines are set forth within the policy based upon criteria established by the Town of Canton\nPersonnel Policy and Police Reform Act (POST) procedures. The following conditions of employment must\nexist for an individual to be eligible for application:\n\n• The individual must pass a national decertification check through MPTC’s Executive Director’s Office.\n Canton PD will not employ a decertified officer in any capacity.\n• The applicant is required to obtain and maintain their certification through POST.\n\nOnce a person is certified as eligible, the selectees undergo a screening process to see if they meet the\ncriteria for employment. The screening process includes notification to the applicants of the selection\nprocess criteria in writing, including the dates and locations of the events, expected duration, and policy\non retesting and reevaluation. Requirements for background investigations, medical examinations,\npsychological examination, and physical ability testing are clearly stipulated in the policy.\n\nThe selection process includes various activities specified within the policy, including activities such as\npassing the Civil Service exam, application packets and interviews, background checks, and psychological\nand medical testing. The Chief of Police is responsible for coordinating the selection process and\nforwarding the results to the Town Manager.\n\nThe Conditional Offer of Employment stage consists of four (4) stages:\n\n• Academy Trained Candidate (includes an applicant who has already completed a police academy and\n goes straight to a Field Training program).\n• Non-Academy Trained Candidate (applicants who have not completed a police academy have a\n conditional offer of employment pending successful completion of the academy).\n• Probationary Period (all new employees are considered probationary during the first twelve (12)\n months of service with the Canton PD).\n• Performance Review (employees nearing the end of the probationary period receive a standard formal\n performance review).\n\nThe Chief of Police makes recommendations to the Town Manager of applicants who have successfully\ncompleted the performance review stage. Applicants who are not chosen will be notified in writing within\nthirty (30) days of completion of the process.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=79","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=79","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p79","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p80","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":80,"printedPage":"75","pageLabel":"Report p. 75 · PDF p. 80","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.\n\nOO. Dispatch Center Access and Use Policy\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Dispatch Center Access and Use Policy stipulated in Section 4.22 of the rules\nand regulations. The purpose of the policy is to ensure department communications are protected through\nsecurity measures detailed within. Section 4.22 is in alignment with CALEA Standards 81.3.1 and 81.3.2.\n\nExisting guidelines within the policy strive to ensure the Dispatch Center environment is conducive to:\n\n “Minimal distractions of assigned staff, highest levels of officers safety, prompt\n and efficient service to the community and other agencies, [and] accurate\n exchange of information with all involved parties.”\n\nAccording to the policy, the Dispatch Center is outfitted with bullet proof glass in areas of public access.\nSecurity cameras are, by policy, positioned inside and outside the department to monitor access. The\npolicy directs that the Dispatch Center must remain free of distractions as it is a hub of communication\nbetween the public and responding personnel.\n\nOverall, the policy clearly states the expectations and standards for ensuring a safe and effective\nenvironment prepared to intake communications from the public and respond accordingly.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Access to dispatch is granted to all members of the department as each has a professional\n reason to enter the area. Entering the area of dispatch should be limited to only those\n individuals with a specific assignment or shift duties related to the dispatcher.\n Canton PD should hire full-time in-house dispatchers for all three (3) shifts. In the past six (6)\n months, our team identified three (3) separate occasions where patrol officers failed to\n dispatch officers for calls for service. We also found most neighboring police departments\n similar in size employ full-time dispatchers. [Note: The Audit Team discussed these\n recommendations with Chief Rafferty and Select Board members.]\n Hiring full-time dispatchers for all three (3) shifts will assist patrol officers that currently act as\n dispatchers and perform all functions in the dispatch center.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=80","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=80","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p80","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p81","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":81,"printedPage":"76","pageLabel":"Report p. 76 · PDF p. 81","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"PP. School Resource Officer\nThe Audit Team conducted a review of the Canton PD School Resource Officer policy and interviewed all\nfour (4) full-time School Resource Officers (SROs) within the Canton PD jurisdiction. It was found that\nCanton PD maintains Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with both Blue Hills Regional Technical\nSchool and Canton Public Schools, with MOUs being renewed annually. These agreements are governed\nby Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 71, Section 37P, as amended by Section 79 of Chapter 253 of the\nActs of 2020, serving to formalize the relationship between Canton PD SROs and the School District.\n\nUnder Section 37P of the Massachusetts Law, a School Resource Officer is defined as a duly sworn\nmunicipal police officer or a special officer appointed by the Chief of Police tasked with providing law\nenforcement and security services to elementary and secondary public schools. The law stipulates certain\nrequirements for the selection and training of SROs, emphasizing the importance of fostering an optimal\nlearning environment through specialized training relating to working with adolescents and children.\n\nThe MOUs between Canton PD and the respective schools outlines the goals and objectives of the SRO\nprogram. The SRO program fosters safe and supportive school environments while promoting partnership\ncommunications and procedures for responding to student conduct. An emphasis placed on training for\nSROs and school personnel in best practices and appropriate intervention strategies.\n\nAs part of the MOUs, leadership from the school districts is required to provide yearly evaluations of the\nSRO program and individual SRO performance. Feedback from the Superintendents of Canton Public\nSchools and Blue Hills Regional Technical School regarding the Canton PD SROs was overwhelmingly\npositive, with the SROs being described as valuable assets to the school communities.\n\nThank you notes and letters from students in the Canton Public School system to Canton PD SROs","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=81","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=81","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p81","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p82","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":82,"printedPage":"77","pageLabel":"Report p. 77 · PDF p. 82","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"The interviews with the SROs revealed their dedication to their roles within the community, with examples\nof going above and beyond to enhance their skills and support the students. The SROs function as a law\nenforcement resource within the schools, providing security, guidance counseling, and informal\neducation opportunities. They also play a role in community policing by building trust with students and\nparents through various interactions.\n\nWhile Canton PD SROs do not have assigned police cruisers or department-issued phones, they utilize\ntheir personal cars to travel to their assigned schools and have access to school security camera footage\nwhen needed. The SROs primarily wear plain clothes to work with occasional use of uniforms and engage\nin various activities within the schools to support students and enhance safety.\n\nOverall, the audit findings indicated a positive and collaborative relationship between Canton PD SROs\nand the school districts, with a focus on creating a safe and supportive environment for students.\n\nKey Findings\nThe Canton PD employs four (4) full-time School Resource Officers (SROs) who are assigned to various\nlevels of schools, including high school, middle school, and elementary schools. These officers are\nresponsible for tracking student arrests and civilian contacts within the school environment. Their primary\nobjective is to maintain a safe and secure learning environment so that teachers can focus on teaching\nand students can engage in learning effectively. The SROs also strive to be positive role models for\nstudents by developing relationships built on trust and fostering positive interactions. SROs collaborate\nwith faculty and the administration team to deliver safety education programs and provide a visible law\nenforcement presence on school grounds to address any necessary law enforcement actions.\n\nThe Superintendent of Schools works with the SROs, reporting any student arrests or issues to ensure a\ncoordinated approach to school safety. The SROs monitor activities on school grounds by keeping track of\nstudent contacts. They are also deployed in uniform and undercover at school sporting events to help\nidentify and address any potential issues involving students and external influences.\n\nThe Canton PD Policy and Procedures No. 4.26, directs SROs report to the Chief of Police through their\nsupervisory chain of command and are required to comply with all department policies. Additionally, while\non duty at their assigned school, SROs have a secondary chain of command that starts within the school\nstaff, from assistant principal(s) to the School Principal, up to the Canton Superintendent of the School\nDistrict.\n\nGiven their dual role within the police department and school environment, SROs are mandated to\nparticipate in mandatory in-service training programs sponsored by the Municipal Police Training\nCommittee, as per Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 6 Section 116H.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Currently, one (1) officer is assigned and responsible for covering three (3) elementary schools\n in the Town of Canton. While this officer excels at coordinating his presence at each school and\n varying his whereabouts unpredictably, it is logistically impossible for him to be in three (3)","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=82","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=82","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p82","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p83","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":83,"printedPage":"78","pageLabel":"Report p. 78 · PDF p. 83","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"places simultaneously. It is advisable for additional resources to be assigned so that each\n school can have its own officer present to ensure student safety.\n\nQQ. Professional Conduct\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Professional Conduct policy in Section 4.28 of the rules and regulations. The\npolicy is in alignment with CALEA Standards 12.1.3 / 22.3.4 and 26.1.1 and states its purpose of ensuring\nprofessionalism, ethics and integrity of Canton PD officers in the performance of their duties.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nCanton PD officers are required to hold themselves to the professional standards of conduct as defined in\nSection 4.28 at all times on and off duty. Professional standards set forth within the policy include\nguidelines on the following.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\n• Officers are expected to maintain a professional uniform and appearance with cognizance of public\n perception.\n• Employees have a right to privacy in their off duty conduct to the extent that it does not affect the\n employee’s ability or fitness for duty.\n• Officers are to keep from unbecoming conduct. While examples of “unbecoming conduct” are not\n explicitly outlined within the policy, it is defined as a “catch all” provision including conduct that is of\n such nature that would “alert a reasonable employee that their conduct under the circumstances\n would be inappropriate.” This provision exists to note the importance of employees understanding that\n their connection to Canton PD does not stop while on duty but continues through their personal life.\n Therefore, Canton PD employees must refrain from conduct which “tends to indicate that the\n employee is unfit to continue as a member of the Department, or tends to impair the operation,\n morale, integrity, reputation or effectiveness of the Department or its members.”\n• Officers are expected to avoid all situations where conflicts of interest exist – both in fact and\n appearance – keeping in mind their position of public trust. M.G.L. c. 268A is provided as a guide\n concerning situations giving rise to conflicts of interest.\n• Canton PD officers must avoid membership in organizations that would interfere with the performance\n of their duties as well as associations with persons who they know or should know, are under criminal\n investigation.\n• The policy reiterates that Canton PD employees are prohibited from seeking undue influence, buying,\n selling, or receiving anything from complainants, suspects, defendants, witnesses, etc., or making any\n arrangement that permits a person from escaping penalty for wrongdoing.\n• Canton PD employees may not use Department letterhead for private correspondence, nor use the\n department mailing address for private purposes without the permission of the Chief of Police.\n• The Chief of Police must approve any off-duty employment.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=83","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=83","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p83","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p84","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":84,"printedPage":"79","pageLabel":"Report p. 79 · PDF p. 84","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"• Canton PD Officers must abide by “Amanda’s Law” C. 271 Section 51, which prohibits taking or\n transmitting images of crime victims by first responders.\n• The Professional Conduct policy strives to ensure Canton PD Officers conduct themselves in such a\n way as to perform their official duties in a manner that demonstrates respect and earns the public\n trust.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.\n\nRR. Special Operations\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Special Operations policy as defined in Section 7.01 of the rules and\nregulations and in alignment with CALEA Standards 2.1.3 / 2.1.4 / 11.4.4 / 22.3.1 / 33.6.2 / 41.2.4 / 41.2.5 /\n46.1.2 / 46.2.1 / 46.2.2 / 46.2.3 / 46.2.5 / 46.2.6 and 46.2.7. The purpose of the policy is to provide\nguidelines for preparation for and response to emergencies and disasters.\n\nKey Policy Areas Reviewed\nSpecial Disaster or Emergency Planning\n\nSection 7.01 requires the Canton PD to respond to emergencies and disasters, obtain appropriate\nresources, and address emergencies in a manner that preserves life, peace and property. The policy cites\nan “All Hazards Plan” that is in place for responding to general emergencies and disasters. The policy\ndefines four (4) categories of events requiring special disaster or emergency planning: a breach of the\npeace, civil disturbances, disasters, and unusual occurrences. Expectations and guidelines for the initial\nresponse to an emergency are detailed within the policy.\n\nEmergency Situations\n\nThe policy cites M.G.L. c41 s98 as a basis of authority for standards in responding to emergency\nsituations. The statute gives police officers authority to suppress and prevent disturbances and disorder,\ndisperse any assembly of three (3) or more persons, and to enter any building to suppress a riot or breach\nof the peace therein.\n\nIn the event a situation arises to an unmanageable level, the policy states that the Chief of Police may\nrequest assistance from the National Guard. If a state of emergency is declared or requested, Canton PD\nmust assign an officer to be the liaison to the Officer of the Adjutant General to assist with coordinating\nresponse efforts.\n\nTactical teams are available for assistance as well. Canton PD relies on outside tactical teams such as\nMETRO-LEC, according to the policy. Patrol forces are responsible for maintaining security until the\noutside tactical teams have arrived. The policy dictates the information to be gathered by Canton PD\nofficers in preparation for a tactical team response. Canton PD allows for certain officers to be assigned to","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=84","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=84","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p84","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p85","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":85,"printedPage":"80","pageLabel":"Report p. 80 · PDF p. 85","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"the METRO-LEC tactical team when specific standards are met, as defined within the policy, and pursuant\nto approval from the Chief.\n\nSpecial Events\n\nCanton PD policy provides for a Special Event officer-in-charge to be appointed on the occasions of\nspecial events or activities occurring within the Town of Canton, including parades, sporting events, or any\nother event that requires advanced special planning. The policy outlines the responsibilities and\nexpectations of the Special Events officer with the goal of ensuring community safety and traffic control.\n\nOverall, the policy establishes protocol for preparing for emergencies, disasters, and special events of\nvarying nature. Canton PD officers are given clear and detailed guidance on law enforcement procedures\nwhen responding to such events, with a clear emphasis on community safety.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.\n\nSS. Compliance with CALEA Standards on Specified Policies and Procedures\nThe Audit Team recently reviewed the CALEA Standards to assess the Canton PD's compliance thereto.\nCALEA Standards enhance public safety services by setting best practices, promoting excellence, building\npublic trust, and identifying areas for improvement. The department received its Initial Accreditation in\nNovember 2007 and has been reaccredited multiple times since, with the latest being in 2021. CALEA\ncurrently offers two (2) Tiers of accreditation, with Tier 2 requiring compliance with 483 standards and Tier\n1 with 183 standards. In addition to CALEA, the police department has been MPAC certified, and received\nthe MPAC award in 2014 and 2018.\n\nThe CALEA accreditation is voluntary and typically takes up to twenty-six (26) months to complete. The\nMPA Commission offers two (2) tiers of professional credentialing programs, Certification and\nAccreditation, with the latter consisting of 216 standards, of which 96 are mandatory and 120 are optional.\n\nFindings from the recent audit show that the Canton PD does not currently hold a CALEA accreditation.\nAlthough the department's written Policies and Procedures align with the CALEA standards, the\naccreditation has not been consistently renewed annually over the past 17 years.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Audit Team recommends updating the CALEA accreditation or incorporating MPAC\n standards into the existing Policies and Procedures.\n Furthermore, a comparison between CALEA and MPAC standards reveals that while both\n organizations assess law enforcement agencies, they serve different purposes with varying","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=85","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=85","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p85","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p86","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":86,"printedPage":"81","pageLabel":"Report p. 81 · PDF p. 86","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"assessment methods. CALEA aims to improve public safety services through professional\n standards, while MPAC assesses a wide range of performance metrics.\n It is advised that the Canton PD take steps to address the discrepancies in accreditation and\n standards compliance to ensure accountability and adherence to best practices in law\n enforcement.\n\nTT. Officer Personal Vehicle Use\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Canton PD policy on Canton PD equipment, specifically department vehicle\nuse for the Canton Police Department: Rules, Regulations and Policies booklet, Section IV “General,\nEmployment and Operations” subsection P. “Equipment.” The policy prohibits any member of the Canton\nPD from misusing or abusing a city-owned vehicle and requires that all accidents involving a police vehicle\nbe investigated by an outside agency.\n\nCanton PD’s rules and regulations Section 4.14 discusses Police Vehicle Readiness and aligns with CALEA\nStandards 41.1.3 / 41.3.1 / 41.3.2 / 41.3.3 / 41.3.5 and 61.3.3. The policy references Massachusetts\nGeneral Laws Chapter 89, Section 7-B as a guideline for driving operations of a police vehicle. Regarding\npersonal use of police vehicles, the policy notes that no person shall be permitted to be an occupant or\nride in the department vehicle, except when necessary for the performance of duty, or otherwise approved\nby the Chief of Police.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed the “Town of Canton Contract of Employment – Police Chief” as it relates to\nvehicle use. The contract stipulates that the Chief of Police is authorized to use a municipally supplied\nvehicle for her unrestricted personal use as well as commuting to and from work, consistent with rules and\nregulations established from time to time by the Select Board.\n\nCanton Police Department Rules and Regulations Section 4.3, “Use of Department Vehicles/Equipment”\nstates Canton PD officers are not permitted to use any department vehicle outside of regular shift duties,\nor on a detail, without the prior approval of the Deputy Chief of Operations. Officers assigned a take home\nvehicle may not use the vehicle for “personal use” unless approved in their union or personal contract.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=86","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=86","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p86","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p87","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":87,"printedPage":"82","pageLabel":"Report p. 82 · PDF p. 87","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"UU. Overtime Policy and the Adherence of the Overtime\nContract Rules regarding “Minimum Manning” play a critical role in expenditures of the overtime budget.\n\nFrom July 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024, Canton PD expended $142,462.81 (12101-51320) to fill\nshift work for officers using sick, vacation and personal days. [Note: One (1) sergeant is on military leave.]\n\nIn addition, Chief Rafferty utilized forfeiture funds, $378,244 from the Equitable Sharing Funds to fund\novertime expenses for shift work.\n\nLine-item overtime includes vacation, administrative leave, military leave, and detective overtime for\ninvestigations.\n\nPatrol Shift Minimum Manning\n• Day Shift – Four (4) patrol officers and one (1) sergeant.\n• Second Shift – Four (4) patrol officers and one (1) sergeant.\n• Third Shift – Three (3) patrol officers and one (1) sergeant.\n\nOne (1) additional patrol officer serves as a dispatcher on all three (3) shifts. Due to staff shortages,\nmilitary leave, sick time, and vacation time, a shortage of patrol staffing results in overtime for patrol\nofficers and sergeants.\n\nDeputy Chief of Police Thomas Keleher audits overtime expenditures on a quarterly basis.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n As stated in Section 6: Management Operations and Culture, we recommend adding additional\n officers to the organization table once the department gets to full staff. The additional officer\n positions will reduce the amount of overtime funding required now to meet minimum staffing\n requirements.\n\nVV. Use of Personal Cell Phones\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD policy 2.12: Guidelines and Policies Concerning Personal cell\nphones. Every employee (officer) must possess a mobile phone for departmental communication\npurposes and must promptly inform the department of any changes to their contact number. The Audit\nTeam found that Canton PD officers are in compliance with this policy. Officers often utilize personal\nphones to photograph crime scenes, which is only permissible as a last resort under current policy and\nprocedure No 6.01.\n\nEquipment, Telephone and Radio Use Including Personal Cell Phone Policy\nThe Canton PD has a policy regarding the use of personally owned equipment or devices for photographing\nevidence at crime scenes. The policy states that personal cell phones can be used as a last resort when","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=87","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=87","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p87","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p88","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":88,"printedPage":"83","pageLabel":"Report p. 83 · PDF p. 88","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"department-issued equipment is not available. However, during an audit, it was discovered that officers\nand detectives were not provided with department-issued mobile phones.\n\nFollowing a meeting between Chief Rafferty, Select Board Chair Michael Loughran, and the Audit Team, it\nwas recommended that all Canton PD officers should be equipped with department-issued mobile\nphones. As a result, in January 2025, Chief Rafferty issued mobile cellular phones (Apple iPhones)\nspecifically for the detective division. A new policy was implemented to ensure that only department-\nissued mobile phones are used to photograph evidence at crime scenes, in accordance with policy 83.2.2,\nwhich states that digital cameras should be used for this purpose. The Audit Team interviewed department\nemployees who stated that often they utilize personal phones or laptops to photograph crime scenes. The\nAudit Team recommended that all Canton PD sergeant vehicles should be equipped with digital cameras,\nand mobile phones be issued to all Canton PD officers.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Audit Team found that Canton PD officers are permitted to use personal phones for\n contacting witnesses or confidential sources during the course of their duty and utilizing\n personal phones and to photograph crime scenes as a last resort when department cameras or\n computers are not available. This is an alarming practice that has become routine out of\n necessity.\n It is recommended that all officers of the Canton PD be issued departmental phones. At a\n minimum, all officers at the rank of sergeant and above, as well as the detectives in the\n investigative division should be issued departmental phones. The issues taking place in current\n prosecutions clearly demonstrate the need to have departmental phones, as well as the\n negative consequences of utilizing personal phones for investigative work.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=88","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=88","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p88","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p89","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":89,"printedPage":"84","pageLabel":"Report p. 84 · PDF p. 89","section":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","topic":"","title":"Section 1: Policies, Procedures and Regulations","text":"SECTION 2:\n Crime Scene Protocols Overview\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=89","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=89","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p89","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p90","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":90,"printedPage":"85","pageLabel":"Report p. 85 · PDF p. 90","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"","title":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","text":"SECTION 2: CRIME SCENE PROTOCOLS OVERVIEW\nAn audit was conducted to review the crime scene protocols, policies, and compliance standards in place\nat the Canton PD at the time of various incidents. The Audit Team assessed various aspects related to\ncrime scene investigation procedures, evidence collection, preservation, and adherence to industry\nstandards. The review included staffing of trained detectives, equipment, crime scene documentation and\nexisting protocols for responding to crime scenes in inclement weather.\n\na) Analysis of Crime Scene Protocols:\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton Police Department (Canton PD) Policy and Procedure, specifically\nfocusing on Evidence Collection No. 6.01 dated October 31, 2013. The policy outlines the responsibilities\nof first responders, including evidence preservation and protection of the crime scene. Policy designates\nthe sergeant or shift commander to take command of crime scenes and mandates the involvement of\ntrained personnel for evidence collection. Canton PD collaborates with external agencies like Plymouth\nCounty Sheriff’s Office and Massachusetts State Police (MSP) for crime scene processing.\n\nb) Evaluation of Adherence to Procedures:\n\nThe Audit Team carefully examined a set of crime scene incident reports spanning ten (10) years. While\nsome investigations were found to be within policy guidelines others violated protocols and policy. The\nAudit Team found failures in compliance with existing Canton PD policies regarding crime scene\ndocumentation, photography, processing, and preservation as required by Canton PD's Evidence\nCollection and Preservation Policy.\n\nc) Assessment of Evidence Collection and Compliance:\n\nThe Bureau of Criminal Identification Unit at Canton PD is responsible for maintaining a Crime Scene\nSearch Kit for evidence processing. Canton PD has agreements with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office\nand the MSP for utilizing their crime scene technicians in cases where additional capabilities and expertise\nare deemed necessary. Notification to and relinquishing the investigation to the MSP is mandatory in\ninstances involving unattended deaths as mandated by Massachusetts Law.\n\nd) Establishment of Protocols for Inclement Weather:\n\nUpdated protocols related to evidence collection and preservation, including procedures for handling\ncrime scenes in inclement weather, were introduced by Chief Helena Rafferty on October 31, 2023. These\nprotocols align with CALEA standards and best practices.\n\ne) Review of Documentation Practices:\n\nDocumentation practices related to crime scene investigations, evidence processing, civilian complaints,\nand internal affairs investigations were thoroughly examined during the audit and detailed in Sections, 2,\n3, and 14. The Audit Team reviewed the crime scene response and investigative procedures carried out by\nCanton PD officers in relation to incidents involving Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe's severe injury and\nsubsequent death on January 29, 2022 at 34 Fairview Road. The team compared these actions to\nestablished policies, regulations, and requirements to assess compliance. Moreover, the audit included a","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=90","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=90","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p90","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p91","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":91,"printedPage":"86","pageLabel":"Report p. 86 · PDF p. 91","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"","title":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","text":"review of Canton PD's crime scene response and investigative steps following the Sandra Birchmore death\ninvestigation on February 4, 2021.\n\nf) Review prior crime scene training and suggest recommended training and process improvements:\n\nWhile newly promoted Sergeant’s receive additional formal training, Canton PD officers promoting into the\nposition of detective receive no additional formal training. The Audit Team recommends formal training in\nthe areas of: Crime Scene Preservation, Crime Scene Photography, Electronic Communications and\nExploitation, Interviewing Techniques, Crime Scene Documentation, Evidence Collection and Legal\nAdmissibility.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=91","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=91","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p91","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p92","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":92,"printedPage":"87","pageLabel":"Report p. 87 · PDF p. 92","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"January 29, 2022\n\nCase File Audit of the\nDeath of Boston Police\nOfficer John O’Keefe\n\n Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe\n\nAs requested by the Canton Police Audit Committee and Canton Town residents, the Audit Team reviewed\nthe initial police response, crime scene investigative actions, police reports, evidence collection, and\nevidence documentation to ensure policy and procedures were followed by Canton PD surrounding the\ndeath investigation of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.\n\nPhoto Taken on February 2, 2022, of 34 Fairview Road, Canton, MA by Craig Walker, Boston Globe, Getty Images","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=92","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=92","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p92","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p93","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":93,"printedPage":"88","pageLabel":"Report p. 88 · PDF p. 93","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"Canton PD Calls for Service at 34 Fairview Road, Canton, MA., on January 29, 2022\n\n 05:04 a.m. • Canton PD receives a call on Audio clip of the Canton PD\n January 29, 2022, at approximately call placed by Ms. Roberts to\n 05:04 a.m., Kerry Roberts called the report that Mr. O’Keefe had not\n Canton Police Department (Canton returned home:\n https://drive.google.com/file/d/\n PD). Ms. Roberts reported that Mr. 1hQtIeFc4mSnoYWSCYfnD23G\n O’Keefe had not returned home the f68RZLDPl/view\n previous evening. Reference is\n made to call for police on January 29, 2022, by Ms. Roberts.\n 06:04 a.m. • Norwood PD/Canton PD received a Audio clip of the 911 call\n 911 call for police from Jennifer placed by Ms. McCabe on the\n McCabe, who reported that there morning of January 29, 2022 at\n was a guy unresponsive in the 34 Fairview Road:\n snow at 34 Fairview Road. Ms. https://drive.google.com/file/d/\n 1sLUL4dJQ2m7wrJIZ78nCxmp\n McCabe identified the male as 5Ibpl8Alv/view\n John O’Keefe.\n • Ms. McCabe’s call was passed over to Canton Fire Rescue Emergency Medical\n Service (EMS) wherein Ms. Mcabe stated she thinks he [Mr. O’Keefe] passed away.\n Reference is made on the 911 call to police.\n • Sergeant Goode dispatches Officer Saraf and Mullaney to 34 Fairview Road.\n • Sergeant Goode notifies Sergeant Lank and Lt. Gallagher to respond.\n 06:09 a.m. • Canton PD Officer Steven Saraf arrives at 34 Fairview Road, observed Ms. McCabe,\n Karen Read and Kerry Roberts, who were over the body of John O’Keefe, performing\n CPR. They reported he was not breathing. Officer Saraf noted Mr. O’Keefe was\n bleeding and his skin was cold to the touch. Moments later, Canton Fire responded\n and took over first aid response. Officer Saraf reported Karen Read was distraught\n and could not tell him what happened.\n\n 06:12 a.m. • Canton PD Officer Mullaney arrived and observed a female conducting CPR on John\n O’Keefe. Officer Mullaney reported he arrived in concert with fire rescue personnel\n and assisted them with placing John O’Keefe in the rescue. Officer Mullaney\n reported Ms. Read was hysterical and made statements such as “Is he dead” and\n “that’s my boyfriend.”\n • Officer Mullaney reported that Sergeant Goode told Ms. Roberts to take Ms. Read\n home.\n • Officer Mullaney reported Read’s father called Canton PD and reported Karen Read\n was suicidal and Sergeant Goode ordered Ms. Roberts to return to the scene with\n Ms. Read.\n • Ms. Read was then recommended for medical evaluation, Section 12, and\n transported to Good Samaritan Hospital for evaluation.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=93","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=93","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p93","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p94","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":94,"printedPage":"89","pageLabel":"Report p. 89 · PDF p. 94","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"06:12 a.m. • Canton Fire Department and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) arrived and\n rendered first aid to Mr. O’Keefe\n 06:14 a.m. • Canton PD Sergeant Sean Goode arrived at the scene and noted that Mr. O’Keefe\n was in the ambulance (rescue) with paramedics. Ms. McCabe, Ms. Read, and Ms.\n Roberts were standing outside the rescue.\n • Sergeant Good reported that he asked Ms. Read how she arrived at 34 Fairview Road\n and Ms. Read stated “I don’t know.”\n • Sergeant Goode reported that Ms. Read was yelling and was acting hysterical,\n stating “is he dead?” Sergeant Good reported that he asked Ms. Read if she drove to\n 34 Fairview Road last night and she replied “I think so” and “I can’t remember.”\n • Ms. Read and Ms. McCabe were placed in the backseat of patrol car 682.\n • On scene, Ms. McCabe provided Sergeant Goode with a timeline of events leading\n up to the discovery of John O’Keefe.\n • Sergeant Good reported that he interviewed Ms. Roberts on scene and she gave him\n a timeline of events that led her to 34 Fairview Road.\n 06:24 a.m. • Canton PD Detective Sergeant Lank arrived at the scene and took command.\n Sergeant Lank noted that Ms. Read was hysterical and attempts to obtain a\n statement from her were unsuccessful. According to the officers on scene, Ms. Read\n mentioned that she did not remember being at 34 Fairview Road.\n 06:38 a.m. • Sergeant Lank contacted MSP CPAC Unit and briefed a summary of the condition of\n John O’Keefe. Sergeant Lank receives a return call from Trooper Michael Proctor\n who was briefed on the situation.\n • While Canton PD Officers were at the\n scene, they reported they heard Ms. Read\n make statements, such as “is he going to\n die?” and “is he dead?” and further noted\n that Ms. Read was hysterical. Sergeant\n Lank noted that Sergeant Goode advised\n that Mr. O’Keefe had been bleeding from\n his nose and mouth, and had swelling\n around his eyes.\n • Sergeant Lank took a statement from\n Jennifer McCabe who provided a timeline Canton PD Dashcam Photo of MS. Read on\n the roadway in front of 34 Fairview Road on\n of the events that led Ms. McCabe, Ms.\n the morning of January 29, 2022.\n Roberts and Ms. Read to 34 Fairview\n Road.\n • After taking a statement from Ms. McCabe on scene, Sergeant Lank reported he\n contacted the owners of 34 Fairview Road, Brian and Nicole Albert, who provided\n statements. [Note: Matthew McCabe was at 34 Fairview Road at this time and gave a\n statement to Sergeant Lank.]","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=94","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=94","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p94","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p95","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":95,"printedPage":"90","pageLabel":"Report p. 90 · PDF p. 95","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"09:00 a.m. • Sergeant Lank was contacted at Canton PD by Ms. McCabe who requested Sergeant\n Lank return to 34 Fairview Road. Sergeant Lank and Lieutenant Paul Gallagher\n responded to 34 Fairview Road, and spoke to Ms. McCabe who advised that when\n Ms. McCabe, Ms. Roberts and Ms. Read were driving around looking for John\n O’Keefe, Ms. Read stated something to the effect “I hope I didn’t hit him,” and\n believed Ms. Read made these statements on scene in the presence of a police\n officer. [Note: This information is documented in Sergeant Lank’s police report and\n supplemental narrative report of events.]\nApproximately • Canton Fire Rescue transported Mr. O’Keefe to the Good Samaritan Hospital in\n 06:24 a.m. Brockton, MA.\n • Canton Fire Rescue transported Ms. Read to the hospital for evaluation after her\n father William Read called Canton PD and claimed she was suicidal.\n 07:50 a.m. • Mr. O’Keefe is declared dead at Good Samaritan Hospital.\n\n34 Fairview Road Crime Scene Search\nCanton PD Detective Team: Sergeant Sean Goode, Sergeant Michael Lank and Lieutenant Paul Gallagher.\n[Note: Sergeant Lank notified MSP Norfolk County Investigative Unit at 06:38 a.m., who reported they were\nnot responding to the scene.]\n\nCanton PD Photos of 34 Fairview Road, and the location of Mr. O’Keefe taken on January 29, 2022","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=95","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=95","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p95","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p96","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":96,"printedPage":"91","pageLabel":"Report p. 91 · PDF p. 96","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"Lieutenant (Lt.) Paul Gallagher arrived at 07:00 a.m. and was brought to the area where John O’Keefe’s\nbody was found.\n\nDue to the heavy snow and\nwinds, detectives utilized a leaf\nblower to identify evidence.\n\nCanton PD took photos and\nvideotaped the evidence\ncollection. Both Sergeant Lank,\nSergeant Goode, and Lieutenant\n Photo taken on January 29, 2022, at 34 Canton PD Lieutenant holding the\nGallagher searched the area Fairview Road, Canton PD crime scene cocktail glass seized from the\nand discovered a broken search using a leaf blower. yard at 34 Fairview Road.\ndrinking glass and small\namounts of blood. Canton PD detectives reported that they only searched an area around where Mr.\nO’Keefe’s body was found which would not have encompassed the entire yard area.\n\nCanton PD detectives secured the blood evidence in red solo cups and placed them in a Stop & Shop\ngrocery bag. The drinking glass was secured in an evidence bag, and all evidence was taken to Canton PD.\nThe cocktail glass was turned over to the MSP crime technicians for testing on February 1, 2022.\nDetectives said the blood evidence was secured in a refrigerator in the evidence/property room. MSP\ncrime lab technicians took custody of the evidence on February 1, 2022.\n\nThomas Keleher, Canton PD Deputy Chief of the Investigative Division, who resided across the street from\n34 Fairview Road provided the solo cups to detectives. Deputy Chief Keleher recused himself from the\ninvestigation because he knew the Albert family, who were the owners of the home at 34 Fairview Road.\n\nCanton PD detectives cleared the scene at 34 Fairview Road sometime after 08:00 a.m. and responded to\nthe Canton PD with the evidence collected.\n\nLater in the morning, at approximately 0900 a.m., Ms. McCabe called Sgt. Lank at the Canton PD and\nasked him to come to 34 Fairview Road. Minutes later, Sgt. Lank and Lieutenant Gallagher responded to 34\nFairview Road and were met by Ms. McCabe who reported that she recalled when Ms. Read was driving\nwith her (Read) she said something to the effect of “I hope I didn’t hit him.” Ms. McCabe said Read also\nmade the same statements at 34 Fairview Road when they (Read, Roberts and McCabe) found John\nO’Keefe. [Note: This information was documented in Sgt. Lank’s investigative reports].\n\nCanton PD Detectives said they did not have probable cause to obtain a search warrant and did not\nrequest permission to search the Albert house, as they had no information that Mr. O’Keefe ever entered\nthe home at the time.\n\n[Note: A search warrant infringes on an individual's Fourth Amendment rights and requires substantial\nevidence or witness testimony, neither of which was present in this case. Moreover, Canton PD did not\nseek permission to search the house as there was no indication that Mr. O’Keefe was inside, or that a crime\nhad occurred inside the house.]","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=96","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=96","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p96","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p97","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":97,"printedPage":"92","pageLabel":"Report p. 92 · PDF p. 97","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"c\n\n b\n\n a\n\n a\n\nRing Camera Photos of Ms. Read’s Lexus SUV [a], Ms. Roberts SUV [b], and Mr. O’Keefe’s SUV [c] at Mr. O’Keefe’s house at\naround 05:35 a.m. on January 29, 2022.\n\nAt approximately 08:23 a.m., Canton PD officers\nresponded to the O’Keefe residence at 1 Meadow\nLane and conducted a check on the well-being of\nMr. O’Keefe’s niece.\n\nMs. Read’s Lexus SUV is pictured parked in the\ndriveway. After leaving the hospital, Ms. Read,\nalong with her family, went to 1 Meadow Lane and\nrecovered her Lexus SUV LX 570.\n\nKaren Read Arrested\nOn February 2, 2022, Ms. Read was arrested by\nMassachusetts State Police and was charged with Canton PD Dashcam photo of Ms. Read’s Lexus SUV on\n January 29, 2022, at approximately 08:23 am., at Mr. O’Keefe’s\nmanslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, and driveway.\nleaving the scene of a motor vehicle collision\ncausing death. On June 10, 2022, a Norfolk County grand jury indicted Ms. Read on charges of second-\ndegree murder, manslaughter while operating under the influence of alcohol, and leaving the scene of\npersonal injury and death.\n\nAttorneys for Ms. Read claimed that Mr. O’Keefe was assaulted, and his body was later placed outside of\n34 Fairview Road, Canton, MA, as part of an alleged a coverup by law enforcement.\n\n[Note: Our team has not discovered any information that would indicate that any actions by Canton PD\nofficers or detectives were a part of a conspiracy to frame any individual for the murder of Mr. O’Keefe.]\n\nMs. Read’s first trial in Stoughton District Court ended on July 1, 2024, in a mistrial. Ms. Read faces a\nsecond trial beginning on April 1, 2025.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=97","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=97","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p97","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p98","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":98,"printedPage":"93","pageLabel":"Report p. 93 · PDF p. 98","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"Video (files) Footage Evidence of Karen Read’s Lexus SUV 570 at Canton PD Sallyport\nOn January 29, 2022, MSP executed a search warrant for Ms. Read’s Lexus Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) in\nDighton, MA at Ms. Read’s parents' home. The Audit Team found MSP requested that Ms. Read’s vehicle be\nbrought back to Canton PD. Chief Rafferty said this request was granted because the Canton PD is near\nthe Norfolk District Attorney's Office and MSP did not have adequate temperature-controlled storage\nfacilities close-by. MSP coordinated for the Lexus SUV to be towed to the Canton PD garage and arrived at\nthe Canton PD garage at approximately 5:35 p.m. on January 29, 2022.\n\nCanton PD video cameras documented the Lexus SUV arriving at the Canton PD sallyport on January 29,\n2022. Shortly thereafter, MSP and Canton PD secured the vehicle with yellow tape (surrounding the SUV).\n\n[Note: MSP crime scene technicians searched and processed the vehicle on February 1, 2022. Canton PD\nacknowledged and the Town of Canton has confirmed that one camera in the sallyport records abnormally\nin a mirrored fashion. Three (3) cameras in the Town of Canton have been found to have this issue and this\ncamera malfunction is not isolated to only the Canton PD cameras.]\n\nPhotos from video footage of Ms. Read’s Lexus SUV at the Canton PD sallyport on January 29, 2022\n\nPhoto of Ms. Read’s SUV in the sallyport Outside photos of the Canton PD garage\n\nThe Audit Team interviewed the Town of Canton Information Technology (IT) Specialist who stated that the\nCanton PD building has twenty-eight (28) cameras that are placed both inside and on the exterior of the\nbuilding, including in the sallyport garage. The IT Specialist said most of the cameras installed are analog\ncameras (low resolution) and have been in place for many years.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=98","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=98","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p98","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p99","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":99,"printedPage":"94","pageLabel":"Report p. 94 · PDF p. 99","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"Cameras located inside of the sallyport at Canton PD, and inside view of Bay #3\n\nAs part of the audit, a Canton PD Sergeant (retired) met with the Audit Team and advised he downloaded\ncamera footage videos related to Karen Read’s Lexus SUV. Chief Rafferty said the vehicle was in the\ncustody of Canton PD from January 29, 2022, until February 2, 2022.\n\nThe Audit Team also reviewed a memorandum sent to Chief Helena Rafferty on February 27, 2025, that\ndetailed the following in summary.\n\nCanton PD Sergeant wrote, beginning in February 2022, MSP Troopers requested copies of video from the\nCanton PD sallyport from January 29, 2022. Canton PD downloaded Video (1) and provided the exhibit to\nMSP.\n\nIn June 2023, again MSP requested video footage of Ms. Read’s Lexus SUV being brought into the Canton\nPD sallyport, specifically the outside camera footage. The Canton PD Sergeant stated he downloaded all\nvideo recordings that covered the period that Ms. Read’s Lexus SUV was held at Canton PD. [Note: Due to\nthe large size of the files, a Canton PD Sergeant separated the videos and saved them into six (6) hour\nblocks. The outside video footage was relinquished to the custody of the MSP.]\n\nIn April 2024, while Ms. Read’s trial was being held, Chief Rafferty directed the Canton PD sergeant to\ndownload additional video footage from January 29, 2022, (the early morning hours footage) because it\nshowed ATF Special Agent Brian Higgins arriving at Canton PD. The video was downloaded and turned over\nto the MSP. On or about January 24, 2025, Canton PD produced another video of Ms. Read’s Lexus SUV\narriving at the Canton PD sallyport on January 29, 2022, and the video was downloaded and turned over to\nthe MSP.\n\nThe Audit Team learned that the video footage files related to Ms. Read’s Lexus SUV were saved in Canton\nPD computer database folders. The Audit Team was informed that all video evidence saved related to Ms.\nRead’s Lexus SUV was on a Canton PD workstation computer. Chief Rafferty confirmed no personal\ncomputers were utilized for video storage and/or used for any file storage.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=99","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=99","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p99","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p100","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":100,"printedPage":"95","pageLabel":"Report p. 95 · PDF p. 100","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"Canton PD confirmed all video files turned over to MSP or the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office\nwere downloaded on a compact disc or USB device.\n\nSecondary Search of 34 Fairview Road\nThe Audit Team learned from Canton PD that on January 29,\n2024, at approximately 5:45 p.m., MSP Special Emergency\nResponse Team (SERT) conducted a second search at 34\nFairview Road. During that search, pieces of a red plastic\ntaillight were recovered in addition to a Nike shoe. Over the\nnext several days, as the snow melted, numerous taillight\npieces were recovered at 34 Fairview Road by investigators\ninformally as they traversed the area. Approximately 45\npieces in total were discovered. Conditions at the scene of\nthe search were less than ideal. Significant snowfall had\naccumulated with the center of the street being plowed, Pieces of a red taillight next to the hydrant at the\n edge of the property line for 34 Fairview Road\npushing snow to the side of the road. [Note: The snowstorm\naccumulated at least 20 inches of snow in Canton, MA.]\n\n A taillight and a Nike shoe seized at 34 Fairview Road\n\nOn February 4, 2022, at 8:50 a.m., Canton Police Chief Kenneth Berkowitz summoned Sgt. Lank to 34\nFairview Road to retrieve pieces of what he believed to be part of a red plastic taillight near where John\nO’Keefe was discovered. Sgt. Lank along with a Canton PD Detective responded to 34 Fairview Road and\nmaintained a presence and took photos until Massachusetts State Police Trooper Yuri Bukhenik\nresponded and took custody of the evidence.\n\nObservations and Findings\nCanton PD detectives did not have access to evidence collection kits (in Canton PD vehicles or at the\nCanton PD headquarters) to secure the blood evidence located near the body of Mr. O’Keefe at 34 Fairview\nRoad. Canton PD detectives stated they only utilized solo cups as a last resort to preserve the forensic\nevidence until it was transferred to the MSP crime scene forensic unit.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=100","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=100","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p100","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p101","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":101,"printedPage":"96","pageLabel":"Report p. 96 · PDF p. 101","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"The Audit Team found Canton PD did not follow policy and procedures related to evidence collection and\npreservation. The Audit Team found that there were no Bureau of Criminal Identification Unit(s) initially on\nscene, nor were crime scene kits available or used for evidence collection. [Note: According to the\nMassachusetts Crime Lab, plastic is not recommended for packaging or storing moist or wet evidence\nitems due to the acceleration of the decomposition of biological materials on the evidence.]\n\n• No photos were taken of John O’Keefe (exact location of where his body was found) by Canton PD\n officers at 34 Fairview Road.\n• Canton PD officers used personal phones to photograph and video the evidence collection at 34\n Fairview Road. Pursuant to Canton PD policy, a digital camera or laptop computer should have been\n used to photograph the crime scene.\n• Canton PD first officer on the scene should have photographed John O’Keefe where he was found\n before he was moved by fire rescue to the ambulance.\n• Jennifer McCabe and Kerri Roberts should have been interviewed (and the interviews should have\n been recorded) at the Canton PD after Mr. O’Keefe was taken to the hospital. Both witnesses\n accompanied Ms. Read and drove with Ms. Read to 34 Fairview Road.\n• Nicole and Brian Albert should have been interviewed at Canton PD.\n• Both MSP and Canton PD failed to maintain police presence at 34 Fairview Road to maintain the\n integrity of the crime scene. Both agencies should have coordinated to have an officer(s) maintain a\n presence at 34 Fairview Road, pending the second search by MSP.\n\nThe Audit Team found there was incomplete\ncoordination requesting all video files in the custody of\nCanton PD regarding the Canton PD sallyport camera\nfootage of Karen Read’s Lexus SUV. The vehicle was\nmaintained from January 29, 2022, to February 2, 2022,\nat Canton PD.\n\nALL video footage (files) maintained on Canton PDs\ncomputer systems of Karen Read’s Lexus SUV while it\nwas housed at Canton PD from January 29 through\nFebruary 2, 2022, should have been requested and\nturned over early in the Karen Read case to lead\ninvestigators for any action as deemed appropriate.\n\nDue to the blizzard conditions on the morning of January\n29, 2022, and the coordination of personnel, the MSP\nwaited until after 4:45 p.m. to begin coordinating a\nsecondary search of the crime scene at 34 Fairview\nRoad.\n\n• Each piece of evidence should be carefully logged The National Weather Service broadcasted a severe\n and tracked to establish the timeline of its handling. blizzard warning for Canton, Massachusetts\n recommending travel only in emergency circumstances.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=101","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=101","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p101","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p102","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":102,"printedPage":"97","pageLabel":"Report p. 97 · PDF p. 102","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"Officers should refrain from using personally owned phones to video or photograph crime scenes.\n• Once evidence is processed, it should be stored in a secure and controlled environment, such as an\n evidence room with restricted access.\n• If there is any doubt about the legal requirements, it is essential to consult with the department’s legal\n advisors to ensure the integrity of the investigation.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Recommendation 1:\n Increase training opportunities for patrol officers and sergeants to access crime scene\n management training and witness interview and interrogation training.\n Recommendation 2:\n The Chief of the Investigations Division should review all death investigation police reports and\n ensure all investigative avenues were completed before reports are finalized. Ensure that all\n documentation is prepared in a format that can be used as evidence in court.\n Recommendation 3:\n Rewrite Canton PD policy and procedure related to utilization and authorization of personal cell\n phones to photograph or video crime scenes. All policy should be changed to require the use of\n ONLY department issued/owned cell phones to photograph crime scenes. No use of personal\n cell phones should be allowed.\n Recommendation 4:\n All Sergeant and Patrol vehicles should be equipped with full crime scene kits including bags,\n sealing equipment and digital cameras. Department phones should be placed in patrol cars for\n officers to utilize to document crime scenes. Patrol Officers and Sergeants advised the Audit\n Team that Canton PD has one (1) digital camera at headquarters.\n Recommendation 5:\n Prevailing law dictates that the MSP or the District Attorney’s office will lead death\n investigations, but it does not preclude the Canton PD from assisting MSP in such\n investigations. The Audit Team recommends Canton PD should engage and support MSP and\n District Attorney’s Office as deemed appropriate.\n\nCorrective Action\nOn October 31, 2023, Chief Helena Rafferty updated the Canton PD Policy and Procedures related to\nEvidence Collection and Preservation. Reference is made to Canton PD Order Number 6.01. The new\npolicy includes protocols including handling crime scenes in inclement weather. The new policy and\nprocedures regarding evidence collection and preservation are consistent with CALEA standards and best\npractices.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=102","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=102","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p102","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p103","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":103,"printedPage":"98","pageLabel":"Report p. 98 · PDF p. 103","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"John O’Keefe case file audit","title":"John O’Keefe case file audit","text":"The Audit Team verified that the department purchased crime scene kits that are now available for crime\nscene collection for all Canton PD officers. Audit Team discovered that Canton PD has only one (1) digital\ncamera which is assigned to the detective division. [Note: Chief Rafferty advised she is in the process of\npurchasing new digital cameras.]\n\nAudit Team recommended that officers should receive crime scene training, which Chief Rafferty\nconfirmed she supports. In February 2025, Chief Rafferty, in coordination with the Information Technology\nSpecialist, purchased five (5) iPhones for utilization for the Detective Division.\n\nConclusion\nThe Audit Team found no evidence supporting claims that any Canton PD officers tampered with evidence\nlocated at the 34 Fairview Road crime scene. The Audit Team further found that the only Canton Police\nOfficers that should have been recused from the police investigation at 34 Fairview Road were Detective\nKevin Albert and Deputy Chief Keleher. Canton PD has full investigative authority to work in concert with\nthe Norfolk District Attorney’s office and Massachusetts State Police on death investigations.\n\nBased on interviews and review of investigative reports, the Audit Team determined that Canton PD as first\nresponders worked on the initial crime scene and conducted initial interviews of some witnesses at the\nscene. The Audit Team did find policy and procedure failures related to crime scene processing.\n\nThe Audit Team has determined that Canton PD’s internal controls and compliance oversight have\nimproved since the initiation of this Audit and that effective leadership is in place to supervise future\ncritical incidents. The Audit Team has advised Chief Rafferty regarding our recommendations and Chief\nRafferty has confirmed the implementation of new crime scene procedures.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=103","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=103","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p103","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p104","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":104,"printedPage":"99","pageLabel":"Report p. 99 · PDF p. 104","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"Sandra Birchmore case file audit","title":"Sandra Birchmore case file audit","text":"February 4, 2021\n\nCase File Audit\nof the Death of\nSandra Birchmore\n\n Sandra Birchmore\n\nSandra Birchmore Crime Scene, 3307 Windsor Woods, Canton, Massachusetts\nAs part of the Canton Police Department crime scene audit the Audit Team reviewed the Canton PD police\nresponse to Windsor Woods 3307, Canton, MA, beginning on the morning of February 4, 2021. Our team\ncarefully reviewed Canton PD police reports and crime scene documentation surrounding the discovery of\nthe death of Sandra Birchmore on February 4, 2021.\n\nCanton PD Initial Response to Sandra Birchmore’s Crime Scene on February 4, 2021\n\n 10:00 a.m. • February 4, 2021, Sharon School Resource Officer contacted the Canton PD School\n Resource Officer to check on Sandra Birchmore. Ms. Birchmore worked at East\n Elementary School located in Sharon, Massachusetts and had not shown up for work\n and employees were unable to contact her.\n 10:55 a.m. • Canton PD Officers responded to 3307 Windsor Woods to make contact with Ms.\n Birchmore, with negative results (no one answered the door).\n • Canton PD observed Ms. Birchmore’s vehicle was in the apartment complex parking\n lot, covered in snow and had not been moved since the snowfall on Monday, February\n 1, 2021.\n • Canton PD officers spoke with a property manager, who provided a key to access the\n apartment.\n • Canton PD officers entered the apartment and observed Ms. Birchmore in the\n bedroom seated on the floor with a belt/lanyard string/rope around her neck, secured\n around the bedroom closet door handle and appeared deceased. Ms. Birchmore’s\n cell phone was on the floor located close to her body.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=104","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=104","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p104","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p105","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":105,"printedPage":"100","pageLabel":"Report p. 100 · PDF p. 105","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"Sandra Birchmore case file audit","title":"Sandra Birchmore case file audit","text":"• Canton PD officers contacted Canton PD supervisors, who ordered officers to hold\n and secure the scene until Canton PD detectives could arrive. Shortly thereafter,\n Canton PD detectives arrived at the scene.\n 11:46 a.m. • Canton Fire Rescue/Paramedics arrived and pronounced Ms. Birchmore deceased.\n • Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws, Canton PD notified MSP Troopers assigned\n to the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office. Canton PD also notified the medical\n examiner's office. Both the MSP and medical examiner’s office responded.\n • Canton PD Detective and MSP Trooper entered the apartment and after viewing the\n apartment proceeded to the bedroom where they found Ms. Birchmore.\n • MSP Crime Scene Services processed and digitally photographed the scene. Ms.\n Birchmore’s mobile phone and laptop computer were seized.\n • Canton PD cleared the scene after the medical examiner's office removed Ms.\n Birchmore from the apartment.\n\n• Ms. Birchmore’s next of kin contacted the Canton PD by\n phone and was notified by the Canton PD that Ms.\n Birchmore was found deceased.\n• On February 5, 2021, Canton PD Sergeant received an\n electronic message (e-mail) from a witness who related\n she had information regarding Ms. Birchmore’s death.\n This information was passed to MSP for action.\n• On February 5, 2021, Ms. Birchmore’s next of kin, stated\n she was aware that Ms. Birchmore was pregnant and\n that the father of the baby was Stoughton Police Officer\n Matthew Farwell.\n\nFollow-up Investigation by\nCanton PD on February 6, 2021\n• On February 6, 2021, Canton PD detectives conducted Photos from video of Matthew Farwell at Windsor\n follow-up investigation at Windsor Woods and Woods-Canton, MA: lobby, arrival, and departure.\n interviewed a witness who advised Canton PD\n detectives that Ms. Birchmore was involved in an intimate relationship with a police officer, who was\n alleged to be the father of her unborn child.\n• Canton PD detectives received information from a second witness who said Ms. Birchmore had been\n dating a police officer, who did not want the baby, and if Ms. Birchmore did not get an abortion, he\n [boyfriend] would take care of the problem himself.\n• On February 6, 2021, Canton PD and MSP coordinated a second review of video footage at Windsor\n Woods.\n• After the review of video footage investigators identified a male subject, (later identified as Stoughton\n Police Detective Matthew Farwell) arrive at Windsor Woods on February 1, 2021, at 9:27 p.m. and\n departed at 9:56 p.m. Mr. Farwell was observed entering the apartment complex lobby and entering","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=105","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=105","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p105","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p106","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":106,"printedPage":"101","pageLabel":"Report p. 101 · PDF p. 106","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"Sandra Birchmore case file audit","title":"Sandra Birchmore case file audit","text":"the elevator. Video revealed Mr. Farwell was at Windsor\n A person wearing a mask and standing in a hallway\n AI-generated content may be incorrect.\n\n Woods for approximately 28 minutes.\n [See Video: https://crimetimelines.com/wp-\n content/uploads/2024/06/Survailance-Apt-Video.mp4]\n• Canton PD detectives learned from a Windsor Woods\n maintenance worker that the person in the video looked like\n the man who helped Ms. Birchmore move into her\n apartment. Video of Matthew Farwell\n• On February 6, 2021, Canton PD and MSP conducted a entering the Windsor Woods\n apartment complex in Canton,\n second search of Ms. Birchmore’s apartment. MA\n[Note: After a lengthy federal investigation, Matthew Farwell was\nindicted by a federal grand jury in Boston on August 27, 2024. Mr. Farwell is accused of killing Sandra\nBirchmore on February 1, 2021, in Canton, Massachusetts by strangulation to prevent her from providing\ninformation to law enforcement regarding potential federal crimes.]\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Pursuant to Canton PD policy and procedures, officers should digitally photograph all crime\n scenes and sketch the scene.\n The Audit Team reviewed a Canton PD police report prepared by a detective who wrote that\n Sandra Birchmore died of a suicide. We recommend death investigative reports be reviewed by\n the Chief of the Investigations Division and approved prior to being finalized.\n As stated above the Canton PD should remain involved in death investigations that occur within\n the Town of Canton.\n\nConclusion\nOn February 4, 2021, Canton PD officers conducted the initial police response to the Sandra Birchmore\ncrime scene and followed all procedures related to crime scene preservation. Canton PD detectives\nconducted follow-up investigation with MSP detectives on February 6, 2021, at 3307 Windsor Woods and\nreceived critical information from witnesses.\n\nAs a result of investigative efforts investigators identified Stoughton Police Officer Matthew Farwell was\npresent at Ms. Birchmore’s apartment on the evening of February 1, 2021. Further, witness interviews\nrevealed Mr. Farwell was involved in a long-standing intimate relationship with Ms. Birchmore.\n\nChief Rafferty advised the Audit Team after February 6, 2021, Canton PD relinquished all investigative\nauthority of the Sandra Birchmore death investigation to the Massachusetts State Police and Norfolk\nDistrict Attorney’s Office.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=106","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=106","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p106","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p107","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":107,"printedPage":"102","pageLabel":"Report p. 102 · PDF p. 107","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"Craig Casey case file audit","title":"Craig Casey case file audit","text":"December 5, 2018\n\nCase File Audit\nof the Death of\nCraig Casey\n\n2018 Accident Scene and Recovery for the Body of Craig Casey in Canton, MA\nAs part of the audit, the Audit Team reviewed an accident investigation report documenting an incident\nthat occurred on Pleasant Street in the Town of Canton on December 24, 2018, around 05:15 a.m. Canton\nPD reported they responded to the scene of a one car accident on Pleasant Street and conducted a\npreliminary investigation. No driver was located near the vehicle and the Canton PD Officers initially\nbelieved that the operator had fled the scene. Canton PD officers reported they searched the area on foot,\nwith the assistance of several community members with negative results. Canton PD officers remained on\nscene for about 45 minutes until the car was towed. [Note: The operator of the car had fled the scene of an\naccident in nearby Stoughton minutes before he crashed his car on Pleasant Street in Canton].\n\nAfter the Canton PD cleared the scene at approximately 06:00 am, one hour later at approximately 7:00\nam, a passing motorist observed Casey's body, (first reported to dispatch as someone sleeping on the\nlawn), on the lawn of a house at 676 Pleasant Street. Canton PD responded back to the scene on Pleasant\nStreet, along with Town of Canton fire rescue and found Mr. Casey who was pronounced dead. Canton PD\nofficers made notifications to the Massachusetts State Police (MSP) and to Norfolk District Attorney’s\nOffice, who responded to the scene and conducted further investigation. The Medical Examiner’s office\narrived and took custody of the body (Casey).\n\nFindings and Observations\nWe found the Canton PD did not document the accident scene with photos of the vehicle or take photos of\nwhere the body was found. We found the Canton PD did not send a supervisor (Sergeant or Lieutenant) to\n676 Pleasant Street to provide guidance or operational command. No witness statements were taken by\nofficers at 676 Pleasant Street as the result of the subsequent 07:00 am call.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed the MSP accident investigation report which detailed that on Monday December\n24, 2018, at approximately 05:15 a.m., a 2016 Ford Edge (vehicle) was traveling north on Pleasant Street in\nCanton, at a high rate of speed (over 80 mph) and upon passing Sawyer Avenue the Ford began to\nnegotiate a moderate left bearing curve. The vehicle exited the eastern edge of the roadway and began to","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=107","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=107","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p107","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p108","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":108,"printedPage":"103","pageLabel":"Report p. 103 · PDF p. 108","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"Craig Casey case file audit","title":"Craig Casey case file audit","text":"enter a counterclockwise rotation. The vehicle traversed several driveways before impacting a large\ndiameter tree. After impact the vehicle rolled, eventually coming to rest right side up facing southwest.\nAccording to reports prepared by the MSP Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section on December 24,\n2018, during the crash (rollover sequence) the operator (Casey) who was unbelted was ejected from the\nvehicle. Mr. Casey was found approximately 94 feet north from the Ford’s area of final rest and on the front\nlawn of 676 Pleasant Street.\n\nMSP Photos\nThe below listed photos were obtained by MSP at Interstate Wrecker Service storage facility in Dedham,\nMassachusetts on Thursday, December 27, 2018.\n\n Photos of Craig Casey’s vehicle at the Interstate Wrecker Service storage facility\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n • Pursuant to Canton PD policy and procedures, Canton PD initial response should always\n include digitally photographing all crime scenes and sketching the scene, regardless of\n whether the investigation is transferred to another law enforcement agency, such as the\n Massachusetts State Police.\n • Send a Canton PD supervisor to all critical incidents.\n • As stated above the Canton PD should remain involved in all death investigations that\n occur within the Town of Canton.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=108","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=108","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p108","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p109","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":109,"printedPage":"104","pageLabel":"Report p. 104 · PDF p. 109","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"House under construction case file audit","title":"House under construction case file audit","text":"November 23, 2024\n\nCase File Audit of\nDamage to a House\nUnder Construction\n\nHouse Party Damage at 25 Holly Way, Canton, MA\nBecause of the political climate in the Town of Canton the Audit Team reviewed a case file concerning the\nmalicious damage to a home that occurred on the evening of November 23, 2024, at 25 Holly Way in\nCanton. The investigative activities occurred while the Audit Team was on site. [Note: Numerous juvenile\nsubjects attended a house party at a home that was under construction. Many of the subjects were\nidentified as drinking alcohol and one subject was observed on video kicking a dead rabbit.]\n\nCanton PD investigation revealed that multiple juvenile subjects damaged the inside of the home, causing\napproximately $20,000 in damages. The investigative team, including patrol officers, effectively obtained\ninformation from the complainant and documented the damage to the house via video and digital\nphotographs, and were able to identify multiple individuals involved in the incident that caused significant\ndamage to the property.\n\nChief Rafferty effectively organized a team of detectives from both Canton PD and neighboring police\ndepartments to conduct a thorough investigation. All the juvenile subjects who were responsible for the\ndamage to the home were identified. The Audit Team found that the complainant was reimbursed for the\ndamage to his home and declined to press charges, signing a declination of prosecution. One (1) juvenile\nsubject was identified as being responsible for bringing the deceased rabbit to the home. We found\nprosecution was declined by the Massachusetts Environmental Police. Canton PD followed all policies\nand procedures related to collection and preservation of evidence and crime scenes.\n\nCanton PD efforts and responses to this matter were effectively completed and in accordance with all\npolicies and best practices.\n\nFindings\nNone.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=109","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=109","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p109","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p110","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":110,"printedPage":"105","pageLabel":"Report p. 105 · PDF p. 110","section":"Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols Overview","topic":"House under construction case file audit","title":"House under construction case file audit","text":"SECTION 3:\n Professional Standards and Accountability\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=110","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=110","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p110","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p111","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":111,"printedPage":"106","pageLabel":"Report p. 106 · PDF p. 111","section":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","topic":"","title":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"SECTION 3: PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND\nACCOUNTABILITY\nMassachusetts State Law requires each police department to report disciplinary actions to the\nMassachusetts Police Standards and Training (POST) Commission that are related to all police officers\ninvolved in violating policies and procedures and who violate state or federal laws. Departments should\nimplement an early intervention policy for tracking complaints to identify an officer who may exhibit a\npattern of actions requiring intervention. The early warning or early intervention system should include\ndocumentation in a computerized database of police officer performance indicators, including uses of\nforce, citizen complaints, arrests, traffic stops, officer discipline records, use of sick leave, and others.\n\nTo maintain and adhere to state policies, all Canton PD employees have the Blue Voice App on mobile\nphones which allows officers to review Canton PD policy and procedure, rules and regulations, case law,\nstatutes, and by-laws. [Note: These mobile phones referenced are personally owned by the officers. This\npractice is not in alignment with best operations and procedures and is addressed in several areas of this\nreport.]\n\na) Review adherence to professional standards (such as ethical guidelines, best practices, and\nindustry norms).\n\nCanton PD policies are in accordance with POST guidelines. On February 3, 2023 the Executive Director of\nthe Massachusetts POST Commission emailed the Chiefs and Sheriffs within the state explaining that only\ncertain levels of sustained misconduct should be reported. Specifically, sustained misconduct of a\nserious nature, any conduct using excessive force, or any conduct that would be a violation of a civilian's\nrights was to be reported. Canton PD Chief Rafferty exceeded Massachusetts POST reporting\nrequirements regarding the reporting required of sustained misconduct investigations, consistently\nreporting all sustained allegations regardless of severity. Since this email notification, Chief Rafferty has\nrevised her submission and remains in full compliance with POST requirements despite public perception.\n\nb) Evaluate how the department ensures accountability for its actions.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed multiple years of civilian and defendant complaints starting with the most\nrecent. Each complaint was evaluated at the Chief and Deputy Chief level and often the Chief and/or one\nof the Chief Deputies would investigate the allegation. This is the result of the political climate, and the\npublic scrutiny placed upon the Canton PD. The Audit Team found that all complaints and allegations were\nassessed, investigated when appropriate, and discipline was issued when required and necessary,\nalthough these matters were not handled in the manner typically associated with Internal Affairs\ninvestigations. The complaint files were not maintained in a consistent manner and the methods of\ninvestigation and investigators varied. While the Deputy Chief of Operations and Investigations was\nresponsible for overseeing the investigation, the Chief of Police handled some cases directly. The Audit\nTeam found that the retirement of personnel has left a void of experienced investigators capable of\nperforming an Internal Affairs investigation.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=111","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=111","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p111","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p112","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":112,"printedPage":"107","pageLabel":"Report p. 107 · PDF p. 112","section":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","topic":"","title":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"c) Consider transparency and responsiveness to public concerns.\n\nThe Audit Team found some complaints were not investigated. We found some allegations made against\nofficers lacked a formal investigative process. However, the Audit Team did not find any evidence or\nintentional negligence of concealing the allegations to protect officers. Each complaint was addressed to\ncorrect the actions (misconduct) of the officer in question in accordance with POST and Canton PD\npolicies and procedures.\n\nd) Review Internal Affairs Accountability.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed 75 internal affairs files dating back to 1991. The Audit Team found action taken\nby the Chief of Police resulting in adverse action (suspensions) of officers was not consistent with\nviolations that were identified. We found one (1) officer was placed on administrative leave for several\nweeks pending the completion of an internal affairs investigation. The Audit Team believes the officer\nshould have been available to work at headquarters on restricted duty versus being placed on paid\nadministrative leave. We found another Canton PD officer was transferred from the detective bureau to\nnight patrol, without a formal investigation conducted. Again, the chief of police conducted the inquiry\nversus a formal internal affairs investigation. The Audit Team has made significant recommendations\nwhich will improve the accountability and transparency of the Canton PD’s internal affairs process and the\nhandling of civilian complaints. These recommendations will improve the internal affairs process at every\nstage and will assist the Canton PD in providing annual reports to the town indicating the number of\ncomplaints received, internal affair investigations initiated, and any discipline issued as a result.\n\ne) Review adherence to compliance with officer misconduct and professional conduct.\n\nThe standards of the department as they relate to professionalism and expected professional conduct are\nin alignment with POST requirements. Professional standards and the responsibility to meet those\nstandards are ultimately up to the individual officer. It is the responsibility of the department to ensure that\nits officers uphold the expected standards of professionalism and conduct, and hold those that do not\naccountable by administering corrective action when necessary. This is accomplished through a\ntransparent internal affairs process. It is recommended that Canton PD officers annually certify they have\nread and understand the Canton PD Standards of Conduct.\n\nf) Review disciplinary procedures and adherence to them, including past adherence to the mandated\nreporting of complaints alleging officer misconduct to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST)\nCommission, including past demotions and promotions for the past 25 years.\n\nAnd\n\ng) Review the lack of Officer disciplinary actions – acknowledging Canton has had only one disciplinary\naction recorded in the last 25 years.\n\nThe Audit Team found this statement to be inaccurate. A review of civilian complaints, internal affairs\ninvestigations and disciplinary actions revealed that since September 28, 1991, seventy-five (75) internal\naffairs inquiries have occurred. These inquiries were initiated as the result of civilian complaints or at the\ndirection of management based upon performance. These 75 actions resulted in 63 clearances, and 12\nacts of sustained violations. The 12 sustained violations resulted in four (4) suspensions, one (1) demotion","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=112","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=112","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p112","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p113","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":113,"printedPage":"108","pageLabel":"Report p. 108 · PDF p. 113","section":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","topic":"","title":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"and seven (7) counseling/training sessions. POST requirements as they related to these inquiries and\nsubsequent disciplinary actions were met.\n\nThe most recent action occurred on October 2, 2024. Two (2) complaints were filed and results were sent\nto POST in accordance with POST policy. As stated above, Canton PD policies are in accordance with\nPOST guidelines. On February 3, 2023, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts POST Commission\nemailed the Chiefs and Sheriffs within the state explaining that only certain levels of sustained misconduct\nshould be reported. Specifically, sustained misconduct of a serious nature, or any conduct using\nexcessive force, or any conduct that would be a violation of a civilian's constitutional rights was to be\nreported. Canton PD Chief Rafferty exceeded Massachusetts POST reporting requirements regarding the\nreporting required of sustained misconduct investigations, reporting all sustained allegations regardless\nof severity. Simple civilian complaints filed with the Canton PD are not required by POST mandate and\nCanton PD policy to be reported to POST.\n\nFurthermore, while it is important to acknowledge, process, and review every civilian complaint, it is not\nalways necessary, or appropriate, for all complaints to trigger an internal affairs inquiry.\n\nh) Review adherence and compliance to policies and procedures of the Canton Police Department's\nliaison to the Stoughton District Court (a position known as \"Police Prosecutor\") and the Norfolk\nCounty District Attorney’s Office, and whether all citizens are treated fairly and equitably.\n\nThe Audit Team interviewed the Police Prosecutor. This position is more than a liaison position and\nrequires a senior officer, preferably holding rank. The current Police Prosecutor understands his role and\nresponsibility and is well respected in the courts by other law enforcement, prosecutors, and defense\nattorneys. He stated that he has felt the effect of the current town climate within the court proceedings.\nOther professional law enforcement officers, as well as prosecutors and defense attorneys, have all\nacknowledged the public scrutiny: the social media posts and vocal protesting have negatively affected\nthe Town of Canton’s police force. Despite this, the Police Prosecutor remains positive and utilizes this\nposition to ensure the prosecutors receive all necessary information in a timely manner to meet court\nrequirements as they relate to production and discovery. Additional resources in the form of full-time\npolice officers should be allocated to the Canton PD. The current Police Prosecutor holds two (2) full-time\npositions as the Sergeant of Detectives and Police Prosecutor.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=113","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=113","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p113","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p114","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":114,"printedPage":"109","pageLabel":"Report p. 109 · PDF p. 114","section":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","topic":"","title":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"Findings\nAn examination of Internal Affairs (IA) investigations dating back to 1991 revealed a lack of organization\nand consistency in the files, particularly during the tenure of four (4) different Canton Police Chiefs,\nnamely John Ruane Jr., Peter Bright, Ken Berkowicz, and Helena Rafferty. The biggest improvements to\nboth the written policies and the internal affairs process have occurred in the past four (4) years under\nthen Chief Berkowicz and now Chief Rafferty. While recent files from the past fourteen (14) months under\nthe supervision of Chief Rafferty showed improvement in thoroughness and documentation, there\nremained issues with content consistency and a uniformed structure of the system. It was noted that due\nto the department's size, and staffing shortages, establishing a designated IA division, or the designation\nof a full-time IA investigator had not been practical. However, no instances of intentional negligence or\nmisconduct minimization were found. One (1) incomplete investigation from 2002 was discovered, as the\nIA designated investigator had passed away, halting progress on the case. This case was never reassigned,\nnor was it brought to a conclusion. This sole example highlights the need for consistent internal systems\nand documentation to prevent such lapses.\n\nThe Audit Team examined seventy-five (75) investigative files over a twenty (20)-year period and concluded\nthat the IA process requires significant enhancements as it relates to its process and documentation. In a\nspecific case from 2015 involving a Canton PD detective's inappropriate relationship with a drug-addicted\nindividual, procedural shortcomings were identified. The detective received a ten (10)-day suspension,\nwas demoted from the detective division and was reassigned, but formal complaint procedures were not\nfollowed, and the IA investigations lacked formal processes, such as documented witness interviews and\nan explanation on the final decision.\n\nAnother incident reviewed involved a Canton PD detective who unintentionally and tragically, left his dog\nin his personal car while reporting early for work at the Canton PD. The dog was later found deceased.\nWhile the Detective was rightfully not criminally charged, it was crucial that a comprehensive investigation\nshould be conducted. This should have involved obtaining a detailed statement from the detective\noutlining his actions. Additionally, this should have involved acquiring statements from witnesses within\nthe department corroborating the detective's activities, attitude and actions leading up to the discovery of\nthe dog. An official statement from the responding Animal Control Officer and a declination from the\nDistrict Attorney stating that they are not pursuing charges should have been part of the investigative\nprocess. If done in this manner, the investigative file could have been referenced by case number. We\nfound there were two (2) instances involving civilians residing in the Town of Canton who committed\nsimilar acts accidentally, resulting in the loss of beloved family pets. While neither individual was charged,\nthe process should have been documented in detail. In all instances, it should be noted that common\nsense and discretion were utilized by both senior officers as well as civilians. We found no evidence that\nthe department tried to conceal the event. Rather, the actions of senior officials and the decisions made\nexhibited compassion for a decorated officer, who was already emotionally devastated.\n\nAll investigative proceedings, as well as any actions taken, or not taken, must be meticulously\ndocumented in the investigative file to maintain transparency and accountability with the town\nstakeholders and citizens. Had the investigation of the loss of the detective’s pet been performed as\ndescribed above, it would not have changed the ultimate outcome. However, it would have allowed the\nCanton PD to appropriately respond to the public outcry for a Canton PD detective to be legally punished","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=114","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=114","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p114","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p115","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":115,"printedPage":"110","pageLabel":"Report p. 110 · PDF p. 115","section":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","topic":"","title":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"for an accidental loss of a pet. A proper internal affairs investigation would have protected the officer from\nthe public outcry for punishment that was not levied against civilians for the same type of case.\n\nWe found another incident in 2024, where a Canton PD officer was subject to disciplinary measures due to\npolicy violations. The Audit Team identified that the complainant did not utilize the proper Canton PD\nprotocol for filing complaints, and instead, directly lodged the complaint with the Chief of Police.\nConsequently, the Chief personally oversaw the investigation, conducted interviews and imposed a\nsuspension. The absence of established investigation procedures, such as internal affairs case numbers,\ndelegated internal affairs investigators and witness interviews, was noticeable in many instances, with IA\ninvestigations predominantly being managed by the Chief of Police. The complainant placed the Chief in a\ncompromising situation making her a witness to the misconduct, rather than solely the adjudicator as the\nChief should have been. Our team identified multiple instances where the Chief of Police handled the\ncomplaint directly, interviewed the employee and proposed the discipline, versus having the IA\ninvestigator conduct the investigation, as per policy.\n\nMore recently, in an effort to mitigate conflicts of interest, Chief Rafferty enlisted the services of an\nexternal independent organization to investigate allegations of misconduct. The Audit Team affirmed that\nthese outsourced investigations were comprehensive, thorough, and substantiated by comprehensive\ncase records and documentation. However, as cited below, it is suggested that the IA processes of the\nCanton PD be enhanced with a focus on implementing formal investigation protocols and ensuring\noversight by designated Canton PD personnel. The Audit Team recommends that IA investigations be\nconducted by the Canton PD in accordance with their policy when appropriate. Since the Canton PD is a\nsmall department, when investigations involve conflicts of interest, or multiple officers, we recommend\nhiring outside firms to conduct the IA investigation. The following recommendations will allow the Canton\nPD to conduct fair, thorough and transparent investigations into alleged misconduct. Canton PD should\nmaintain a searchable filing system which will allow for accurate reporting and save the department\nmoney on outsourced investigations.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n Process\n All civilian complaints to the police department should be documented on a Canton PD\n complaint form and filed with the Canton PD Desk Sergeant or e-mailed to a department\n complaint intake email. Any civilian who enters the Canton PD with a complaint should be\n provided with the form and an opportunity to complete it. All completed forms should be\n entered into the dispatch log with a timestamp and receipt, then forwarded to the Deputy Chief\n of Operations (DC-Ops) and Investigations for processing, numbering, evaluation and further\n action if necessary.\n In cases where an IA investigation is warranted, the DC-Ops should record his rationale in a\n report, assign an IA number to the complaint (in addition to the civilian complaint number), and\n appoint an investigator of suitable rank and experience to conduct the investigation. The DC-\n Ops should inform the Chief about the allegation and subsequent investigation, ensuring","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=115","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=115","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p115","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p116","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":116,"printedPage":"111","pageLabel":"Report p. 111 · PDF p. 116","section":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","topic":"","title":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"compliance with POST requirements. The investigator(s) should take recorded statements,\n collect physical evidence and review any material as necessary. All evidence obtained during\n the IA investigation should be handled as regular evidence, labeled and processed with exhibit\n numbers. When the investigation is complete, the entire packet should be sent back to the DC-\n Ops for review.\n Upon completion of the IA investigation, the entire file, including reports, interviews,\n transcripts, and evidence, should be reviewed by the DC-Ops for thoroughness. If the\n investigation is deemed comprehensive and capable of assessing the validity of the complaint,\n the file should be passed on to the Deputy Chief of Administration (DC-Admin) for further\n review as it pertains to policy violations.\n The DC-Admin should examine the file for policy violations by any Canton PD member,\n irrespective of the original complaint and allegation. Misconduct violations should be identified\n by policy number, directives, date of infraction, and specific details outlining the misconduct.\n The DC-Admin should record the findings of misconduct violations, or lack thereof, in an\n official report. The IA file should then go to the Chief of Police for final decision based on Police\n Collective Bargaining agreements, Town By-Laws, Civil Service regulations, and CMR 555. In\n instances where misconduct or policy violations are confirmed, a disciplinary matrix should be\n used to ensure consistent corrective actions are taken with all officers for similar sustained\n charges of misconduct.\n The Chief should review the file and the report outlining the policy violations. The Chief should\n make a decision to find the misconduct substantiated or unsubstantiated. For unsubstantiated\n misconduct, the officer should receive a Letter of Caution, a Letter of Warning, or a Letter of\n Clearance. Discipline warranted for substantiated misconduct should be issued by the Chief in\n accordance with Town Policy, POST requirements, and the collective bargaining agreement. A\n copy of the final decision should be given to the officer and included in the IA Investigative file\n and utilized as a closing document. Upon closing the file, the DC-Ops should then contact the\n original complainant and inform them of the investigation and its conclusion. The complainant\n is entitled to know that their allegation was unsubstantiated and closed, or that it was\n substantiated and resulted in discipline to the officer and closed. The Canton PD has no\n requirement to provide further explanation.\n The implementation of the above format, or a similar format that meets the rules and\n requirements of the department, is crucial for transparency and fairness, fostering an\n environment within the department of accountability.\n [Note: According to Canton PD Rules and Regulations, officers are subject to disciplinary\n actions outlined in statute (M.G.L c. 31 sec. 43) and other appropriate measures deemed fit by\n the Chief, including letters of reprimand. Procedural requirements governing notice and\n hearings will be followed.]","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=116","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=116","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p116","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p117","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":117,"printedPage":"112","pageLabel":"Report p. 112 · PDF p. 117","section":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","topic":"","title":"Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"SECTION 4:\n Organizational Structure & Governance\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=117","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=117","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p117","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p118","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":118,"printedPage":"113","pageLabel":"Report p. 113 · PDF p. 118","section":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","topic":"","title":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","text":"SECTION 4: ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND GOVERNANCE\nChief of Police\nChief Helena Rafferty is the head of the Canton Police Department (Canton PD), overseeing a team of\nsworn officers, administrative staff, and part-time officers. She ensures that the department operates in\ncompliance with laws and regulations while meeting organizational goals. Chief Rafferty, a 35-year veteran\nof the police force, was appointed in June 2022 and graduated from the FBI National Academy. She holds a\nBA in Criminal Justice, a Master’s in Criminal Justice, and a Certificate in Public Administration. Chief\nRafferty has experience working in various roles within the department and has received awards for\nleadership and humanitarian work during her service.\n\nDeputy Chief Patricia Sherrill has dedicated over three (3) decades to the Canton PD, commencing her\ntenure as a patrol officer in 1993. She is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA.\nThroughout her career she demonstrated exemplary leadership skills and was promoted to sergeant in\n1999, where she oversaw the patrol division's operations. Her commitment and expertise led to her further\nadvancement to the rank of lieutenant in 2005, where she managed the patrol division and undertook\nvarious administrative responsibilities assigned by the Chief of Police. In 2022, Deputy Chief Sherrill\nachieved a significant milestone in her career with a promotion to Deputy Chief of Administration, where\nshe currently reports directly to the Chief of Police. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the second\nfemale in the department's history to hold the role of Deputy Chief. In addition to her administrative duties,\nshe serves as the Department's Public Information Officer, handling media inquiries from both local and\nnational outlets, managing freedom of information requests, and coordinating official responses on behalf\nof the Chief of Police. Deputy Chief Sherrill specializes in domestic violence issues and has undergone\nextensive training in this field throughout her career. She is an active member of the Norfolk County\nDomestic Violence High Risk Team, demonstrating her commitment to addressing and preventing\ndomestic violence in the community.\n\nDeputy Chief Thomas Keleher has been a member of the Canton PD since April 1992. Beginning his career\nas a patrol officer, he advanced to the rank of Lieutenant in 2006, gaining experience in the Patrol Division\nand as a First Line Supervisor. He currently holds the position of Deputy Chief of Operations and Detective\nBureau. Deputy Chief Keleher graduated from Canton High School in 1988. He furthered his education at\nBridgeton Academy in Maine, completing the one (1) year preparatory program. He earned a Bachelor's\nDegree in Criminal Justice from Western New England College and a Master's Certificate in Public\nAdministration from Suffolk University. In December 2008, Deputy Chief Keleher graduated from the FBI\nNational Academy in Quantico, VA, known for its exceptional academic training in investigations,\nmanagement, and fitness. He is one of only three (3) active members at Canton PD, alongside Chief\nHelena Rafferty and Deputy Chief Patty Sherrill, to have graduated from this prestigious program. Deputy\nChief Keleher leads the METRO-SWAT Crisis Negotiation Team, overseeing a team of twenty (20)\nnegotiators that respond to crisis situations in more than fifty (50) communities. He has been the team\ncommander since 2012 and is actively involved in the Joint Terrorism Task Force, collaborating with law\nenforcement partners at all levels to stay informed on national crime trends.\n\nThe Investigative Division consists of a team of detectives and a sergeant and addressed serious crimes.\nThe Patrol Division also includes four school resource officers who are assigned to patrol and support","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=118","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=118","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p118","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p119","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":119,"printedPage":"114","pageLabel":"Report p. 114 · PDF p. 119","section":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","topic":"","title":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","text":"schools. Deputy Chief Patricia Sherrill leads the Administrative Division, overseeing training, grants,\npolicies, part-time officers, school resource officers, and crossing guards. Both deputies report directly to\nChief Rafferty.\n\nThe command structure includes the Chief, two (2) Deputy Chiefs, three (3) Lieutenants, seven (7)\nSergeants, four (4) Detectives, four (4) School Resource Officers, and nineteen (19) Patrol Officers. The\ndepartment currently has two (2) officers in the police academy. Canton PD consists of forty-one (41)\npolice officers in total, with Chief Rafferty advocating for additional staff to reach the desired total of fifty\n(50) officers.\n\nThe Canton PD command staff’s leadership has been essential in the operations and growth of the Canton\nPolice Department, ensuring public safety and effective law enforcement in the community.\n\nCommand Structure\nOrganizational Chart Written Directive No. 4.29\n\nThe Canton Police Department will utilize the following organizational structure with the importance of\nadhering to the Chain-of-Command:\n\n[Note: Current staffing levels at Canton PD show a shortage of eight (8) officers, with twenty-five (25) full\nstaff patrol officers and a total staff of forty-one (41) police officers. The Chief of Police has consistently\nrequested additional personnel in each budget cycle, highlighting the need for a total of fifty (50) sworn\nofficers. At present, there are three (3) recruits (two (2) male, one (1) female) undergoing training at the\npolice academy, set to graduate in June 2025.]","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=119","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=119","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p119","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p120","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":120,"printedPage":"115","pageLabel":"Report p. 115 · PDF p. 120","section":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","topic":"","title":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","text":"a) Analyze how the police department is organized, including reporting lines, hierarchy, organizational\nchart, and decision-making processes.\n\nThe Canton PD's hierarchal framework and chain of command are clearly defined, ensuring that\ncommunication follows the appropriate channels to reach supervisors. Information flows smoothly to the\nnecessary authorities when senior decision-making is required. By incorporating additional civilian staff\nmembers, such as intelligence analysts, the department could significantly enhance its communication\ncapabilities, resulting in greater efficiency and effectiveness.\n\nb) Assess the effectiveness of communication channels across all devices within the department.\n\nThe Audit Team concluded that all lines of communication in the department are well established,\nunderstood, and aligned with the appropriate hierarchy and the chain of command.\n\nc) Evaluate cross-functionality and collaboration between different units, departments, or divisions\n\nThe Audit Team discovered that the patrol division and investigative division frequently collaborate on\ncrime prevention and effectively support each other's efforts. Their teamwork and synergy are evident in\ntheir joint responses to incidents, such as a non-fatal shooting incident in November 2024. During this\nevent both divisions quickly responded, apprehending the shooter and collecting crucial evidence,\nincluding the weapon used. Their unified strategy involved conducting interviews, analyzing evidence, and\ncoordinating with prosecutors to file attempted murder charges against the perpetrator. The cohesion and\nsynchronization between the patrol and investigative divisions were effective and played a significant role\nin the successful resolution of the case. Patrol officers are often actively engaged in cases and work\nclosely with the detective division. Furthermore, all information and actions were promptly reported to\nsenior management and town officials, ensuring proper notifications at the appropriate levels within the\norganization.\n\nThe Audit Team identified that a Memorandum of Understanding is current with the Bureau of Alcohol,\nTobacco and Firearms (ATF) Special Agent in Charge James Ferguson and Boston Field Division and\nCanton Police Department Chief Helena Rafferty, dated February 9, 2024. In summary, the task force\nagreement allows the partnership of ATF and Canton PD to investigate firearms trafficking and related\nviolence, to gather intelligence, conduct undercover operations, and investigate shootings in Norfolk\nCounty and surrounding areas, with physical locations at the ATF Bridgewater Office and the Canton\nPolice Department. [Note: ATF has a satellite office inside the Canton PD with one (1) ATF Special Agent\noperating out of this office.]\n\nOur team conducted an audit of firearms cases, related arrests, and/or joint cases worked between\nCanton PD and ATF Special Agents from 2018-2024. As a result, our team determined that a total of twelve\n(12) cases were initiated, resulting in arrests of three (3) subjects for felon in possession of a firearm. Two\n(2) arrests were made of individuals involved in controlled purchases of firearms; two (2) other cases\nrelated to recovering a firearms incident to arrest. In addition, ATF and Canton PD conducted search\nwarrants and arrests related to a home invasion and recovered ammunition and firearms. ATF also\nprovides informal training to Canton PD officers on firearms tracing.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=120","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=120","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p120","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p121","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":121,"printedPage":"116","pageLabel":"Report p. 116 · PDF p. 121","section":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","topic":"","title":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","text":"d) Evaluate using a strong vs weak Chief in terms of governance.\n\nThe Massachusetts General Laws make a distinction between a \"strong\" and \"weak\" chief of police\nthrough General Laws Chapter 41 Section 97A and 97. The key discrepancy between the strong and weak\nchief lies in the authority granted to the chief. A strong chief has more autonomy in managing the police\ndepartment, being able to establish policies and procedures with minimal interference from town officials\nor the Select Board. In contrast, a weak chief, like the one in the Town of Canton, is subject to oversight by\nthe Select Board, with the chief reporting to the Town Administrator.\n\nUnder the weak chief statute, the Select Board is empowered to appoint the Police Chief to oversee day-\nto-day operations and to appoint additional officers as necessary. The board can also establish\nregulations for the police department. The appointment and discipline of police officers are governed by\nSection 13 Chapter 41. Reappointment is required after a one (1)-year probationary period unless there is\njust cause, or as specified in a collective bargaining agreement, with due process procedures in place.\n\nOn the other hand, the strong chief statute permits the Select Board to appoint the police chief, who then\nhas the authority to establish department regulations, subject to approval from the Select Board. While\nthe Select Board retains ultimate authority, the chief holds greater responsibility in managing the\ndepartment, which includes overseeing officers and departmental property, as well as assigning duties.\n\nEffective oversight ensures that the police chief is responsible for financial and budget decisions,\ndepartmental functions, and the maintenance of professional standards among officers.\n\nChief Rafferty demonstrates effective and fair handling of sensitive police matters and investigations. She\nconsistently deflects credit to her management team, highlighting the officers' work. Throughout our\nobservations and interactions with Chief Rafferty over the past four (4) months, she has exhibited clear\ncommunication skills and fostered a positive work environment. Overall, Chief Rafferty's leadership style\nemphasizes fairness, transparency, and a genuine concern for the well-being of both the community and\nthe department's personnel.\n\ne) Make recommendations to streamline the Canton Police Departments operations.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted a review of the operational protocols of the Police Department and found that\nwhile the department functions efficiently and professionally, there are recommendations that could\nfurther improve operational efficiency:\n\n• Acknowledge and accept that the Police Department has the authority to and should resume its own\n responsibilities and conduct its internal affairs (IA) investigations.\n• Cease the expenditure on outsourcing tasks that the department has the capability to perform itself.\n• Increase the number of officers trained in crime scene processing, management, and preservation.\n• Train officers in report writing to improve their skills and require the submission of concise, detailed\n incident reports that explain how the situation was addressed and resolved.\n• Provide training for officers in courtroom testimony.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=121","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=121","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p121","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p122","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":122,"printedPage":"117","pageLabel":"Report p. 117 · PDF p. 122","section":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","topic":"","title":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","text":"• Ensure all police vehicles are equipped with essential evidence collection tools, such as digital\n cameras and department-issued cell phones. It is impractical to use a department-issued laptop for\n capturing photos/videos at a scene.\n• The police prosecutor officer and the detective sergeant positions should not be combined.\n• Hire administrative staff, including a secretary or for the C-suite and detective bureau, as well as\n interns and analysts.\n• Hire dispatchers who can work with uniformed officers to handle emergency and non-emergency calls,\n enter data and service information requests from the public.\nf) Assess protocols for proactively soliciting public comments about high-profile incidents and crisis\ncommunications and assess adherence to those protocols.\n\nThe Audit Team assessed the protocols the Canton PD uses to actively seek public feedback on high-\nprofile incidents and crisis communication. Chief Rafferty and Deputy Chief Sheryll were interviewed to\ndiscuss the Department's efforts to engage with the community.\n\nAlthough the department has established, implemented, and currently maintains protocols for informing\nthe public about emergency situations, the feature allowing public comments has been disabled,\nhindering the potential for constructive dialogue. Certain members of the community have persistently\nsubjected the police department and its officers to ridicule, negative personal remarks, and harsh\ncriticism over their routine job functions. This undermines the chances of fostering positive\ncommunication.\n\nAccording to information on the Canton PD website, the department actively utilizes several social media\nplatforms, such as Facebook, X, and Instagram. A thorough search through these platforms has allowed\nfor a preliminary analysis of the department’s posts and the community’s responses, which has led to\npotential recommendations.\n\nBased on the available data, it appears that the Canton PD made thirty (30) posts on Facebook in 2024,\nsixty-seven (67) posts in 2023, and eighty (80) posts in 2022. These 30 Facebook posts have been\ncategorized and examined for further review and insights.\n\n Facebook Post Subject | Number of Posts\n\n Total Posts\n\n Holiday Greetings and Donations (TFT)\n\n Missing person alert\n\n Safety advisories, awareness\n\n Traffic advisories, awareness\n\n Community advisories, awareness\n\n 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90\n\n 2024 2023 2022","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=122","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=122","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p122","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p123","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":123,"printedPage":"118","pageLabel":"Report p. 118 · PDF p. 123","section":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","topic":"","title":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n The police department should resume posting public announcements, notifications, and public\n warnings of importance on all relevant social media platforms immediately, the two (2) most\n prominent being X and Facebook. Public comments should remain disabled until they can\n become beneficial and promote a positive exchange of information.\n Additionally, the Town of Canton Should:\n • Acknowledge and accept that the Police Department has the authority to and should\n resume its own responsibilities and conduct its internal affairs (IA) investigations.\n • Cease the expenditure on outsourcing tasks that the department has the capability to\n perform itself. Outsource internal affairs investigations when a conflict of interest is\n identified, or multiple officers are involved.\n • Increase the number of officers trained in crime scene processing, management and\n preservation.\n • Train officers in report writing to improve their skills and require the submission of\n concise, detailed incident reports that explain how the situation was addressed and\n resolved.\n • Provide training for officers in courtroom testimony.\n • Ensure all police vehicles are equipped with essential evidence collection tools, such as\n digital cameras and department-issued cell phones. It is impractical to use a\n department-issued laptop for capturing photos/videos at a scene.\n • The Chief of Police should assign an officer to serve as the police prosecutor at court.\n Currently, the Detective Sergeant is serving a dual role of police prosecutor and\n supervising detectives In case work.\n • Hire administrative staff, including a secretary or for the C-suite and detective bureau, as\n well as interns and or analysts. A full-time Administrative Assistant for the Detective\n Bureau is needed.\n • Hire dispatchers who can work with uniformed officers to handle emergency and non-\n emergency calls, enter data, and service information requests from the public.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=123","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=123","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p123","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p124","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":124,"printedPage":"119","pageLabel":"Report p. 119 · PDF p. 124","section":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","topic":"","title":"Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance","text":"SECTION 5:\n Citizens Privacy Protections","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=124","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=124","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p124","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p125","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":125,"printedPage":"120","pageLabel":"Report p. 120 · PDF p. 125","section":"Section 5: Citizens Privacy Protections","topic":"","title":"Section 5: Citizens Privacy Protections","text":"SECTION 5: CITIZENS PRIVACY PROTECTIONS\na) Evaluate policies and practices related to handling citizens’ personal information.\n\nThe Audit Team has examined the protocols for managing confidential data, particularly pertaining to\nprivate individuals who may be involved as witnesses in complaints, crimes, or as concerned citizens. Our\nteam determined that the department is fully compliant with its policies aimed at safeguarding such\ninformation.\n\nb) Assess compliance with local, state, and federal data protection laws (e.g., CCPA, GDPR. HIPAA).\n\nThe following is a list of a few of the requirements and safeguards in place that the Canton PD must follow\nregarding the protection of personal data. The Canton PD is bound by more regulations and requirements\nthan any other standard business. Additionally, they are also required to maintain logs of training and\ncertification in addition to their policy.\n\n• CJIS Terms and Policy\n • The department must maintain direct terminal access to the Criminal Justice Information System\n (CJIS).\n • The utilization of a CJIS workstation is restricted to criminal justice purposes exclusively, which\n involve carrying out official criminal justice duties.\n • In case of any damage to a CJIS workstation, each operator is required to promptly report it to their\n supervisor. It is the responsibility of the agency to report any inoperable CJIS workstation to the\n supervisor.\n • No alterations or modifications shall be made to any CJIS equipment, including CJIS workstations,\n mobile data workstations, or personal digital assistants/palm pilots, from their configured setup.\n Any changes must be performed by the DCJIS or the device's contract vendor, with notification and\n approval from the DCJIS.\n • Remote access to department workstations will only be granted to authorized personnel, ensuring\n proper access logging for authorized connections.\n • All CJIS information transmitted through a network segment must be safeguarded according to the\n FBI CJIS Security Policy.\n • Operators of CJIS workstations must undergo training, testing, and certification as per procedures\n established by the DCJIS before operating a workstation, with biannual recertification thereafter.\n • Each CJIS workstation operator is required to use their assigned password when accessing the\n CJIS network and must not disclose this password under any circumstances. Accessing the\n network using another individual's password is strictly prohibited.\n • All operators must log onto the network at the beginning of their workday and log off at the end to\n ensure proper tracking of transactions under the respective usernames. This measure prevents\n one operator from being held liable for another's CJIS transactions and guards against\n unauthorized access.\n • Agencies inputting records into CJIS must maintain continuous monitoring of their CJIS\n workstations and printers twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=125","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=125","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p125","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p126","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":126,"printedPage":"121","pageLabel":"Report p. 121 · PDF p. 126","section":"Section 5: Citizens Privacy Protections","topic":"","title":"Section 5: Citizens Privacy Protections","text":"• Massachusetts Public Records Law (Covers HIPPA-DOB-SS)\n• Amanda’s Law, which centers around preventing first responders from taking and sharing\n unauthorized photos of crime scenes.\n• Canton PD Rules and Regulations Policy No. 4.16 Page 11\n• Canton PD Public Information Policy No. 1.39\n• Canton PD Communications Policy No. 1.32\n• Canton PD Dispatch Function Policy No. 1.35\n• Canton PD Written Directive Policy No. 4.08\n• Canton PD Mobile Data Access Policy No. 4.12\n• The Canton PD computer systems include the ability to monitor who and when anyone has viewed a\n specific report/information as well as monitoring who may have made edits to the report.\nc) Review data access controls, encryption, and retention policies.\n\nIn addition to the above-mentioned controls, methods and regulations used to monitor and limit access to\ncertain data, much of the equipment and tools utilized by the Canton PD, such as Flock cameras, NCIC,\nand CJIS databases, all contain their own individual safeguards, such as time data that is requested to be\nlogged by Flock on the logging user access, records requests and supervisory reviews.\n\nInvestigators accessing and making a request, aside from being electronically identified, must provide a\nreason for the data request. Flock information, which does not identify individuals, is deleted every thirty\n(30) days.\n\nCanton PD policy clearly outlines permissible usage parameters and unauthorized usage of CJIS systems\nor NCIS systems is a crime.\n\nRetention of this information is not optional, nor is it subjective to the department or Chief. Coordination\nwith the District Attorney’s Office is essential, and once a final action has been completed and the District\nAttorney’s approval is granted, the Canton PD Deputy Chief of Administration refers to the Massachusetts\nLaw Table of Retention for Police Records which establishes the retention period that vary by case type\nand age. Examples are:\n\n• Unprosecuted cases: Retained for 6 years after final action.\n• Landmark cases: Retained permanently.\n• Criminal cases: Retained for 35 years after final action.\n• Medicaid, insurance, or unemployment fraud cases: Retained for 25 years after final action.\n• Litigation involving fatalities: Retained for 25 years after final action.\n• Civil cases: Retained for 20 years after final action.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=126","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=126","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p126","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p127","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":127,"printedPage":"122","pageLabel":"Report p. 122 · PDF p. 127","section":"Section 5: Citizens Privacy Protections","topic":"","title":"Section 5: Citizens Privacy Protections","text":"SECTION 6:\n Management, Operations and Culture","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=127","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=127","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p127","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p128","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":128,"printedPage":"123","pageLabel":"Report p. 123 · PDF p. 128","section":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","topic":"","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","text":"SECTION 6: MANAGEMENT, OPERATIONS AND CULTURE\na) Assess leadership effectiveness, management practices, and decision-making.\n\nAfter monitoring Chief Rafferty's performance in leading the department, it is evident that her leadership\nstyle and decision-making skills are effective. The department holds great respect for Chief Rafferty,\nincluding officers, colleagues, and command staff. However, morale within the department is notably low,\nprimarily stemming from public scrutiny surrounding the Canton PD’s handling of the crime scene and the\ninvestigation into the death of Canton resident and Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe. While criticism can\nbe constructive, the continuous and personalized nature of the attacks have shifted public feedback from\nbeing a means of professional improvement to consisting of personal attacks on officers. These attacks\nvia social media, phone calls, emails, and public protests have significantly affected morale within the\ndepartment.\n\nb) Evaluate operational efficiency, resource allocation, and performance metrics.\n\nThe leadership within the Canton PD effectively manages, utilizes and applies departmental resources to\nmeet the responsibilities and requirements of the police department. Senior management, led by Deputy\nChief of Administration Sherril, adequately assesses the department’s needs based upon trends, officer\nfeedback and personal observations, while exploring opportunities to meet those needs through federal\ngrants. A notable example is the approved grant for the Mental Health Professional (MHP), which is crucial\nfor maximizing resource utilization. The primary performance metric requiring assessment is the\ndepartment’s minimum staffing requirements. A significant portion of the budget must be allocated to\nfulfill these staffing needs to ensure the town’s safety. While additional training is necessary and has been\nemphasized throughout this report, funding for training cannot take precedence over the funding required\nto adequately staff each shift.\n\nFor FY 2024, an overtime deficit of $378,244.00 was covered by forfeiture funds. Additionally, the town\nspent $145,000 on overtime funds. The deficit resulted from overtime caused by:\n\n• Investigations.\n• School resource officer after hour extracurricular events, such as High School sporting events, plays,\n meetings and clubs.\n• Town events include road races, July 4th fireworks, elections and political meetings.\n• Officers attending training, or officers covering shifts for those attending a training.\n• Fulfill shift requirements that are short due to attrition or officers utilizing leave such as vacation, sick\n or personal days.\n• Replacements for Military and Administrative Leave.\n• Court overtime or shift/patrol replacement when an officer must attend court.\nc) Explore the organizational culture within the police department.\n\nMany officers in the department share a common commitment to giving back to the community, often\ncoming from families with ties to law enforcement. Several officers' parents were longstanding members\nof the Canton PD. This sense of service is central to the culture within the police department. The","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=128","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=128","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p128","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p129","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":129,"printedPage":"124","pageLabel":"Report p. 124 · PDF p. 129","section":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","topic":"","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","text":"department's size facilitates a seamless flow of information among officers regarding important matters\nthat affect their work, fostering an environment of trust, transparency, and collaboration. Many officers\n(nearly 48%) have roots in the local area, having grown up in the town and returned after completing\ncollege or military service, to join the force.\n\nOfficers maintain close familial and social connections, with many having family members and\nacquaintances in the community, including on the Select Board, in town administration, and among\nbusiness leaders.\n\nChief Rafferty is dedicated to fostering open communication with community members and town officials,\ntaking their feedback seriously and conveying their concerns to her team. She promotes a supportive\nenvironment where team members' perspectives are respected and acknowledged, cultivating a culture of\nempowerment and gratitude within the organization. Despite these efforts, recent observations by the\nAudit Team have revealed that the community interactions have devolved into unproductive criticism and\ncritique towards the command staff and the police department. The focus has shifted away from\nconstructive dialogue and towards negative exchanges, hindering the ability to reach mutual\nunderstanding and agreement on various issues.\n\nPolice memorabilia dating back to the 1950-1970s Recording of Police Interview 1973\n\nd) Explore morale in the Police Department.\n\nObservations affecting Morale:\n\n• Various social media figures have alleged the Canton PD intentionally mishandled the crime scene\n where Mr. O’Keefe was discovered on January 29, 2022, and suggested a conspiracy within the\n department to cover-up Mr. O’Keefe’s death. Karen Read was arrested on February 1, 2022, by MSP\n detectives for allegedly striking John O’Keefe with her vehicle and leaving the scene. Ms. Read was\n charged with manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, and leaving the scene of an accident. Since her\n arrest on February 1, 2022, Karen Read and her defense team have alleged that there is a cover-up and\n conspiracy involving law enforcement and witnesses for the death of Mr. O’Keefe. Social media\n influencers across the country have fueled these allegations.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=129","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=129","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p129","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p130","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":130,"printedPage":"125","pageLabel":"Report p. 125 · PDF p. 130","section":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","topic":"","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","text":"• The Audit Team has found that multiple family members of Canton PD officers have been subjected to\n harassment by various individuals, both residents and non-residents, including a social media figure.\n In one instance, a social media figure contacted the wife of a Canton PD officer and left a disrespectful\n voicemail on her cell phone, disparaging her husband and spreading accusations about his character.\n Additionally, an officer was harassed by the same social media figure while attending a New England\n Patriots football game. The Chief of Police faced harassment from individuals during an off-duty\n assignment at Gillette Stadium. Canton PD officers notified the Audit Team that this social media\n figure has continually harassed witnesses on-line and in person, especially the McCabe family. This\n social media figure followed a witness to a high school sporting event calling the witness a “cop killer.”\n This social media figure has been charged with witness intimidation by the Norfolk County District\n Attorney’s office.\n• Several Canton PD officers have reported being harassed by the public while on duty, during personal\n time with family and children, and while working off-duty police details. A group of “Free Karen Read”\n supporters hold weekly pickets at the Canton PD. Numerous instances have occurred where officers\n have faced harassment in person and online through e-mails, voicemails, social media, and on\n YouTube. Members of the Audit Team have been approached in public, contacted through emails and\n text messages, and have been encouraged to “expose the cover-up.”\n• The Audit Team has found that certain individuals use the\n Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to obtain information\n about ongoing police investigations, budget allocations,\n overtime expenditures, and resolved cases. The\n information gleaned from these requests has been shared\n on social media. For instance, the Canton PD responded\n to an attempted suicide in 2019. Officers responding to\n the scene saved the individual's life, and a Canton PD\n Sergeant received an award for his actions. On February\n 17, 2025, the Audit Team was contacted and informed\n that the individual had actually been murdered by the\n Canton PD and this was a part of “another cover up.” The\n Audit Team located the individual from June of 2019 and\n confirmed they are alive and doing well. A letter awarding a Canton PD Sgt. the\n Massachusetts State Police Medal of Lifesaving\n• Such requests strain the Canton PD’s resources as\n officers must devote time and effort to fulfilling these FOIA requests. For example, a citizen who\n received a traffic violation used FOIA to request details on all instances in the Town of Canton where\n drivers were pulled over and ticketed for using their phones while driving, despite having a clean driving\n record. Requests such as these place a significant burden on Canton PD resources.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=130","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=130","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p130","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p131","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":131,"printedPage":"126","pageLabel":"Report p. 126 · PDF p. 131","section":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","topic":"","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","text":"Outside a hearing on the Karen Read Trial, a social media\nfigure confronts Chief Rafferty Free Karen Read Picketers and a sign mocking Judge Canone.\n\n Protesters supporting Karen Read and a text message sent to Chief Rafferty.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=131","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=131","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p131","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p132","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":132,"printedPage":"127","pageLabel":"Report p. 127 · PDF p. 132","section":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","topic":"","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","text":"Social Media post alleging conspiracy and corruption\n\nInterviews and Officers Perception\nThe Audit Team successfully conducted interviews with all Canton PD officers and personnel, achieving\n100% participation. Officers reported that the department is under significant pressure due to the\nproliferation of misinformation, witness coercion, and a lack of support from elected officials. Officers\nexplained certain individuals, referred to as \"influencers,\" are spreading false narratives about officers\ninvolved in the O’Keefe and Birchmore cases without any substantiating evidence. These influencers are\nprimarily motivated by financial gain, fabricating sensational stories based on speculation to attract public\nattention. They operate without adhering to journalistic standards, or rules of evidence, gaining notoriety\nby circulating unfounded narratives in pursuit of fame and viewership.\n\nThe following are statements made by Canton PD officers during the in-person interviews with the Audit\nTeam:\n\n “I love this town, and they used to love us too. Those days were great, but they\n are gone.”\n\n “No one in this town will care about us until one of us gets murdered, even then\n half the town will probably celebrate that.”\n\n “Elected officials don’t care about us. Now the easiest way to gain popularity or\n get elected is to publicly trash us. They have no political platform, just trash the\n police. That’s it. It doesn't even have to be true, just do it.”\n\n “People in town just keep fueling the false rumors and it is going to get one of us\n killed.”","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=132","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=132","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p132","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p133","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":133,"printedPage":"128","pageLabel":"Report p. 128 · PDF p. 133","section":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","topic":"","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","text":"“I have wanted to be a Canton Police Officer since I can remember, I love this job\n and this town. My biggest fear now is if I die on this job, will the town continue to\n harass my wife and kids.”\n\n “My wife asks me every day, why I would risk my life for a town that wouldn't\n care if I died. Every day, I tell her I love this town and the guys I work with.\n That’s why I go to work.”\n\n “I would have left this shit show a year ago. There is so much more money being\n offered by other towns. Towns that care about their cops, but I’m not going to\n leave the Chief. She could have left two years ago, but she stays and gets kicked\n in the gut every day for us. That’s the only reason she is here, she cares about us,\n yeah, I’m not leaving.”\n\nDespite the above, officers report to work daily and serve the Town of Canton. Two (2) of Canton PD’s\nyoungest officers grew up in Canton and have witnessed the public vitriol over the last two (2) years. Yet,\ndespite the negative publicity and open hostility towards the department, they applied for- and took an\noath to become Canton Police Officers. During the week of February 17 through 21, 2025, officers saved\nthe lives of two (2) citizens in the town and arrested another on assault charges for seriously injuring a\nyoung woman on Valentine’s Day. Despite low morale due to public sentiment, relationships and respect\namongst fellow officers remain strong, and the commitment to serve and protect the public has been\nobserved daily by the Audit Team.\n\ne) Review the Canton Police Department’s operations procedures.\n\nThe operational procedures of the Canton PD comply with established standards set forth by MPAC, POST,\nand CALEA. These procedures align with industry norms and either meet or exceed the operational\nprotocols of neighboring departments. The department operates within a paramilitary structure with a\nclear hierarchy of rank and command. The command staff demonstrates diligence in effectively utilizing\nequipment, funding, and limited training resources. They also display resourcefulness by actively pursuing\nexternal funding to secure critical positions within the department, such as the full-time Mental Health\nProfessional and additional roles for school resource officers. These positions play a crucial role in serving\nand protecting the community. The presence of these resources reflects the dedication and determination\nof the current Canton PD command staff.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n It is recommended that two (2) additional School Resource Officer positions, one for each\n elementary school, be created and fully funded. School resource officers from the Canton PD\n play a crucial role in the community by serving as liaisons between the school board and the\n Canton PD. They ensure the safety of the Town’s children during school days and special\n events, foster positive relationships with the community and police department. However, with\n only one (1) resource officer serving the three (3) elementary schools, two (2) schools","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=133","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=133","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p133","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p134","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":134,"printedPage":"129","pageLabel":"Report p. 129 · PDF p. 134","section":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","topic":"","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","text":"inevitably remain uncovered with a police presence. It is recommended that additional funding\n be allocated to hire additional school resource officers to cover each school adequately.\n Additionally, we recommend to fully fund a position for the Mental Health Professional (MHP).\n This year’s grant renewal for the MHP was delayed, causing uncertainty as to the ability to\n retain the professional. The MHP has been identified as a valuable asset by all department\n personnel during in-person interviews.\n Effective communication channels should be established among town leaders, elected\n officials, and department officers. Meetings should be held directly with elected town leaders\n and department officers to facilitate discussions focused on enhancing communication. To\n ensure efficiency, these meetings should remain closed to the public, thus promoting greater\n productivity.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=134","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=134","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p134","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p135","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":135,"printedPage":"130","pageLabel":"Report p. 130 · PDF p. 135","section":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","topic":"","title":"Section 6: Management, Operations and Culture","text":"SECTION 7:\n Hiring, Training Standards & Equipment","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=135","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=135","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p135","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p136","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":136,"printedPage":"131","pageLabel":"Report p. 131 · PDF p. 136","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"SECTION 7: HIRING, TRAINING STANDARDS, AND EQUIPMENT\na) Evaluate initial training programs for new cadets and continuing education\n\nThe Audit Team analyzed Canton PD's hiring, training, and promotion data from 2015 to 2024.\n\nPotential candidates for the Canton PD and surrounding departments in the Commonwealth must first\ncomplete the required basic police training course authorized by the Municipal Police Training Committee\n(MPTC). This committee establishes the training standards for prospective police officers hired by various\npolice departments in the Commonwealth. Interested candidates are typically sponsored by their\nrespective police departments and enroll in the recruit academies approved by the MPTC.\n\nThe selection process for police departments can differ, with some following Civil Service guidelines like\nthe Canton PD. The Canton PD, under Chief Rafferty's leadership, regularly communicates with the MPTC\nto discuss expected job openings, academy availability and the need for recruit officer training.\n\nAny potential Canton PD recruits are mandated to meet certain criteria as per state regulations, including\nbeing at least 21 years old, being sponsored by the Canton PD, passing the Physical Agility Test (PAT) and a\nmedical examination conducted by the Massachusetts Human Resource Division before joining the\nacademy. The Canton PD's recruitment process involves several stages to ensure that the most qualified\ncandidates are selected. Specifically, applicants must meet the following state requirements:\n\n• Demonstrate physical, mental, and emotional fitness to carry out the essential duties of a full-time\n police officer.\n• Meet the minimum standards established by the Massachusetts MPTC for permanent full-time police\n officers.\n• Submit a comprehensive application packet with all required supporting documentation.\n• Provide fingerprints and undergo a thorough background investigation conducted by the Canton PD.\n• Fulfill all statutory requirements outlined by the POST Commission to obtain certification as a law\n enforcement officer under Chapter 6E, Section 4.\n• Have a clear record in the National Decertification Index.\n• Successfully pass a psychological \"Fitness for Duty\" assessment.\n• Clear a medical and physical examination.\n• Successfully complete the PAT, administered by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.\n• Meet the fitness standards set by the MPTC, specifically the Cooper Aerobic Institute standards for\n Entry-Level Fitness.\n• Participate in a final interview screening conducted by Canton PD leadership.\n• Successfully complete the recruit officer academy operated by the MPTC.\n\nThese requirements are designed to ensure that candidates have the necessary skills, abilities, character,\nand qualifications to serve as police officers in the Canton PD. Upon graduation new officers must\ncomplete a Field Training Evaluation Program, (FTEP)","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=136","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=136","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p136","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p137","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":137,"printedPage":"132","pageLabel":"Report p. 132 · PDF p. 137","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"b) Review training during probationary period and c) Review compliance with Post Commission\ntraining standards\n\nFollowing the completion of their training at the MPTC academy, new Canton Police Officers (CPOs) are\nrequired to undergo a one (1) year probationary period as outlined in Massachusetts Civil Service law\nChapter 31, Section 61, and Massachusetts POST requirements. At the commencement of the\nprobationary period, new recruits participate in the Field Training Evaluation Program (FTEP) under the\nsupervision of the Training Liaison Officer, Canton PD Deputy Chief Sherill.\n\nThe Canton PD FTEP Program is designed to provide newly certified officers with practical training\nimmediately after their graduation. During this program, new officers are paired with a senior Canton PD\npatrolman (FTO) for a minimum of four (4) weeks (equivalent to twenty (20) training days), during which\nthey rotate through shifts under the guidance of three (3) different FTOs. The aim is to expose the new\nofficers to real-world scenarios and provide them with hands-on experience, reinforcing the skills learned\nat the academy.\n\nThroughout the FTO Program, the FTO assesses the new officer's performance, attitude, and application of\nacademy teachings. Real-time feedback and constructive criticism are provided to help the new officer\nimprove and excel within the Canton PD. Additionally, new officers are trained on Canton PD policies,\nprocedures, conduct rules, and expected behavior. [Note: Our team interviewed officers who\nrecommended the FTO program should be more than four (4) weeks of training.]\n\nObservations of the new officers are documented daily and weekly by the FTO, covering all aspects of their\njob performance and adherence to departmental policies. The Canton PD currently has two (2) FTOs, with\na third officer scheduled for certification. Canton PD Policy Section 1.45 outlines the departmental policy\nregarding the FTO program, with FTOs selected by the Chief of Police based on the department's needs\nand the officers' level of experience.\n\nFTOs undergo initial training through a forty (40) hour program conducted by the MPTC, with refresher\ncourses every two (2) years. They are also required to attend annual in-service training on laws and\npolicies, in line with CALEA requirements. FTOs operate under the supervision of the shift commander or\nanother designated senior officer, ensuring compliance with Massachusetts and CALEA standards.\n\nThe candidate list is based solely on the score of a written exam, with the exception that veterans and\ndependents of police officers killed in the line of duty are automatically placed at the top of the list.\nAdditionally, if there are any police officers anywhere in the Commonwealth who have been laid off and\nhave not been hired back, they also go to the top of the list for consideration. Candidates are interviewed\nand the Appointing Authority (Town Select Board) decides on which candidate receives a conditional offer\nof employment. The conditional offer of employment is made pending the successful completion of a\npsychological exam (paid for by the town), a medical exam (paid for by the town), and a Physical Abilities\ntest administered by Civil Service. If the town selects anyone, but the highest ranked candidate, they must\nput in writing why a higher ranked (based solely on test scores and/or veteran or other preference) person\nwas not selected. This decision is subject to an appeal to the Civil Service Commission by anyone who is\naggrieved by the decision.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=137","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=137","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p137","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p138","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":138,"printedPage":"133","pageLabel":"Report p. 133 · PDF p. 138","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"Promotions\nIn 2024, Hanrahan Consulting was hired by the town to conduct assessment center testing for Canton PD\nSergeant and Lieutenant applicants. Justin Hanrahan, the Watertown Police Chief, oversaw the promotion\nexams. Canton PD takes the requisite number of names from the top of the list of candidates, restricted to\na formula of 2N+1, or 3 candidates if promoting one (1) Sergeant or Lieutenant (it could be more\ncandidates if there are tied scores). This decision is subject to an appeal to the Civil Service Commission\nby anyone who is aggrieved by the decision.\n\nIn coordination with the police union, the town human resources division is given statutory authority to\nestablish the form and content of these examinations, written or assessment center exams. By statute, all\ncandidate examinations must fairly test the knowledge, skills and abilities that can be practically and\nreliably measured, and which are required to perform the job.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted interviews with Canton PD officers who took part in the 2024 promotion\nprocess for the rank of Sergeant. These officers indicated that the selection process involved the use of a\nscenario-based assessment center to evaluate and rank the candidates. Three (3) scenarios were\npresented to assess the applicants. Some officers expressed the view that the scenarios did not effectively\nreflect the daily responsibilities of a Canton PD Sergeant. They mentioned that Chief Helena Rafferty and\nWestwood Chief Jeffrey Silva acted as role players and evaluated the applicants.\n\nSeveral candidates suggested that Canton PD officers should have a minimum of five (5) years of\nexperience before being considered for promotion. However, in line with Massachusetts Civil Service\nregulations, the Canton PD allowed candidates with just one (1) year of service to participate and apply for\npromotion. The scoring system incorporated considerations, such as years of service, educational\nbackground, leadership certifications, and training. Some officers also claimed that political factors could\ninfluence promotion decisions within the Canton PD.\n\nIn another instance, our team spoke with Canton PD officers who applied for a detective position within\nthe department. One (1) detective applicant reported that the selection process involved a panel\nconsisting of Canton PD command staff members and an ATF Special Agent.\n\nd) Evaluate whether the town has the personal and departmental equipment that would be expected in\na town of its size.\n\nThe Audit Team evaluated police personnel, and administrative staff, assigned to departments similar in\nsize. We also conducted an interview with a Chief of Police from a neighboring town, who disclosed his\ndepartment has significantly more civilian staff, and highlighted the benefits of employing two (2) civilian\ndispatchers on each shift to support police operations, allowing officers to focus on crucial tasks. In\ncontrast, the Canton PD does not currently utilize civilian dispatchers or full-time administrative staff. At\npresent, the Canton PD has a part-time administrative assistant who handles various tasks such as\npayroll, police details, billing, accounts management, and monitors department expenditures.\n\ne) Review the effectiveness of training incentives and other educational increments.\n\nThe Quinn Bill, also referred to as the Police Career Incentive Pay Program (PCIPP), was established by the\nMassachusetts legislature in 1970 to incentivize police officers to pursue education in criminal justice.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=138","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=138","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p138","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p139","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":139,"printedPage":"134","pageLabel":"Report p. 134 · PDF p. 139","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"Research indicated that the criminal justice system would be enhanced by having a higher number of\nofficers with advanced degrees in the field. Under the program, officers received additional compensation\ntied to the level of degree achieved: ten percent (10%) for an associate’s degree, twenty percent (20%) for\na bachelor's degree, and twenty-five (25%) for a master's degree or a law degree. The Quinn bill applies to\nthe Canton PD officers as it relates to educational benefits. This benefit is paid by the Town of Canton.\n\nIn addition to the Quinn Bill the police department offers incentives for training and certifications in:\nEmergency Medical Training, Use of Force, Firearms Instructor, First Responder, Accident Investigations,\nExam and Promotions officer, Firearms Licensing, Background investigations, National Incident Based\nReporting Systems (NIBRS), Range Officer, Fleet Officer, Range Officer, School resource Officer, Field\nTraining Officer, Less then Lethal Force (Taser) Instructor and Community Liaison Officer. These incentives\nrange in pay from $1,450 annually to $9,400 annually and are negotiated by their respective unions.\n\nf) Review Town of Canton police department hiring practices and make recommendations.\n\nCivil Service plays an important role in ranking and selecting new officers. Prior to exercising police powers\nin the Commonwealth, individuals must successfully complete the prescribed course of study for basic\npolice training authorized by Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC). The Municipal Police Training\nCommittee sets the standards for basic police training for candidates hired by individual police\ndepartments throughout the Commonwealth. Those police departments submit applications for their\nemployee (or sponsored candidate) to our recruit academies. Hiring practices vary by department and\ncertain departments, operating by Civil Service, (Canton PD) must follow a selection process set forth by\nstatute.\n\nAll Canton PD recruits in accordance with state law must: 1.) be a minimum of 21 years old; 2.) be\nemployed or sponsored by the Canton PD, and 3.) successfully complete the Massachusetts Human\nResource Division's Physical Ability Test (PAT) and medical examination before assignment to the\nacademy.\n\nThe Canton PD’s hiring process consists of multiple phases ensuring the most qualified applicants are\nhired. Specifically, candidates must meet the state requirements of:\n\n• Demonstrating a sufficient physical, mental and emotional condition to perform essential job\n functions of a full-time police officer.\n• Successfully meet the minimum standards for a permanent full-time police officer as established by\n the MPTC.\n• Submission of an application packet containing supporting documentation.\n• Submission of fingerprints and successfully completing a background investigation conducted by the\n Canton PD.\n• Fulfillment of all statutory requirements as set forth by the POST Commission to become a certified\n law enforcement officer under Chapter 6E Section 4.\n• Returning as a negative check within the National Decertification Index.\n• Passing a psychological “Fitness for Duty” assessment.\n• Passing a medical/physical examination.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=139","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=139","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p139","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p140","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":140,"printedPage":"135","pageLabel":"Report p. 135 · PDF p. 140","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"• Successfully completing the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Physical Agility Test (PAT).\n• Successfully completing the MPTC Entry-Level Fitness Standards (Cooper Aerobic Institute).\n• Passing a final interview screening consisting of Canton PD leadership.\n• Successfully completing the MPTC operated recruit officer academy.\n\nIt is vital to emphasize the caliber of the Background Investigations (BI) carried out by Canton PD\ninvestigators on potential candidates. These BI investigations play a crucial role in evaluating the\ncharacter and moral values of applicants before they are hired by the Town of Canton. The Canton PD\nassigns detectives to handle the BIs of prospective employees, ensuring a rigorous vetting process to\nidentify the most competent and deserving candidates for the Canton PD.\n\nThorough interviews are conducted as part of the investigation process, but their effectiveness is\ncontingent upon the honesty, integrity, and accuracy of the interviewees. Should the information provided\nto the investigator be incomplete, untruthful, or inaccurate, the reliability of the BI may be compromised\nwithout the investigator's knowledge. It is imperative for the investigator to verify the information to the\nbest of their ability and to recognize and address any conflicting details, even after the completion of the\ninvestigation. Accuracy and truthfulness stand as the paramount elements in any investigative process.\n\nIn 2024, the Canton PD brought onboard a new police recruit, referred to as “the recruit.” In early\nSeptember 2023, the recruit disclosed during a Canton PD interview that a past incident with his then-\ngirlfriend resulted in a \"police contact.\" This incident did not lead to any arrests or the filing of restraining\nor protective orders. The Canton PD, upon learning about this, obtained the police report detailing the\n\"police contact,\" which revealed it stemmed from a verbal argument with no violence or assault indicated.\nEfforts to reach the girlfriend for a statement corroborating this information proved unsuccessful.\n\nAdditionally, the Canton PD's background investigation referenced a separate inquiry done by the\nMassachusetts State Police in the same year. The State Police had interviewed the girlfriend, who\nconfirmed no physical altercation occurred during the argument that resulted in the \"police contact\" and\nasserted that the recruit had never been violent in their three (3)-year relationship. Based on this, the State\nPolice proceeded with the recruit's application process.\n\nThe decision to hire the recruit was made following a comprehensive background investigation that found\nno red flags that would hinder the recruit's success as a police officer. Relying on the credibility of the\ninformation provided by the state police investigation, the Canton PD moved forward with hiring the\nrecruit. The recruit graduated from the police academy in May 2024 and joined the Canton Police\nDepartment.\n\nSubsequently, as a Canton Police Officer, (CPO) the former recruit, now serving as officer, applied for a\nposition with the Braintree Police Department (PD) in late August/early September 2024. The town of\nBraintree conducted its own background check, discovered the same information pertaining to the “police\ncontact” and interviewed the girlfriend who had returned to town. During this interview, the girlfriend\nexpressed surprise that the CPO was now an officer and recounted instances of concerning behavior,\nincluding alleging that the CPO had been physically aggressive towards her during their relationship. The\ngirlfriend admitted she had not disclosed this information earlier to the State Police and further admitted","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=140","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=140","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p140","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p141","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":141,"printedPage":"136","pageLabel":"Report p. 136 · PDF p. 141","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"she avoided contact with the Canton PD because she did not want to be questioned about this incident,\nout of fear for her safety by the CPO.\n\nUpon being informed of these allegations by the Braintree PD Chief, Canton PD Chief Rafferty took\nimmediate action. An IA investigation was initiated, the CPO was placed on administrative leave, and a\npreservation order was issued to secure all relevant records. To ensure an unbiased investigation, an\nexternal investigator was hired.\n\nBefore the IA investigation concluded, the CPO resigned from the department voluntarily. This instance\nhighlights the commitment of the Canton PD to hiring and retaining only the most qualified individuals.\nNotably, no formal complaint was ever filed, and the decision to investigate was driven by the command\nstaff and the Chief's discretion.\n\nThe Canton PDs hiring practices and background investigations are in compliance, with POST Standards\nand MPAC requirements.\n\ng) Review the adherence to compliance of 555 CRM 1.00 PEACE OFFICER STANDARDS AND TRAINING\nCOMMISSION.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed 555 CRM1.00 Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commissions\nrequirements and measured its compliance to the Canton PD. According to POST555, this is a basic\nsummary of the Minimum Requirements for Internal Agency Investigations.\n\n• Upon receipt of a complaint, the agency must initiate an internal investigation within fourteen (14)\n days or promptly request an extension if necessary due to external investigatory efforts. The request\n should include a proposed timeline for starting the investigation and reasons for the delay.\n• Internal investigations may be conducted by an investigator from within the agency, or by an external\n investigator. The assigned investigator must be impartial and report directly to the agency head, or a\n designated official, excluding those involved in the complaint.\n• The investigator should:\n • Preserve all potentially relevant evidence, such as documents, e-mails, text messages, and\n recordings.\n • Notify the officer and their bargaining unit of the ongoing investigation.\n • Interview relevant witnesses, including the complainant, alleged victim, involved officer, and\n witnesses. Interviews should be documented, and interviewees have the right to representation\n and translation services.\n• Investigations must maintain confidentiality within legal limits.\n• The investigation should be concluded within ninety (90) days of receiving the complaint, with the\n option to request an extension if needed, providing a timeline and reasons for the delay before the\n ninety (90)-day mark.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=141","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=141","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p141","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p142","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":142,"printedPage":"137","pageLabel":"Report p. 137 · PDF p. 142","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"Internal Investigation Reports\nOnce the internal investigation is concluded, the agency's head must promptly forward a signed\ninvestigation report by the investigator to the division of standards. The report should include:\n\n• An account of the evidence or complaint allegation.\n• Details of the investigation and resolution of the complaint, including any disciplinary actions\n suggested by the investigator, a supervising officer, or initiated by the agency's head.\n• A list of witnesses interviewed, noting whether each interview was recorded and reasons for any\n unrecorded interviews, along with a summary of all collected evidence.\n• Documentation of any inaccessible witnesses, or evidence and explanations for their unavailability, as\n well as any instances of evidence destruction, or loss with details of such incidents.\n• Findings of fact determined by the investigator.\n• The investigator's assessment of whether the facts reveal behavior that violates laws or officer\n standards.\n• Reasons for any delays in submitting the investigation report beyond the ninety (90)-day timeframe\n specified in 555 CMR 1.01(2)(e).\n• If disciplinary actions, such as retraining, suspension, or termination were suggested or imposed, the\n agency head's recommendation to the commission on implementing such actions, including potential\n certification revocation.\n\nFinal Disposition of Internal Investigations by an Agency\nUpon finalizing the complaint resolution and disciplinary measures, if any, the agency head shall promptly\nsend a final report to the division of standards, including:\n\n• Overview of the adjudicatory process.\n• Any disciplinary actions proposed initially by the investigator or a supervising officer.\n• Details of disciplinary actions enforced by the agency head.\n• Recommendations from the agency head, backed by facts from the investigation report, on how the\n commission should proceed with recommended disciplinary actions, such as retraining, suspension,\n or certification revocation.\n• Confirmation of the officer's legal representation or authorized representative status.\n\nh) Solicit and summarize employee top recommendations for excellence\n\nWhen presented this question, officers unanimously requested the following:\n\n• More training opportunities.\n• Support from Town Boards and Town elected officials. The officers expressed a need for support from\n their elected leaders and the town officials they represent.\n• Equipment upgrades, such as radios communications enhancements and ballistic shields.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=142","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=142","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p142","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p143","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":143,"printedPage":"138","pageLabel":"Report p. 138 · PDF p. 143","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"Other comments and recommendations from the officer interviews were captured in Section 6, part (d):\nExplore the Morale of the Department.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Audit Team recommends the department hire an intelligence analyst to support the\n Detective Bureau. The intelligence analyst could also assist the Deputy Chief of Police with\n tasks, such as managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, investigative inquiries,\n and police report redactions. It is important to note that the Deputy Chief of Administration\n oversees FOIA responses.\n Furthermore, the Audit Team suggests hiring one (1) civilian dispatcher for each shift to work\n alongside a uniformed police officer in the dispatch area. The additional personnel would\n ensure continuous coverage for phone calls, radio communications, and walk-in inquiries\n without compromising any specific duty. This setup would also enable sergeants to focus on\n supervising patrol officers, responding to calls, maximizing the presence of officers patrolling\n assigned areas, preventing illegal activity, and enforcing laws.\n The Audit Team suggests addressing the following equipment needs for Canton PD officers in\n addition to the recommended hire positions:\n • Portable Radio Coverage: The portable radios currently in use have dead zones, notably\n one on Washington Street in the center of town. This presents a serious safety concern as\n officers are unable to communicate with the department when outside of their vehicles.\n Immediate assistance requests or medical aid for civilians become impossible without\n returning to the vehicle. It is essential to address this issue for effective communication.\n • Home to Work Utilization of Police Vehicles: The on-call detective, detective sergeant,\n and detective lieutenant should have the privilege of utilizing police vehicles from home\n to work. Responding investigators and supervisors should not have to use personal\n vehicles when called to a scene. The practice of having to switch vehicles at the station\n before responding to a call is inefficient and needs to be improved.\n • Cellular Phones: Ideally, every Canton PD officer should have a department-issued\n phone. If this is not feasible, supervisors of the rank of sergeant or higher should be\n provided with department-issued phones. Additionally, each patrol vehicle should be\n equipped with a department-issued phone to ensure constant communication,\n especially in areas with poor radio coverage.\n • Digital Cameras for Sergeants and Lieutenants: Each sergeant and lieutenant vehicle\n should be equipped with digital cameras for documentation purposes. This will aid in\n preserving evidence and documenting incidents effectively.\n • Crime Scene Processing Equipment for Detectives: Detective vehicles should be\n equipped with crime scene processing and collection equipment to facilitate thorough\n investigations and evidence collection.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=143","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=143","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p143","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p144","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":144,"printedPage":"139","pageLabel":"Report p. 139 · PDF p. 144","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"• Crime Scene Preservation Equipment for Patrol Cars: Each patrol car should be\n equipped with crime scene preservation kits, and documentation equipment to ensure\n proper handling of crime scenes and evidence.\n Addressing these equipment needs will enhance the operational efficiency and safety of\n Canton PD officers, contributing to effective law enforcement practices.\n As it relates to 555 CRM 1 POST-For those violations and allegations of misconduct that rise to\n the level of POST reporting requirements, a review of those internal investigations and its\n process found the Canton PD is in full compliance.\n Where a variation from policy and/or best practices existed was on the allegations of\n misconduct that did not rise to the level of POST certification requirements. The handling of\n those matters varied in the manner in which they were investigated, documented and\n adjudicated. The Aduit Team found no evidence of misconduct being arbitrarily dismissed or\n ignored, and each allegation was addressed; however, the lack of consistent documentation,\n manner of investigation and methods utilized to address allegations and complaints was not\n always in the best practices. As was outlined in Section 3: Professional Standards and\n Accountability, the Audit Team has recommended a system for the receipt, documentation,\n investigation, adjudication, and reporting of allegations of misconduct and civilian complaint","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=144","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=144","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p144","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p145","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":145,"printedPage":"140","pageLabel":"Report p. 140 · PDF p. 145","section":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","topic":"","title":"Section 7: Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment","text":"SECTION 8:\n Citizens Complaint Process","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=145","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=145","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p145","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p146","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":146,"printedPage":"141","pageLabel":"Report p. 141 · PDF p. 146","section":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","topic":"","title":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","text":"SECTION 8: CITIZENS COMPLAINT PROCESS\na) Examine the process for receiving, tracking, and resolving complaints.\n\nThe Canton Police Department (Canton PD) offers a complaint form accessible to town citizens, available\non their website and at the police department's service window. The tracking and resolution of complaints\nis overseen by the Chief of Police, who is responsible for recommending disciplinary and adverse actions\nagainst Canton PD employees. The Chief maintains investigative files for complaints, investigations, and\nsuggestions.\n\nAccording to Canton PD Rules and Regulations, upon receiving a complaint that warrants an internal\naffairs (IA) investigation, the Canton PD will conduct an investigation within ten (10) days. The officer must\ndocument any delays and seek the Chief's permission for extensions. Once the complaint is submitted,\nthe acceptance date and time are noted for the complainant's records.\n\nIn the event of exigent circumstances preventing completion, the investigating officer must inform the\nChief in writing. The Chief of Police must inform both the employee under investigation and the\ncomplainant of the internal investigation results within seven (7) days post-completion.\n\nThe Officer-in-Charge is required to update the Chief on the investigation progress every five (5) days.\nEmployee rights are safeguarded, with employees receiving a written statement outlining the allegations,\nas well as their rights before any questioning. The employee can request legal representation if the\ninvestigation does not face undue delays and may have representation present if they anticipate\ndisciplinary action.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed several years' worth of civilian and defendant complaints, starting with the most\nrecent, involving the current senior administration. Each complaint was evaluated at the Chief /Deputy\nChief level and often the Chief and/or one of her Chief Deputies would investigate the allegation. This is\nundoubtedly the result of the political climate, and the public scrutiny placed upon the Canton PD. The\nAudit Team found that all complaints and allegations were assessed, investigated when appropriate with\ndiscipline issued when required and necessary, although these matters were not handled in the manner\ntypically associated with IA investigations.\n\nThe complaint files were not maintained in a consistent manner and the methods of investigation varied.\nWhile the Deputy Chief of Operations and Investigations was responsible for overseeing the investigation,\nrecent retirement of personnel has left a void of experienced investigators capable of performing an IA\ninvestigation. Additionally, in an apparent effort to appease the public, senior management of the Canton\nPD have started handling the entirety of the process to include the investigation, evaluation, and\nadjudication of the allegation, or they have opted to hire outside independent investigators to perform\nduties that can and should be conducted internally by senior detectives.\n\nb) Assess transparency in complaint handling.\n\nDuring the past five (5) months, the Audit Team has been examining IA investigations, civilian complaints,\nand allegations of misconduct involving members of the Canton PD. In the late 1990s, the Canton PD\nwould typically receive three (3) to five (5) complaints in a year. However, this volume has been on the rise\ndue to increased rumors and public scrutiny. The Audit Team has not found any evidence of the Canton PD","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=146","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=146","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p146","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p147","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":147,"printedPage":"142","pageLabel":"Report p. 142 · PDF p. 147","section":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","topic":"","title":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","text":"attempting to conceal or cover up sustained misconduct. As cited in Section 3: Professional Standards\nand Accountability, and Section 7, part (g): Compliance with Peace Officer Standards Training and\nCommission Regulations, and in Section 8, part (a): The Process for Receiving, Tracking, and Resolving\nComplaints, the Canton PD has historically lacked consistency in the process.\n\nUnder Chief Rafferty's tenure as Chief, there has been a noticeable improvement in accountability,\ndocumentation, and process implementation. Due to public perception concerns regarding corruption\nand misconduct, the Canton PD has decided to hire independent outside investigators at the town's\nexpense to conduct these investigations.\n\nThe Canton PD has been compliant in reporting investigations of serious allegations as defined by POST\nstandards. The Audit Team's recommendations aim to help Canton PD establish a comprehensive\noversight system and structured processes for investigating misconduct allegations thoroughly,\nirrespective of the source. This system will also facilitate real-time, accurate, and transparent reporting to\noversight boards and elected officials within the town.\n\nc) Review timelines for complaint resolution.\n\nIn accordance with Canton PD Rules and Regulations, when a complaint is received IA is responsible for\noverseeing an investigation that should be completed within ten (10) days after the assigned officer has\nmade communication with the complainant. Any delays in the investigation process and requests for\nextensions should be submitted to the Chief for approval. All Canton PD policies and POST requirements\nregarding extensions were adhered to in cases where delays have exceeded the ten (10)-day timeframe.\nOutsourcing IA investigations to external parties can impact the timeliness and completion of misconduct\ninvestigations and complaint resolutions.\n\nd) Evaluate communication with complainants.\n\nWhile the department must establish and operate consistently within a system regarding the process for\nsubmitting complaints, acknowledging the receipt of complaints, and informing complainants of the\ncommencement and outcome of IA actions, no obligation exists to provide complainants with updates on\nthe investigation or an explanation for findings.\n\nCanton PD adheres to these guidelines and provides more information to complainants than is required\nwhich can be detrimental to the department. Excessive communication can lead to additional allegations\nand create a potentially unfair environment for the officers.\n\nThe complainant has a right to:\n\n• File the complaint and receive a copy of the complaint and verification of its filing.\n• Be notified that an internal affairs investigation will take place.\n• Be notified of the investigation findings, and if it was an IA investigation, know whether the complaint\n was unfounded, substantiated, or unsubstantiated.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=147","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=147","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p147","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p148","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":148,"printedPage":"143","pageLabel":"Report p. 143 · PDF p. 148","section":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","topic":"","title":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","text":"e) Recommend enhancements to ensure fair and efficient complaint resolution.\n\nThe department has established protocols for handling complaints and maintains a comprehensive policy\nthat adheres to CALEA and POST standards for addressing complaints effectively.\n\nHowever, there is a need for the department to ensure uniformity in the application of disciplinary\nmeasures such as suspensions, reprimands, and counseling sessions for officers. It is imperative that all\ndisciplinary outcomes are thoroughly documented, stored in a secure database, and used as a reference\nfor maintaining consistent and equitable treatment for similar cases of sustained misconduct. The Chief of\nPolice should oversee disciplinary matters using this system, ensuring fairness and impartiality in\ndecision-making while preventing external influences from affecting disciplinary actions.\n\nThe department's reliance on outsourced investigations, coupled with heightened public scrutiny and the\nexpectation for strict disciplinary responses to policy violations, may inadvertently introduce bias into the\ndisciplinary system.\n\nf) Review policy of complaints and compliance to policy, and if all complaints are acted on fairly and\nequitably.\n\nAs stated above, the department has established protocols for handling complaints and maintains a\ncomprehensive policy that adheres to CALEA and POST standards for addressing complaints effectively.\n\nThe issues that exist in the current environment are driven by the public demand for immediate and harsh\npenalties for allegations of misconduct. The Chief of Police, with the approval of the Select Board, relieved\na Detective from his duties prior to the completion of an internal investigation. The Detective was placed\non paid administrative leave for three (3) months while the IA investigation was ongoing. This action was\ntaken due to allegations that the detective lost his firearm and consumed an alcoholic beverage (beer), in\nviolation of department policies and procedures, while on duty.\n\nFollowing the IA investigation, it was determined that the detective had indeed violated policies and\nprocedures, and he was subsequently suspended for three (3) days. An audit of the department's IA\ninvestigations spanning two (2) decades found that the detective had been treated unfairly by being placed\non administrative leave for three (3) months before the investigation was completed. The Audit Team\nnoted that other Canton PD officers faced more serious allegations, including those that resulted in\nsuspensions and demotions, yet remained on full duty throughout their investigations.\n\nThe resulting discipline issued to the Detective was appropriate, however if the IA investigation was\nhandled by a senior lieutenant in-house, as it should have been, the investigation could have been\ncompleted in under a week to include interviews, schedules, and conclusions. Doing so would have saved\nthe town money and department resources.\n\nThis scenario underscores the necessity of the database discussed in part (e) Recommend Enhancements\nto Ensure Fair and Efficient Complaint Resolution, as well as the importance of retaining records of all\ndisciplinary actions taken. Placing the Detective on administrative leave prematurely was likely driven by\nmisguided public pressure and scrutiny. It also emphasizes the challenge of managing public expectations\nregarding police command decisions, which can potentially compromise the impartiality and consistency\nof officer treatment within the department.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=148","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=148","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p148","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p149","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":149,"printedPage":"144","pageLabel":"Report p. 144 · PDF p. 149","section":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","topic":"","title":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","text":"g) Review and analyze workflows to respond to concerns in a timely manner.\n\nThe police department should avoid outsourcing investigations to external firms when senior detective\nlieutenants are capable of conducting them effectively. This reallocation of funds seems unnecessary and\nmay be driven by a desire to appease public opinion, which remains unsatisfied with past outcomes.\nInvesting these financial resources in training and acquiring essential equipment would be a more\njustifiable use of resources.\n\nAll civilian complaints should be directed to the Canton PD Desk Sergeant. When a civilian enters the\nCanton PD with a complaint, they will receive a form to complete. The completed form will be logged in\ndispatch with a time stamp, a copy provided to the complainant, and the original sent to the Deputy Chief\nof Operations and Investigations for assessment and further action. In cases where an Internal Affairs (IA)\ninvestigation is warranted, the Deputy Chief of Operations will document the rationale in a report, assign\nan IA number to the complaint, and appoint an investigator with suitable rank and experience.\nInvestigators should conduct recorded statements that can later be transcribed and submitted in writing.\nAll evidence obtained during the IA investigation must be handled like evidence. Any confirmed\nmisconduct or policy violations should be addressed using a disciplinary matrix to ensure consistency in\ncorrective actions.\n\nThe Deputy Chief of Operations will inform the Chief about the investigation and allegations, ensuring\ncompliance with POST requirements. Upon completion of the IA investigation, the entire file will be\nreviewed by the Deputy Chief of Operations for completeness. If deemed thorough enough to assess the\nvalidity of the complaint, the file will be passed onto the Deputy Chief of Administration for further review\nof policy violation.\n\nThe Deputy Chief of Administration will analyze the file for policy violations by any Canton PD member,\nregardless of the original complaint recipient. Misconduct violations will be documented by policy\nnumber, directives, infraction date, and specific details of misconduct. The findings will be recorded, and\na report, along with the complaint and the IA file, will be submitted to the Chief for a final decision based\non collective bargaining agreements, town by-laws, civil service regulations, and CMR 555.\n\nThe Chief will document her decision on counseling, reprimand, discipline, or clearance with the officer\nreceiving a copy of the decision letter as the final IA Investigation document.\n\nAccording to policy, the Canton PD must conclude an investigation within ten (10) days of the investigator\ncontacting the complainant. POST mandates that an investigation must begin within fourteen (14) days of\nreceiving the complaint.\n\nCommunication with the complainant should be limited to the necessary information required by POST,\nsuch as acknowledging receipt and providing an outcome of the investigation if applicable. Excessive\ncommunication with complainants should be avoided once the department has fulfilled its obligations.\nWhile the Town Selectman has the right to review and seek clarification on internal affairs investigation\nfindings, these results should not be subject to public negotiation.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=149","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=149","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p149","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p150","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":150,"printedPage":"145","pageLabel":"Report p. 145 · PDF p. 150","section":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","topic":"","title":"Section 8: Citizens Complaint Process","text":"SECTION 9:\n Conflicts of Interest","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=150","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=150","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p150","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p151","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":151,"printedPage":"146","pageLabel":"Report p. 146 · PDF p. 151","section":"Section 9: Conflicts of Interest","topic":"","title":"Section 9: Conflicts of Interest","text":"SECTION 9: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST\na) Review potential conflicts of interest and adherence to conflict-of-interest rules, laws, and\nregulations among officers, staff, elected officials, and appointed officials as related to the Canton\nPolice Department.\n\nThe Audit Team found no conflicts of interest among Canton PD Officers in relation to elected officials.\nCanton employs a community policing strategy, with nearly 40% of officers having ties to the town. While\nrelationships between department members and the community are common, they do not necessarily\nindicate conflicts of interest. However, the department's frequent self-recusals from investigations,\ninterviews, and police actions in efforts to prevent perceived conflicts of interest have inadvertently\ncreated the perception that one exists.\n\nb) Assess policies on gifts, secondary employment, and relationships.\n\nThe Canton PD has implemented strict Rules and Regulations that prevent officers from accepting gifts or\nengaging in secondary employment. According to these regulations, employees are not permitted to\nrequest, solicit, or receive gifts, loans, rewards, or fees connected to their roles within the department,\nunless specifically permitted by departmental policy.\n\nIt is explicitly stated that employees must not receive any form of compensation from any source with the\nintention of gifting it to an active officer, or employee without prior authorization from the Chief of Police.\nAny unauthorized gifts or rewards received by an employee must be promptly reported to the Chief along\nwith details of the circumstances. Additionally, regulations set by the State Ethics Commission forbid the\nacceptance of gifts or gratuities exceeding a total value of $50.\n\nUpon review, the Audit Team did not find any instances of these policies being violated.\n\nc) Review disclosure procedures and see if they have been followed.\nThe Audit Team has thoroughly examined records, FOIA requests, investigations, incidents related to\nmental health, civilian contacts, civilian complaints, and non-enforcement police contacts. Our team has\nnot uncovered any evidence suggesting the existence of a conflict of interest that was not disclosed. No\nevidence was found indicating conflicts of interest have influenced police actions, criminal investigations,\nevidence gathering, crime scene processing, or the overall workflow of the Canton PD's daily operations.\nd) Review the influence of family members of the police and elected officials.\n\nSelect Board member, Chris Albert, is the brother of Canton PD detective. Selectman Chris Albert recuses\nhimself from all votes relating to patrolmen and detective contracts.\n\ne) Review cases that were handed over to the Attorney General and the State Police for conflicts of\ninterest and report back on the outcomes of those investigations when possible.\n\nThe Audit Team found no instances of cases being referred to the Attorney General or State Police due to\nconflicts of interest. In cases, such as with Sandra Birchmore and John O’Keefe, the State Police took\ncontrol in accordance with Massachusetts Law Title VI, Chapter 38, Section 4, which requires the District\nAttorney, or their designee, to supervise death investigations alongside relevant agencies. However, the","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=151","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=151","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p151","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p152","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":152,"printedPage":"147","pageLabel":"Report p. 147 · PDF p. 152","section":"Section 9: Conflicts of Interest","topic":"","title":"Section 9: Conflicts of Interest","text":"Canton PD was not barred, or forced to recuse themselves from involvement, but chose to step back in\nwhat the audit committee views as an unjustified action. In the instance of John O’Keefe, the Canton PD\ndecided not to participate in follow-up interviews of witnesses with MSP due to perceived conflicts of\ninterest. [Note: Canton PD conducted witness interviews of several individuals on the morning of January\n29, 2022.]. As first responders, the Canton PD is obligated to enforce the law and conduct investigations.\nTheir recusal, undertaken to address public concerns, led to delays in securing the crime scene, managing\nwitnesses, and documenting statements.\n\nf) Review any potential conflicts of interest between the Canton Police Department and State or\nFederal agencies.\n\nThe Audit Team found no conflicts of interest between state and federal agencies. Inquiries with federal\nand state law enforcement agencies showed that the men and women in the Canton PD are respected in\nthe law enforcement community.\n\ng) Recommend measures to prevent and address conflicts.\n\nCanton PD officers are required to recuse themselves from investigations if they have a personal\nconnection with a complainant, or a person under investigation, and that relationship compromises their\nimpartiality. Currently, Canton PD regulations do not explicitly detail procedures for officers dealing with\npotential conflicts of interest during investigations, thus leaving the decision on how to proceed at the\ndiscretion of the officer and Canton PD leadership. This approach is deemed appropriate for a department\nof Canton's magnitude. Each situation encountered by an officer presents unique difficulties, and\ncollaboration among officers is crucial. Oversight by senior personnel is an important factor in avoiding\nconflicts of interest. By encouraging and enforcing ethical behaviors, as well as empowering Canton PD\nofficers, conflicts of interest can be effectively managed. The current standard practice of removing\nofficers from cases involving familiar individuals without clear guidelines undercuts the department's\nneutral recusal process.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=152","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=152","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p152","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p153","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":153,"printedPage":"148","pageLabel":"Report p. 148 · PDF p. 153","section":"Section 9: Conflicts of Interest","topic":"","title":"Section 9: Conflicts of Interest","text":"SECTION 10:\n Select Board Oversight &\n Industry Standards\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=153","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=153","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p153","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p154","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":154,"printedPage":"149","pageLabel":"Report p. 149 · PDF p. 154","section":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","topic":"","title":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","text":"SECTION 10: SELECT BOARD OVERSIGHT AND INDUSTRY\nSTANDARDS\na) Assess the oversight of the Police Department provided by the Select Board.\n\nThe Board is responsible for the general policy development, policy implementation, and delivery of\nmunicipal services involving the Canton PD. The Select Board, as outlined in the charter and by-laws,\nfunctions as commissioners with direct oversight of the police department. Consisting of five (5)\nmembers, the Select Board is tasked with supervising the department and appointing the Police Chief. The\nauthority to provide direct oversight and regular supervision of the police department is delegated to the\nTown Administrator. Each board member reserves the right to speak on any issue, but agrees and\nunderstands that they cannot act alone, or act in a manner inconsistent with the Select Board\nAdministrative Code of Conduct.\n\nChief Rafferty is currently serving under a one (1)-year contract, a decision reportedly influenced by citizen\nconcerns regarding the handling of the John O'Keefe investigation by the Canton PD, with Chief Rafferty\nhaving served as Acting Chief of Police during the death incident on January 29, 2022.\n\nChair Loughran noted that former Chief Berkowitz had previously received multi-year contracts from the\nSelect Board. The Board maintains direct communication with the Chief of Police on matters of public\nsafety and authorizes budget allocations. In cases of critical incidents, or serious crimes within the town,\nChief Rafferty informs the Town Administrator, who typically informs the Select Board.\n\nChief Rafferty meets monthly with all Select Board members to discuss public safety issues, ongoing\ninitiatives, and budgetary needs. In November 2024 the Chair of the Select Board received a complaint\nfrom a business owner, who alleged a possible criminal offense involving a Select Board member. The\nSelect Board and Town Administrator then contacted the Chief of Police with the allegation and video of\nthe violation.\n\nThis was an inappropriate action by the Town Administrator, Select Board member and ultimately the\nChief of Police. When notified, the Chief should have directed the complainant to the police department’s\ndesk sergeant to file a formal complaint in the same manner required of citizens. The complaint would\ninclude their statements and any evidence supporting the allegation. This would follow the standard\nprocedures the Audit Team has outlined in other sections of this report for handling information and\ncomplaints on potential crimes or violations. In bypassing these steps and handing the information\ndirectly to the Chief, they unintentionally put both the Chief and the department in a difficult position,\nwhere any decisions regarding the allegations would be scrutinized. Additionally, this type of complaint\nmakes the Chief a witness, while still acting as the final adjudicator for the department.\n\nInterviews with Select Board members indicate a positive and constructive relationship with the police\ndepartment, though not all select board members are police supporters.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=154","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=154","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p154","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p155","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":155,"printedPage":"150","pageLabel":"Report p. 150 · PDF p. 155","section":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","topic":"","title":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","text":"b) Determine who was/is the point of contact person on the Select Board who communicates with the\nPolice Chief.\n\nThe Audit Team found that there is no designated primary contact person from the Select Board who\nregularly communicates with Chief Rafferty. Chief Rafferty mentioned that Select Board Member Patrica\nBoyden had requested regularly occurring monthly meetings with her to discuss police matters. In addition\nto Ms. Boyden, Chief Rafferty interacts with other Select Board members, such as Chris Albert, Chair\nMichael Loughran, Vice-Chair John McCourt, and John Connolly. Chief Rafferty receives direct calls from\nthe Select Board members and addresses any inquiries they may have. It is important to note that, as per\nthe Town of Canton charter, the Select Board has oversight of the police chief, but the Town Administrator\nprovides direct oversight and supervises the police chief.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted interviews with the select board members and learned the following\ninformation:\n\nMichael C. Loughran, Chair\n\nOn December 5, 2024, Michael Loughran, Select Board Chair was interviewed. Chair Loughran stated he\nhas a good working relationship with Chief Rafferty. Mr. Loughran advised he is briefed regularly on public\nsafety issues. All Select Board members have access to Chief Rafferty and there is no single point of\ncontact that communicates with the Police Chief. Chair Loughlan stated he, along with other members of\nthe Select Board, have confidence in Chief Rafferty’s ability to lead the department. He further explained\nthe death of Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe has caused a serious divide among members of the\ncommunity who have lost confidence in the police department.\n\nJohn R. McCourt, Vice-Chair\n\nOn December 5, 2024, John R McCourt was interviewed and said that he has been on the Select Board for\ntwenty (20) months. Mr. McCourt is a lifelong resident of the Town of Canton and employed with the\nhousing authority. When asked what level of confidence he has with Canton PD and the leadership, he\nsaid “I am in the middle,” but overall is satisfied with the police department. He interacts with Chief\nRafferty, but not regularly. Mr. McCourt said he would prefer a more effective way of receiving information\nrelated to critical incidents that happen in the town. He was not notified of an incident involving numerous\njuveniles in the town that vandalized a home the day before Thanksgiving.\n\nJohn Connolly\n\nOn February 21, 2025, John Connolly was interviewed. Mr. Connolly is a lifelong resident of the town. He\nhas an excellent working relationship with Chief Rafferty and other members of the Canton PD and has\nbeen a member of the Select Board for over thirty (30) years. Mr. Connolly was aware the Canton PD is\nunderstaffed and would work with the Select Board to obtain additional funding for officers. He spoke with\nChief Rafferty about staffing and will recommend the police department to add two (2) police officers to\nthe Table of Organization. Mr. Connolly has full confidence in the police department and fully supports\nChief Rafferty to be retained for an additional three (3) years. He would recommend adding administrative\nstaff to the department to support officers. Mr. Connolly stated that Select Board members select new\nofficers, approve promotions, and approve new contracts for all officers.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=155","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=155","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p155","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p156","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":156,"printedPage":"151","pageLabel":"Report p. 151 · PDF p. 156","section":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","topic":"","title":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","text":"Chris Albert\n\nMr. Albert mentioned that he is among the most recent additions to the Select Board and made it known\nthat his brother serves as a detective within the Canton PD. He shared that he plays a role in negotiating\ncontracts with the police force, excluding those involving the patrol and detective union. Mr. Albert\nexpressed that he maintains a positive rapport with Chief Rafferty and other department personnel.\nAdditionally, he noted that the Select Board takes part in the selection and approval process for newly\nrecruited officers.\n\nRegarding the Karen Read case, Mr. Albert indicated that it has had a significantly adverse impact on\nhimself, his business, and his family. He disclosed that he and his family have faced harassment, both in\nperson at his establishment and via phone calls received by his business. Despite these challenges, he\nemphasized his affection for the Canton community.\n\nPatrica Boyden\n\nOn February 21, 2025, an interview was conducted with Patrica Boyden, a lifelong resident of the town.\nMs. Boyden mentioned that she regularly meets with Chief Rafferty to discuss the needs of the police\ndepartment and the community. She indicated that while the Select Board oversees the police\ndepartment, the Town Administrator serves as the direct supervisor of Chief Rafferty. Ms. Boyden\nexpressed her support for the police department and mentioned her familiarity with many of the young\nofficers, as they grew up alongside her daughter in Canton.\n\nMs. Boyden highlighted the police response to the John O’Keefe death on January 29, 2022, suggesting\nthat it could have been handled better. She specifically mentioned that officers should have been\nequipped with evidence kits to gather evidence at 34 Fairview Road. Additionally, Ms. Boyden felt that a\npolice car should have been stationed at the location until the Massachusetts State Police conducted their\nsearch of the yard. Ms. Boyden pointed out that some residents believed the police mishandled the crime\nscene at 34 Fairview Road. She also emphasized the importance of increased community policing efforts\nwithin the department.\n\nc) Compare this oversight to industry standards and best practices.\n\nThe Town of Canton Select Board, by Administrative Code, acts as commissioners and has direct oversight\nof municipal departments and the police department, and direct oversight is delegated to the Town\nAdministrator. The Select Board, which is a five (5)-member board, is responsible for selecting the Police\nChief, who reports to the Town Administrator Charles Doody.\n\n• We compared industry standards of the Canton Select Board oversight of the Canton PD with other\n towns in the state of Massachusetts.\n• Other towns similar in size and scope have similar forms of government that provide oversight and\n direction of police departments.\n• The Select Boards serves as the Chief Policy-Making Agency of the town.\n• The Town Administrator supervises the day-to-day service areas of the Select Board.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=156","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=156","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p156","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p157","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":157,"printedPage":"152","pageLabel":"Report p. 152 · PDF p. 157","section":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","topic":"","title":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","text":"The Select Board, in coordination with the appropriate town officials, is responsible for the budget\napproval and the formulation and promulgation of policy directives for town agencies.\n\nd) Review official town communications of all major stakeholders regarding the oversight of the\nCanton Police Department by the Canton Select Board in its role as Police Commissioners.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed multiple communications from Select Board members and major stakeholders\nregarding oversight of the Canton PD. A Select Board Member has contacted the Chief of Police in a\nunilateral fashion asking for individual meetings and updates. Of the communications reviewed, the Audit\nTeam found no unilateral communications to the Canton PD command staff by Select Board member\nChris Albert.\n\nThe Audit Team has witnessed dozens of members of the community, appointed officials and citizens\ncontact Chief Rafferty directly for a variety of reasons. While none of the communications appear to have\nmalicious intent, several unilateral communications by the Select Board members appear to be in\nviolation of Section IV. Powers, Duties, and Obligations of the Select Board which states in part:\n\n ...The Board shall strive to refrain from involvement in day to day operations of\n the Town government. Concerns and questions about the operation of a\n department and/or its employees, and suggestions for improvements should be\n addressed to the Board via the Town Administrator.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=157","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=157","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p157","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p158","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":158,"printedPage":"153","pageLabel":"Report p. 153 · PDF p. 158","section":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","topic":"","title":"Section 10: Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards","text":"SECTION 11:\n Recommendations & Compliance Review\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=158","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=158","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p158","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p159","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":159,"printedPage":"154","pageLabel":"Report p. 154 · PDF p. 159","section":"Section 11: Recommendations and Compliance Review","topic":"","title":"Section 11: Recommendations and Compliance Review","text":"SECTION 11: RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMPLIANCE REVIEW\na) Based on the audit findings, recommend necessary improvements to all aspects of the Police\nDepartment.\n\nRecommendations have been made throughout this document and will be collected and listed with the\nsummary in Section 18: Recommendations and Summary.\n\nb) Ensure compliance with legal requirements and community expectations.\n\nThe Canton PD is compliant with Massachusetts State Law, CALEA, and POST standards in terms of\npolicies and directives. During the audit committee interviews in October of 2024, it was noted by the\nAudit Team that there may be transitional gaps from policy to application, and deviations from policy\nadherence can occur due to various factors, and that deviation does not necessarily indicate intentional\nwrongdoing or corruption. The Audit Team has found no evidence of malfeasance in instances where\nCanton PD policy and its application do not align.\n\nMeasuring community expectations against legal requirements may not always be feasible unless both\nalign closely. In the current environment, the Audit Team has observed that community expectations in the\nTown of Canton can be inconsistent and unrealistic. The Town of Canton should be reassured that the\nCanton PD is fair, transparent, and responsive by following department policies.\n\nc) The auditor should review all Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and standards within the\npolicies and procedures of the Canton Police Department and verify adherence to compliance.\n\nThe Canton PD is compliant with relevant federal and state laws. The Canton PD has shown consistent\nadherence to standards set by POST, MPAC, and CALEA. Additionally, the Canton PD successfully passed\na recent compliance assessment and certification from MPAC which is valid until June of 2027.\n\nAfter reviewing policies and procedures, the Audit Team found that the written policies and directives of\nthe Canton PD align with certifying bodies and denote the expected best practices of the profession.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=159","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=159","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p159","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p160","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":160,"printedPage":"155","pageLabel":"Report p. 155 · PDF p. 160","section":"Section 11: Recommendations and Compliance Review","topic":"","title":"Section 11: Recommendations and Compliance Review","text":"SECTION 12:\n Recommended Improvements\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=160","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=160","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p160","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p161","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":161,"printedPage":"156","pageLabel":"Report p. 156 · PDF p. 161","section":"Section 12: Recommended Improvements","topic":"","title":"Section 12: Recommended Improvements","text":"SECTION 12: RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS\nThis section will be reported in the closing section of the document and referenced as Section 20:\nRecommended Improvements and Summary.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=161","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=161","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p161","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p162","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":162,"printedPage":"157","pageLabel":"Report p. 157 · PDF p. 162","section":"Section 12: Recommended Improvements","topic":"","title":"Section 12: Recommended Improvements","text":"SECTION 13:\n Forfeiture of Forensic Review\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=162","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=162","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p162","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p163","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":163,"printedPage":"158","pageLabel":"Report p. 158 · PDF p. 163","section":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","topic":"","title":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","text":"SECTION 13: FORFEITURE FORENSIC REVIEW\na) Review the cash forfeiture balances, deposits, and withdrawals, as well as management,\nadministration, and expenditure procedures going back 25 years (as possible).\n\nThe Audit Team completed a forfeiture forensic review of equitable sharing funds received by the Canton\nPolice Department (Canton PD) from the Department of Justice (DOJ) Equitable Sharing Program and\nCommonwealth of Massachusetts. The objective of the audit was to assess whether the cash and/or\nproperty received by the Canton PD through the Equitable Sharing Program was accounted for properly\nand used for permissible purposes as defined by applicable regulations and guidelines. We reviewed asset\nsharing and cash deposits from 2006-2024 and found that the department is efficiently tracking deposits,\nwithdrawals, expenditures, and has a positive cash balance.\n\nEquitable sharing revenues represent a share of the proceeds from the forfeiture of assets seized in the\ncourse of certain criminal investigations. [Note: The DOJ asset sharing came from the Drug Enforcement\nAdministration’s (DEA) criminal investigations]. From 2015 through 2024 Canton PD received over $1.8\nmillion dollars from DOJ asset sharing. We found that Canton PD complied with the equitable sharing\nguidelines.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed asset sharing received from the DOJ Equitable Sharing Program, from Fiscal\nYears (FY) 2015 through 2024. The amounts below include interest on monies.\n\n $395,262.40\n\n $106,891.20\n $79,907.84 $87,517.58 $90,418.87\n $71,471.28 $72,283.41\n $43,733.53\n $17,894.87 $7,911.02\n\n 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024\n\n Asset sharing received from the DOJ Equitable Sharing Program (2015-2024)\n\nThe Audit Team conducted interviews (including Chief Rafferty and the Canton Finance Director who\nmanages the forfeiture accounts), examined financial records, and reviewed forfeiture proceeds and\nexpenditures of equitable sharing funds. We relied on computer generated data (spreadsheets) to identify\nequitably shared revenues and property purchased or awarded to the Canton PD during the audit period.\n\nAs a result of the audit, we concluded the Canton PD appropriately spent and accounted for all equitable\nsharing funds from both the DOJ and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The equitable sharing monies\nwere spent on specific authorized police equipment and justified overtime for officers.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=163","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=163","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p163","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p164","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":164,"printedPage":"159","pageLabel":"Report p. 159 · PDF p. 164","section":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","topic":"","title":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","text":"This audit did not identify any purchases of concerns regarding Canton PD’s acquisitions of equipment.\nWe found the Canton PD has procedures for completing and submitting Equitable Sharing Agreement and\nCertification (ESAC) reports to DOJ, and documentation to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.\n\nThe Canton PD began the audit period with a balance of $180,591.19. During the period of October 1,\n2023, through September 30, 2024, the Canton PD received $381,156.30 and spent $375,495.66 in\nequitable sharing funds, primarily on salaries (overtime). They spent other monies on law enforcement\nequipment and subscriptions. We found that the funds received and spent were within policy and in the\nbest interest of the Town of Canton.\n\nFrom 2015-2024, equitable sharing funds were spent on salaries (overtime to meet minimum staffing\nrequirements) and law enforcement equipment such as police vehicles, tactical gear, computers,\nportable radios, vehicle dashboard cameras, Flock cameras, tasers, video servers, firearms and other law\nenforcement related necessary equipment. We found that sharing funds were spent on promotional\nexams for sergeants and lieutenants in 2020, in the amount of $17,000. We recommend that the Town of\nCanton pay for the exams, versus using equitable sharing funds.\n\nEquitable Sharing Program\nThe Audit Team identified that the Canton PD conducts yearly audits\non all accountable property purchased with equitable sharing funds.\nWe found that the management and administration of the accounts\nwas acceptable, and we did not identify any deficiencies. The Town of\nCanton Finance Department records all equitable sharing funds and\nexpenses related to expenditures of funds in its accounting system.\nChief Rafferty coordinates expenditures of equitable sharing funds\nwith the finance department,\n\nEquitable Sharing Funds Expenditures: FY 2015-2024\nAccording to its accounting records, the Canton PD spent DOJ equitable sharing funds as shown below:\n\n $384,676.06\n\n $269,309.62\n\n $208,000.34\n $194,022.28 $188,534.40\n\n $118,324.28 $112,281.81\n $71,447.13 $71,471.28 $72,283.41\n\n 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024\n Spend of DOJ Equitable Sharing Funds (2015-2024)","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=164","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=164","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p164","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p165","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":165,"printedPage":"160","pageLabel":"Report p. 160 · PDF p. 165","section":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","topic":"","title":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","text":"The Audit Team has reviewed 100% of the total funds expended and determined the expenditures of DOJ\nequitable sharing funds were permissible and supported by adequate documentation.\n\nAudit Approach\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD’s compliance with the Equitable Sharing Program to assess whether\nit accounted for equitable sharing funds properly and used the sharing funds for permissible purposes.\n[Note: We applied the Equitable Sharing Guide as our primary criteria.]\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed the Equitable Sharing Guide which provides procedures for submitting sharing\nrequests and outlines the proper use of- and accounting for equitable sharing assets. To conduct the\naudit, the Audit Team reviewed the Canton PD’s compliance with the following:\n\n• Equitable Sharing Agreement and Certification Reports to determine if these documents were\n complete and accurate.\n• Finance Department accounting for equitable sharing resources to determine whether standard\n accounting procedures were used to track equitable sharing assets.\n• Use of equitable sharing resources to determine if equitable sharing cash and property were used for\n permissible law enforcement purposes.\n• Reviewed the Canton PD inventory process that maintained a manual spreadsheet of inventory,\n ensured that it was updated when equipment was added, disposed of, or reassigned.\n\nCommonwealth of Massachusetts\nThe Audit Team reviewed Canton PD’s compliance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts General\nLaws, Chapter 47 (d) to assess whether the department accounted for equitable sharing funds properly\nand used the sharing funds for permissible purposes. Pursuant to the laws, proceeds seized were split\nequally between the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office and Canton PD. The Audit Team met with the\nFirst Assistant District Attorney who stated they process criminal seizures for the Town of Canton and\nreview probable cause for the asset seizures. We determined that Canton PD was following policies and\nprocedures. From 2006-2024 Canton PD received $319,171.70 in asset sharing from state seizures and\nwere found to be in compliance with policies and procedures.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=165","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=165","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p165","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p166","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":166,"printedPage":"161","pageLabel":"Report p. 161 · PDF p. 166","section":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","topic":"","title":"Section 13: Forfeiture Forensic Review","text":"SECTION 14:\n Evidence Review\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=166","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=166","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p166","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p167","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":167,"printedPage":"162","pageLabel":"Report p. 162 · PDF p. 167","section":"Section 14: Evidence Review","topic":"","title":"Section 14: Evidence Review","text":"SECTION 14: EVIDENCE REVIEW\na) Review evidence room procedures and adherence to procedures.\n\nThe Canton PD evidence procedures are sound and in alignment with industry best standards. The\ndepartment's records management system utilizes a well-known public safety software package known as\nIMC. This software is one of the prevalent police records management software systems found in\nMassachusetts. The IMC system has a very functional evidence and property component available. IMC is\na police records management software formerly provided by Tri Tech Systems, now called Central Square.\n\nThe Canton PD Chain of Custody-Evidence/Property Policy No. 1.16 (11/26/2023) meets Accreditation\nstandards. The Canton PD received its first Certification from the Massachusetts Police Accreditation\nCommission in 2017, became fully Accredited in 2018, and has been re-accredited twice since.\n\nb) Review whether the department has sufficient evidence collection supplies and items.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted a visual and physical inspection of the evidence collection materials which\nincluded plastic evidence bags, paper evidence bags, cardboard boxes, sealing materials, access to\nevidence lockers and access to an electronic logbook. Evidence collection supplies are accessible to all\nofficers and are located in the Temporary Evidence Storage room. Officers can pick up supplies as needed,\nand the supplies are replenished regularly by the Evidence Custodian who is responsible for the evidence\nmaterials and evidence rooms. The Audit Team concluded that the equipment is adequate and conforms\nwith the current MPAC standards.\n\nc) Review whether evidence room policies and procedures meet industry standards.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted a physical assessment and noted the evidence storage areas are under strict\nvideo monitoring with access controlled by electronic cards. This information is maintained in an\nelectronic log controlled at the Town Administrator. Surveillance footage of evidence access areas can be\nreviewed, but not altered, by either the primary or alternate evidence custodian. All sworn officers have\nelectronic card access to the temporary evidence holding and processing room, which is under 24-hour\nvideo surveillance. All evidence brought into the station after-hours for submission into evidence is logged\nand deposited into a secure temporary evidence container, pending final processing by the evidence\ncustodian. Once it is secured in the temporary evidence container, the only person(s) that can retrieve it is\nthe Canton PD evidence custodian(s). Access is restricted and detailed entry logs are maintained\nelectronically.\n\nd) Review officer evidence collection training.\n\nThe Audit Team reviewed the officer evidence collection training and found that all officers have received\nbasic training in evidence collection. Evidence collection training is an ongoing practice, and officers\nreceive continual training and updates on current laws and practices during their in-service training, which\nis held bi-annually. The Canton PD is in conformance with the CALEA and MPAC standards of evidence\ncollection training. It is crucial to remember that virtually anything can be, or become evidence, therefore\nit must be handled, recorded and documented appropriately. The essence of a good and thorough\nevidence collection program encompasses the ability to answer the following questions:","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=167","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=167","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p167","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p168","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":168,"printedPage":"163","pageLabel":"Report p. 163 · PDF p. 168","section":"Section 14: Evidence Review","topic":"","title":"Section 14: Evidence Review","text":"• What was discovered?\n • Who discovered it?\n • Where have they discovered it?\n • What have they done with it?\ne) Review officer access to evidence room and limit/revise per best practices.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted a physical and visual inspection of the evidence storage area and interviewed\nthe Evidence Custodian. The evidence storage area is divided into two (2) rooms with the first one is\naccessible to all officers and can be accessed twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week.\nThis first room is where the temporary storage lockers are located as well as a section of available\nevidence collection materials, two (2) sets of overflow storage lockers and an additional wall of small\nevidence lockers. After the evidence is locked into a container, the key is secured in the same locker and\ncan only be accessed again by the Evidence Custodian, who is equipped with a master key. No officer can\naccess, manipulate, destroy, add or alter evidence once it is placed into a temporary locked evidence\ncontainer. The second room is where all the evidence is stored and classified by year and is only\naccessible to the Evidence Custodian. This system and the electronic safeguards in place make it virtually\nimpossible for evidence tampering or altering to take place once evidence has entered the evidence\nstorage areas.\n\nAccessibility limits to the Evidence Rooms is in conformance with current CALEA and MPAC standards.\n\nf) Assess adherence to/implementation of recommendations from past evidence audits.\n\nA review of prior audits and recommendations show that the Canton PD has implemented all\nrecommendations not requiring major building renovations or significant budget enhancements. Those\nrecommendations that require building modifications have either been completed or they are at the town\nlevel pending approval and funding for completion. The Canton PD is compliant with all previous\nrecommendations.\n\ng) Conduct a year-over-year inventory of the evidence room content, including firearms, cash, and\ndrugs.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted a visual inspection of the Temporary Storage of Evidence and the Evidence\nVault, which is assigned to the Canton PD Primary Evidence Custodian, for oversight and maintenance.\nThere are approximately 16,000 items of evidentiary value stored in the Evidence Vault at Canton PD. A\ncomplete inventory and detailed audit was performed by an independent audit team from Pomeroy\nResources Inc. in October 2024—six (6) weeks prior to the arrival of the 5Si Audit Team. The Audit Team on\nmultiple occasions, one of which was unannounced, and conducted inventory checks of random items\nincluding firearms and drugs, finding no inventory discrepancies.\n\nThe Audit Team found that the firearms are properly stored in the evidence room. Firearms are only sent for\nBallistics Testing on a case-by-case basis, and their disposal is backlogged. Ballistics Testing and Disposal\nis handled by a non-government contracting company named New England Ballistics, which performs this\nservice at no charge to the Canton PD.\n\nThe audit concluded that the evidence, and the records relating thereto, are being maintained in","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=168","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=168","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p168","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p169","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":169,"printedPage":"164","pageLabel":"Report p. 164 · PDF p. 169","section":"Section 14: Evidence Review","topic":"","title":"Section 14: Evidence Review","text":"full compliance with the procedures outlined in the directives of the Canton PD, proper accountability\nprocedures are being maintained, evidence is properly stored and protected from damage and\ndeterioration, and the Evidence Rooms are being maintained in a clean and orderly condition.\n\nh) Review chain of custody laws, including completeness and accuracy.\n\nThe Audit Team, in addition to reviewing policy, reviewed the collection and processing measures for\ndocumenting the chain of custody of evidence. The Canton PD is in full compliance, however, the Audit\nTeam did make recommendations regarding the documentation of evidence.\n\ni) Review the collection, editing, and preservation of videos used for evidence.\n\nThe Audit Team examined the Canton PD's video preservation methods and procedures. Video\npreservation is carried out on a dedicated desktop computer stationed near the evidence room. All videos\nare downloaded using this computer, which can be used for viewing and redacting purposes, but not for\nmaking alterations (except for limited editing like redactions for public release). The videos can be\naccessed by officers using the same computer station.\n\nThe Canton PD's practices for collecting, reviewing, editing, and preserving videos for evidence align with\nthe MPAC standards.\n\nj) Review firearm chain of custody in evidence.\n\nFirearms seized by the Canton PD have strict handling procedures that must be followed due to the\npotential danger they pose as evidence. All firearms acquired by the Canton PD are handled with the\nutmost safety precautions. Seized guns are taken directly to Police Headquarters and never left\nunattended in a vehicle. Before determining if a firearm is loaded (visually and manually clearing the\nweapon), the Canton PD officer must assess if forensic examination is required, and if so, the weapon will\nnot be unloaded. Guns seized by the Canton PD not needing further examination will have their\nammunition checked in a secure area and stored with the action open. Any removed ammunition must be\nbagged separately and submitted with the firearm as evidence. Prior to submitting to the Evidence Officer,\nall seized firearms must be checked through the CJIS/NCIC database, with a copy of the results attached\nto the Canton PD officer's report. Each firearm will be placed in a dedicated firearms evidence box and\nstored in a locker in the Temporary Evidence area until transferred to the designated shelf in the\nPermanent Evidence Room for firearms storage.\n\nThese summarized practices are being done and are in alignment with previous audit recommendations as\nwell as CALEA Standards.\n\nk) Review evidence tracking software usage.\n\nThe Canton PD evidence procedures are in alignment with industry best standards. The software\nmanagement system utilizes a well-known public safety software package known as IMC. This particular\nsoftware is one of the prevalent police records management software systems found in Massachusetts.\nThe IMC system has a very functional evidence and property component available. IMC is a police records\nmanagement software formerly provided by Tri Tech Systems, now called Central Square.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=169","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=169","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p169","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p170","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":170,"printedPage":"165","pageLabel":"Report p. 165 · PDF p. 170","section":"Section 14: Evidence Review","topic":"","title":"Section 14: Evidence Review","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Audit Team recommends assigning part-time personnel, preferably a retired sworn officer,\n who would provide periodic assistance in properly disposing of evidence that is no longer\n needed. These part-time officers can better coordinate with the police prosecutors for those\n cases that have been adjudicated with their final action documented, and with the approval of\n the prosecutors' office, and dispose of evidence no longer required.\n A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Special Agent is housed within the\n Canton PD station on the second floor. The Audit Team recommends obtaining Ballistic Testing\n by ATF on all firearms and running a trace for ownership and NCIC check.\n Documentation regarding the chain of custody on evidence could be improved on standard\n report writing. The Audit Team recommends that every report contain an “Evidence Section”\n and in that section any evidence that is acquired is detailed in description, discovery, by who,\n and what they did with the item until its submission into the Canton PD evidence vault.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=170","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=170","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p170","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p171","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":171,"printedPage":"166","pageLabel":"Report p. 166 · PDF p. 171","section":"Section 14: Evidence Review","topic":"","title":"Section 14: Evidence Review","text":"SECTION 15:\n Police Detail Financial Review\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=171","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=171","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p171","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p172","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":172,"printedPage":"167","pageLabel":"Report p. 167 · PDF p. 172","section":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","topic":"","title":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","text":"SECTION 15: POLICE DETAIL FINANCIAL REVIEW\nPolice Details\nCanton PD has strict internal controls and operates at a satisfactory level in all areas documenting,\nmonitoring, and supervising police details. The Chief of Police maintains appropriate controls of police\ndetail oversight and has appropriate internal controls to monitor details worked by full-time and part-time\nofficers. The Canton PD Administrative Assistant maintains time and attendance records, monitors detail\npayroll functions, accounts payable and received.\n\nDetail costs are reimbursed in full by the Town of Canton, or by third parties, such as National Grid,\nEversource, Bay State Gas, Verizon, MA Department of Transportation, and other third-party vendors who\nobtain police services. The Canton Department of Public Works (DPW), School Department and other\ndepartments hire officers for details. The Town of Canton is obligated to pay officer overtime based on\nrank. For example, if a sergeant works a police detail for the DPW, they will be paid at a rate of time and a\nhalf of their hourly rate of pay. Third party vendors are billed directly from Canton PD, who receives\npayments (reimbursement) for transfer of the funds to the Town of Canton Treasurer/Collector’s office.\n\nCanton PD maintains a detailed log to ensure the police details are distributed fairly amongst all the\nofficers, and most importantly, all requests are filled. [Note: Private Vendor Details are paid at a set\novertime rate of $67.86 per hour. The Town of Canton charges an administrative fee of $6.10 per hour\nabove the $67.86 rate of pay. Weekend, Holiday, and Night detail rates are billed at $77.02 per hour.] The\nchart below reflects overtime (detail) costs at the department from FY 2020-2024:\n\n $1,200,000.00\n $1,088,293.47\n\n $1,000,000.00 $900,915.16\n $884,392.72\n\n $785,563.44\n $800,000.00\n $662,727.66\n\n $600,000.00\n\n $400,000.00\n\n $237,462.24 $242,151.36\n $173,639.96 $187,487.47\n $200,000.00 $137,015.45\n\n $0.00\n FY 2020 FY 2021 FY 2022 FY 2023 FY 2024\n\n Private Vendors Detail Pay from the Town of Canton\n\n 2020 – 2024 Overtime (detail) Costs at the Canton Police Department","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=172","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=172","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p172","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p173","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":173,"printedPage":"168","pageLabel":"Report p. 168 · PDF p. 173","section":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","topic":"","title":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","text":"• Part-time officers are authorized to work police details and are paid an hourly rate of $67.86 per hour.\n• A total of $4,321,892.45 was received from third party vendors for police details from 2020-2024. The\n Town of Canton reimbursed the Canton PD a total of $987,756.88 for police details from 2020-2024.\n• Total for detail overtime from 2020-2024: $5,309,649.33.\n\na) The administrative audit shall review the police details fund and the reason for the uncollectable\nallowance of $91,074 as described by the Town FY23 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report\nperformed by Roselli and Clark.\n\nWe reviewed a breakdown of customer (private vendor) uncollected payments outstanding to the\ndepartment. The dates of uncollected payments range from 2019-2024. Most of the uncollected payments\nare from small businesses that hired officers for private details.\n\nAdministrative Assistant and the Chief of Police reported uncollected funds are still actively being pursued\nfor collection. Chief Rafferty reported that larger vendors that conduct business with the department\nsometimes delay payments until the end of the month. [Note: Some of the vendors (companies) pay\ninvoices on a net thirty (30)-day payment cycle.]\n\nThe department collection rate is just under 99% for the monies outstanding. Since the inception of the\naudit, reimbursements continue to come in and the outstanding balances are being collected.\n\nFurther, neither the Police Department nor its senior officials should not be accepting monies on behalf of\nthe town.\n\nb) The onboarding process for customers that use police details should be reviewed, and\nrecommendations should be provided on how to streamline and improve the process.\n\nWe reviewed procedures for onboarding new customers and existing customers. Normally, Canton PD will\ntake a request from a vendor and input the information, date, time, number of officers, contact\ninformation and vendor company, which are placed into a scheduling system (Crew Sense). The Chief of\nPolice and Administrative Assistant reviews the request for police details services, ensures vendors and/or\nbusinesses have approved town permits before approvals. We found that the Administrative Assistant has\nimplemented a new process of sending invoices weekly to vendors to expedite payments. The Canton PD\nis a service provider for the Town of Canton. Once the service is provided and the bill is issued it should be\nincumbent upon the Finance Director and the billing department for the town to collect monies owed.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n The Canton PD should continue to accept, schedule and provide services to those businesses\n and customers requesting police details. Once the detail service has been provided, the\n Canton PD will create and send the vendor/customer an invoice, copying the Town of Canton\n (Finance Director or their designee) with instructions for the vendor to submit payment to the\n Town of Canton.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=173","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=173","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p173","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p174","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":174,"printedPage":"169","pageLabel":"Report p. 169 · PDF p. 174","section":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","topic":"","title":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","text":"The responsibility to ensure invoice payments should fall to the Town of Canton, Finance\n Director. Under no circumstances should the Canton PD be accepting cash/checks or\n payments.\n Communication between the Canton PD Administrative Assistant and the Town of Canton\n Office of Finance is crucial, as the Office of Finance should advise the Canton PD if there are\n outstanding collections to be made prior to accepting detail requests from certain businesses.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=174","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=174","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p174","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p175","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":175,"printedPage":"170","pageLabel":"Report p. 170 · PDF p. 175","section":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","topic":"","title":"Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review","text":"SECTION 16:\n Additional Administrative Items to Review\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=175","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=175","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p175","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p176","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":176,"printedPage":"171","pageLabel":"Report p. 171 · PDF p. 176","section":"Section 16: Additional Administrative Items to Review","topic":"","title":"Section 16: Additional Administrative Items to Review","text":"SECTION 16: ADDITIONAL ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS TO\nREVIEW\na) Review all cash fund accounts maintenance and general ledgers.\n\nCanton PD Administrative Assistant oversees police detail accounts, ledgers, and payroll submissions. No\ninaccuracies were identified. All accounts were accurate and standard accounting practices were used.\nWe found the town finance department is responsible for overall account reconciliation for the\ndepartment and general ledgers, cash fund accounts and maintenance.\n\nb) Review communications and scheduling between Canton Municipal departments and the Canton\nPolice Department regarding police details.\n\nThe Canton PD Administrative Assistant is responsible for scheduling and communicating with municipal\ndepartments and private vendors that request police details. On occasion, department heads will\ncommunicate directly with Chief Rafferty and request police details. Most communications sent from\nmunicipal departments to Canton PD requesting police details are phone calls to the police dispatch\ncenter. We determined the scheduling systems are in place to service the town in an effective manner. In\nthe event the Canton PD is requested and unable to fulfill the request for detail, the request will be\nforwarded and filled by a neighboring town police officer.\n\nc) Review grant applications submitted and the number of grants received. Review grant opportunities\navailable to the department to make sure the department has maximized all available Federal and\nState grants.\n\nThe Audit Team conducted a thorough review of grant applications and found that the department has\nbeen successful in capturing grants to enhance police services and the police budget. Deputy Chief\nPatricia Sherrill, for instance, secured a grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of\nHealth to hire a Mental Health Professional. In 2022, the Department received $118,000 to support a full-\ntime mental health clinician who collaborates with officers in responding to calls related to mental health\nissues involving citizens. This grant has been successfully renewed in the past three (3) years.\n\nThe Select Board approved multiple grant applications submitted by the Canton PD, resulting in funding\nallocations of $100,000 for body-worn cameras, $121,759 for personal line items of patrol officers and\nsergeants, $89,336 for a training grant providing sixteen (16) hours of legal updates for employees, and\n$27,529 for a road safety grant for officers to conduct traffic enforcement. Deputy Chief Sherill\nconsistently looks for grant opportunities that fill applicable needs for the Canton PD.\n\nd) Review the process and quality of performance reviews of senior officers, including the Chief of\nPolice.\n\nThe Select Board does not currently carry out written performance evaluations for senior leaders or the\nChief of Police. However, as per the contract, the Select Board holds the power to assess the performance\nof senior leaders and the chief of police. Currently, there are no established formal mechanisms in place\nfor individual accountability, such as mid-year assessments or final performance reviews, aimed at\nenhancing future performances. Enhancing the process could involve implementing a results-focused","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=176","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=176","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p176","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p177","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":177,"printedPage":"172","pageLabel":"Report p. 172 · PDF p. 177","section":"Section 16: Additional Administrative Items to Review","topic":"","title":"Section 16: Additional Administrative Items to Review","text":"written performance appraisal system that documents achievements and areas requiring enhancement.\nIntroducing a structured evaluation form covering areas like leadership, program management, best\npractices, and coalition building could help streamline the appraisal process.\n\ne) Review process of responding to burglar alarms throughout the town.\nThe Canton PD has established protocols for promptly and securely addressing calls. Documentation of\ntheir discoveries and communication with dispatch are recorded in the activity log. Equally, the\ndepartment does not discriminate in responding to burglar/house alarms for designated town authorities.\n\nAn examination of dispatch records for burglar alarms revealed a lapse in Canton PD dispatching a patrol\ncar in response to a burglar/house alarm in May 2024. Chief Rafferty was promptly alerted to this issue and\ntook corrective action through the disciplinary process.\n\nf) Review the use of personal cell phones and the practice of “self-dispatching.”\n\nThroughout this report, the Audit Team strongly recommends that Canton PD officers refrain from using\ntheir personal cell phones for work-related purposes. Instead, the Audit Team suggests that the Town of\nCanton provide all Canton PD officers with departmental phones as previously advised.\n\nThe term \"self-dispatching\" has been prominently featured in public statements by the Karen Read trial\nteam and has been circulating on social media insinuating some wrongdoing within the Canton PD. While\noff-duty police officers in Massachusetts are not obligated to respond to crimes, it would be disheartening\nto think that an off-duty officer would choose to ignore a person in need. Massachusetts Police\nAccreditation Standards delineate an officer's authority and protections from liability off-duty.\n\nThe Audit Team did not discover any instances of Canton PD officers inappropriately “self-dispatching” or\ninvolving themselves in public encounters. All assistance provided by off-duty Canton PD officers was\ndeemed appropriate by Canton PD leadership and members of the community.\n\nMassachusetts General Law Chapter 258 outlines the rules and restrictions concerning civil liability\nprotection for police officers. Specifically, officers are granted liability protection for their on and off-duty\nactions, unless the officer knows or should have known, their actions were in violation of the law or\ndepartment policies.\n\nWhile off duty and within the jurisdiction of their municipality, an officer may conduct an arrest only under\nthe following circumstances:\n\n• There is an immediate need to prevent a crime, or apprehend a suspect,\n• The offense warrants a full custodial arrest, and\n• The officer can provide police identification during the arrest.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n None.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=177","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=177","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p177","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p178","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":178,"printedPage":"173","pageLabel":"Report p. 173 · PDF p. 178","section":"Section 16: Additional Administrative Items to Review","topic":"","title":"Section 16: Additional Administrative Items to Review","text":"SECTION 17:\n Civil Rights Review\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=178","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=178","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p178","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p179","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":179,"printedPage":"174","pageLabel":"Report p. 174 · PDF p. 179","section":"Section 17: Civil Rights Review","topic":"","title":"Section 17: Civil Rights Review","text":"SECTION 17: CIVIL RIGHTS REVIEW\na) Review civil rights complaints and intake process to ensure compliance with all state and federal\nmandates.\n\nThe Audit Team determined that the Canton PD is committed to accepting and investigating civil rights\ncomplaints about any actions and performance of personnel. Chief Rafferty said her team is committed to\nproviding the highest level of quality police service to all citizens. Our team did not identify any instances\nof civil rights complaints made against any officers. We checked with both state and federal authorities\nand determined that no civil rights complaints were made against members of Canton PD.\n\nWhether an allegation or complaint appears to be valid or baseless, each complaint should be objectively\nevaluated, and the investigation should be well documented should a question arise at a later date. All\ninformation obtained during the investigation of a personnel complaint is considered confidential.\nTherefore, it is imperative that all documents pertaining to personnel complaints be properly secured to\nprotect all parties involved (See Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability).\n\nb) Review the involvement of uniformed officers and the use of municipal resources in any town\npolitical process, including meetings, petitions, and elections.\n\nWe examined all complaints lodged by residents, as well as the procedures for receiving and monitoring\nthem, to verify that the Canton PD adhered to all applicable protocols, as well as state and federal laws.\nOur team investigated the engagement of uniformed officers to ascertain whether they made use of town\nresources in any capacity related to local politics, elections, or public meetings beyond their official\nresponsibilities. Additionally, we reached out to the Town of Canton Attorney to identify any legal actions\ntaken against Canton PD personnel. We have no information that would indicate any involvement with a\nmember of the Canton PD as it relates to town meetings, petitions, and elections, or in using municipal\nresources in anything other than an official capacity.\n\nc) Review the department’s compliance with Title IV and DOJ laws and regulations.\n\nThis law (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964) prohibits discrimination based on race, color, sex, or\nnational origin for organizations receiving federal funding. The Canton PD policy aligns with, and practices\nin accordance with this legislation. The Department of Justice (DOJ) is responsible for enforcing Title IV\nand has the power to step in if a law enforcement agency is found to be systemically violating individuals'\nrights. Massachusetts has established guidelines detailing the processes for investigating and resolving\ncomplaints against law enforcement officers. The Canton PD has addressed gaps in policy application in\nSection 3 on Professional Standards and Accountability, and Section 8 on the Citizens Complaint Process.\nThere have been no Civil Rights investigations involving the Canton PD in the last decade to knowledge of\nthe Audit Team.\n\nThere was a Federal Grand Jury convened in the District of Massachusetts that concluded without findings\nor indictments.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=179","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=179","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p179","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p180","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":180,"printedPage":"175","pageLabel":"Report p. 175 · PDF p. 180","section":"Section 17: Civil Rights Review","topic":"","title":"Section 17: Civil Rights Review","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n It would be beneficial for Canton Town Leaders to acknowledge to the public that:\n • Settlements made by insurance companies do not entail an admission of guilt, but rather\n are typically based on financial considerations.\n • Insurance companies have no ability to negotiate or place promotional limitations on an\n officer’s career as a part of a settlement.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=180","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=180","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p180","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p181","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":181,"printedPage":"176","pageLabel":"Report p. 176 · PDF p. 181","section":"Section 17: Civil Rights Review","topic":"","title":"Section 17: Civil Rights Review","text":"SECTION 18:\n Liaison Interviews\n\n Image source: Boston Herald","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=181","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=181","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p181","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p182","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":182,"printedPage":"177","pageLabel":"Report p. 177 · PDF p. 182","section":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","topic":"","title":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","text":"SECTION 18: LIAISON INTERVIEWS\nMs. Kendall O’Halloran, Chair of the Canton School Committee\n\nOn December 3, 2024, Kendall O'Halloran, Chair of the Canton School Committee, was interviewed. Ms.\nO’Halloran said the school committee has a strong partnership with Chief Rafferty and members of the\nCanton PD. She stated that Chief Rafferty cares about the community and is always available when called\nupon by the committee, and school superintendent.\n\nMs. O’Halloran has lived in the Town of Canton for seventeen (17) years, is on the Canton Community\nPreservation Committee, and has had positive experiences with Canton PD officers. Ms. O’Halloran\ndescribed Chief Rafferty as very responsive to the committee’s needs and a good leader for the\ncommunity. Ms. O’Halloran said she personally witnessed Chief Rafferty deescalate a situation when\nunauthorized political activities were occurring on school property.\n\nDerek Folan, Superintendent of the Town of Canton Public Schools\n\nOn December 3, 2024, Derek Folan, Superintendent of the Town of Canton Public Schools, was\ninterviewed. He stated that he had an exceptional working relationship with Chief Helena Rafferty and\nSchool Resource Officers. Superintendent Folan praised Chief Rafferty for her dedication and leadership\nto the Town of Canton. He described Chief Rafferty as an exceptional leader for the Canton Alliance for\nSubstance Abuse Committee and Cops for Cancer. Superintendent Folan said the success of the Town of\nCanton School System is directly related to the open communication and “trust built with Chief Rafferty”\nand the Canton PD. He praised the work of three (3) Canton PD School Resource Officers who are\nassigned to the Canton High School, Middle School, and Elementary Schools.\n\nSuperintendent Folan said officers who worked at athletics events and town meetings were always\nprofessional and highlighted the outstanding work officers who assist at these events.\n\nHe noted that parents of athletes have been harassed by a “blogger” at various school sporting events,\nwhich further necessitated guidance and assistance from Chief Rafferty, which she immediately provided.\n\nGreg Connors, Assistant District Attorney, Norfolk District Attorney’s Office\n\nOn December 5, 2024, Greg Connors, Assistant District Attorney (ADA), was interviewed and said he has a\npositive working relationship with members of the Canton PD. He highlighted numerous investigations\nwhere detectives had successfully arrested violators for serious crimes that had occurred in the Town of\nCanton. He stated the Norfolk District Attorney’s (DA) office services forty-seven (47) police departments\nin Norfolk County, MA. Mr. Connors considered Canton PD to be in the top one third (1/3) out of the five (5)\nsurrounding police departments in terms of the quality of their work and the caliber of officers that he\ndeals with.\n\nADA Connors commended Canton PD officers, both retired and current, for their work, indicating a strong\ncollaborative relationship between his office and the Canton PD. The accessibility of a duty phone at the\nDA’s office streamlined the process of case submissions, allowing officers to seek advice or report cases\nat any time.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=182","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=182","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p182","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p183","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":183,"printedPage":"178","pageLabel":"Report p. 178 · PDF p. 183","section":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","topic":"","title":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","text":"Emphasizing the importance of the Body Worn Camera (BWC) program for officer safety, ADA Connors\nadvocated for its continued use within the Canton PD based on his positive experiences. However, he\nnoted a deficiency in the utilization of License Plate Readers (LPRs) within the Town of Canton, resulting in\na specific robbery case remaining uncharged. ADA Connors praised the Canton PD detectives for their\nsuccessful apprehension of a shooter in a recent case and commended the exemplary work of the Juvenile\nProbation officer.\n\nCharles Doody, Town of Canton, Town Administrator\n\nThe Audit Team interviewed Town of Canton, Town Administrator Charles Doody. Administrator Doody has\nheld the position of Town Administrator since October 2022 after serving the Town of Canton as a fireman\nfor 28 years. Administrator Doody ascended to the position of Chief of the Fire Department in 2008. He is a\nlifelong Canton native and graduated from Canton High School. Administrator Doody has known the Chief\nRafferty and her executive staff for his entire professional career. He maintains a positive working\nrelationship with the Canton PD and command staff and has confidence in their abilities. Administrator\nDoody stated the Canton PD is professional and responsive. They are open to collaboration and receptive\nto request from his office or his representative to accommodate the Town of Canton at public events.\n\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n In relation to the investigative reports authored by Canton PD members and the interview with\n ADA Connors, The Audit Team noted potential deficiencies in the reporting process. These\n included inconsistencies and gaps in information. The Audit Team conferred with ADA Connors\n to ensure some of the recommendations being made by the Audit Team would align with the\n objectives of the District Attorney’s office. ADA Connors agreed with the below\n recommendations.\n • Officer Identification: The Canton PD reports should prominently feature the names of\n all officers involved in the incidents, as well as the names of judges, prosecutors and\n defense attorneys related to the case.\n • Simplify Reporting: The Canton PD should consolidate multiple brief reports into a\n single, detailed and concise/comprehensive report. This approach would help prevent\n contradictory statements and inaccuracies.\n • Use of Audio Recording Devices: Canton PD Officers and detectives should utilize audio\n recording devices during witness and suspect interviews, with consent whenever\n possible. This would ensure accurate documentation of interactions.\n • Department Issued Mobile Phones: Each member of Canton PD should be equipped\n with a department-issued mobile phone for official use. This would facilitate effective\n communication of work-related information and allow for the capture of photographs at\n crime scenes.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=183","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=183","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p183","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p184","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":184,"printedPage":"179","pageLabel":"Report p. 179 · PDF p. 184","section":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","topic":"","title":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","text":"Additionally, ADA Connors raised safety concerns about ATF operations. He noted that some\n operations orchestrated by agents seemed to target arrests in the Town of Canton, raising\n concerns about the safety of such initiatives.\n ADA Connors supported the implementation of the Body Worn Camera (BWC) program,\n advocating for its utilization by the Canton PD. Drawing from his own positive encounters, he\n highlighted the benefits of the BWC program, particularly in enhancing officer safety.\n Concerning the involvement of informants in State cases, ADA Connors stated that in the State\n of Massachusetts, informants lacked legal protections. Their role was confined to providing\n \"initial tips,\" and they were managed accordingly. Expressing reservations, ADA Connors\n discouraged the reliance on informants in proactive undercover police operations to mitigate\n potential risks of exposure.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=184","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=184","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p184","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p185","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":185,"printedPage":"180","pageLabel":"Report p. 180 · PDF p. 185","section":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","topic":"","title":"Section 18: Liaison Interviews","text":"SECTION 19:\n Security","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=185","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=185","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p185","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p186","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":186,"printedPage":"181","pageLabel":"Report p. 181 · PDF p. 186","section":"Section 19: Security","topic":"","title":"Section 19: Security","text":"SECTION 19: SECURITY\nThe Audit Team conducted an on-site security assessment of the Canton PD.\n\n• The department has access for the public to enter the department in the lobby area where the public\n can obtain reports, file reports and/or conduct other business. This area is not secured. Furthermore,\n after a detailed physical assessment of the building there are numerous vulnerabilities inside the\n building that threaten the safety of the officers and ultimately the public. The Audit Team will not list\n the vulnerabilities in this document but will provide an oral briefing to elected officials in the Town of\n Canton upon request.\n• Scan card access to other areas of the department is limited to sworn officers and other employees,\n however several doors lack key card locks.\n• The department has video cameras located on all floors, hallway areas, and cameras positioned in\n other areas of the department, including the sallyport area (garage), cellblock area, property rooms,\n evidence and radio communication space. The video system does not clearly record the activity on\n Washington street at the end of the Drive, nor does it provide coverage around the permitter of the\n building.\n• We reviewed the IT systems to ensure that cameras are adequately preserving the potential evidence\n in the event it is needed for court purposes. The current set-up is on a motion detection system and\n can preserve recordings for approximately 800 days depending on the amount of activity.\n• The exterior of the building and the rear parking lot is open to the public. Police cruisers are accessible\n from a tree line and there is no barrier fence around the parking lot. Cruisers, their content, and the\n officers are vulnerable from this area. The only protection offered at the rear of the department is a sign\n stating authorized personnel only.\n\nAccess from the tree line in the rear of the PD. Rear of the department is Completely exposed.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=186","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=186","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p186","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p187","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":187,"printedPage":"182","pageLabel":"Report p. 182 · PDF p. 187","section":"Section 19: Security","topic":"","title":"Section 19: Security","text":"RECOMMENDATIONS\n The following are in alignment with industry best standards and practices:\n • The rear parking area where police vehicles and personal vehicles are parked needs to be\n secured with security fencing with privacy slats. Police cruisers which contain law\n enforcement equipment and firearms should be parked within secure spaces.\n • Install an electronic rolling and retracting gate and an eight (8)-foot chain link fence, with\n privacy slats and intercom for security prior to the sally port entrance. This protects the\n public and provides much needed security for the police department.\n • The entrance to the department and the front of the building facing Washington street\n needs safety bollards, which provide a barrier to vehicles from damaging or ramming the\n doorway and building.\n • Contact the Office of the Secretary of Public Safety and Security for potential funding\n sources to enhance the security posture of the headquarters facility and surrounding\n property. This office provides grants under the 8000-0313 Local Public Safety Projects\n and Grants Earmarks.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=187","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=187","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p187","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p188","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":188,"printedPage":"183","pageLabel":"Report p. 183 · PDF p. 188","section":"Section 19: Security","topic":"","title":"Section 19: Security","text":"SECTION 20:\n Recommended Improvements & Summary","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=188","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=188","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p188","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p189","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":189,"printedPage":"184","pageLabel":"Report p. 184 · PDF p. 189","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"SECTION 20: RECOMMENDED IMPROVEMENTS AND\nSUMMARY\na) Based on the findings, propose specific enhancements and e) Provide a complete report of\ncompliance issues and how they can be improved and enforced to industry standards.\n\nI. Section 1, part (b): Interrogating Suspects / Interviewing Witnesses or Victims\nUniform approach to documentation:\n• Implement standardized templates.\nOngoing evaluation and improvement:\n• Evaluate interview effectiveness and remediate shortcomings.\n• Commanding officer review.\n• The Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Investigations Unit reviews reports deemed inadmissible in court, or\n where prosecution declined.\nSeparation of suspects during questioning:\n• Suspects should be mirandized and separated from each other prior to- and during interviews.\nTraining and policy amendments:\n• Where deficiencies are identified, implement amendments to policy and corrective training.\n\nII. Section 1, part (c): Evidence and Evidence collection and processing\nOfficers should be equipped with essential equipment readily available in their vehicles:\n• All sergeant vehicles should be equipped with digital cameras for photographing and memorializing\n crime scenes.\n• All Canton PD marked units should have crime scene preservation kits and evidence collection kits.\n• All sergeant’s vehicles and detective vehicles should have full crime scene kits including evidence\n bags and sealing equipment.\nPhotographs of evidence should be documented and recorded as evidence:\n• Evidence should be photographed at the time of seizure.\n• Evidence photographs should be entered into evidence as their own exhibit.\nUnscheduled audits of the evidence room:\n• Canton PD should conduct “unannounced audits.”\nAdditional crime scene processing training:\n• Patrolmen and detectives should attend “Crime Scene Preservation Class.”\n\nIII. Section 1, part (d): Testifying\nTraining on testimony clarity:\n• Officers should be trained to respond to questions professionally and accurately.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=189","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=189","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p189","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p190","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":190,"printedPage":"185","pageLabel":"Report p. 185 · PDF p. 190","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"Handling disagreements professionally:\n• Officers should learn strategies to maintain composure and professionalism despite challenging\n questions.\nIdentifying assumed truths:\n• Training should include techniques for identifying and addressing assumed truths within questions.\nExposure to high-profile cases:\n• Mock trials or role-playing exercises simulate the pressures of such trials and practice skill\n development.\nContinuous skill development:\n• Regular workshops and refresher courses focusing on best practices in courtroom testimony.\n• Explore no-cost training opportunities with the prosecutor's office.\n\nIV. Section 1, part (e): Mental Health Policy\nFunding for a Mental Health Professional:\n• Budget allocations should be considered by the Town of Canton leadership in conjunction with town\n officials at various levels to secure funding for this position should the grant be no longer available.\n\nV. Section 1, part (f): Juveniles\nAnnual training on appropriately handling juvenile offenders:\n• Institute an annual training to be attended by all sworn personnel concerning the handling of juvenile\n offenders.\n• Require written certification from officers that they have read and understand the corresponding\n policies related to handling of juveniles.\n\nVI. Section 1, part (g): Community Relations Policy\nJoint review of community relations policy with the Canton Town Selectman:\n• Policy adaptations should be conducted as a joint effort by the Canton PD administration and Town\n Selectman.\n\nVII. Section 1, part (k): Radio and Personal Cell Phone Use\nFunds for department issued cellphones:\n• Issue department-owned cell phones to all sworn officers.\n• As a second option, purchase department phones for patrol officers to sign out at the beginning of\n each shift, or issue individual phones to the respective patrol cars.\nPolicy requiring department communications only be conducted on department cell phones:\n• Prohibit the use of personal cell phones to conduct police business.\nAddress inadequate radio communications:\n• Ensure that radio communications are available and reliable in all areas of the Town of Canton.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=190","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=190","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p190","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p191","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":191,"printedPage":"186","pageLabel":"Report p. 186 · PDF p. 191","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"• Canton PD should work with the Information Technology Specialist and Town Select Board members\n to identify funding needs for updated equipment, or an otherwise appropriate resolution.\n\nVIII. Section 1, part (l): CEO Notification Policy\nNotification to the Chief AND Deputy Chiefs:\n• The Deputy Chiefs AND Chief should be immediately notified of all significant events as detailed in the\n CEO Notification Policy, including those events that allow for delayed notification.\n\nIX. Section 1, part (m): Communications Standards of Conduct Policy\nReview and reinforce policies:\n• Implement continuing education or policy acknowledgment requirement regarding communication\n policies.\nIncident analysis:\n• The specific breakdown in communication should be analyzed to understand why the officer failed to\n act according to policy and to improve training and protocols accordingly.\nStrengthen accountability measures:\n• Ensure that there are clear consequences for not following policy to reinforce the seriousness of\n compliance.\nMonitor Effectiveness of Reforms:\n• Post-incident evaluations should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of any implemented\n changes.\nEnhance support systems:\n• Consider additional support or backup systems to prevent single points of failure in communications.\n\nX. Section 1, part (o): Dispatch Functions\nEstablish a long-term data retention plan:\n• Plan for the upcoming expiration of the free recording service agreement and plan for the retention of\n these recordings in the future.\nAssign civilian dispatchers to work dispatch shifts with officers:\n• A civilian dispatcher can handle the majority of the calls while retaining the institutional knowledge of\n the sworn officer.\n\nXI. Section 1, part (p): Field Reporting Policy\nEmploy standardized report writing protocols:\n• Standardize report writing requirements.\n• Develop a required format with minimum standards and expectations.\n• Fields that are not applicable can be marked as such. Documenting any lack of action by marking\n “none” or “N/A.”","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=191","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=191","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p191","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p192","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":192,"printedPage":"187","pageLabel":"Report p. 187 · PDF p. 192","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"XII. Section 1, part (r): Social Media Policy\nDevelop and conduct social media use training:\n• Conduct regular training sessions for officers involved in social media management, reviewing security\n protocols for social media accounts.\nInstitute a social media manager:\n• For the Patrol and Detectives Divisions as well as a Senior Lieutenant.\nResume social media posts:\n• Resume posting to social media outlets as it relates to immediate community concerns, such as\n accidents, construction closings and police activities.\n• Ensure consistent and timely communications across all platforms to effectively engage with the\n community.\n• Post the same messages across all social media platforms, especially Safety and Missing Person\n Alerts.\n• Leave comments off.\n\nXIII. Section 1, part (t): Alternatives to Arrest\nArrest alternatives should be based on written policy or legal protocols:\n• Default actions should be based on laws and departmental policies.\n\nXIV. Section 1, part (u): Field Training Program\nExpand the FTEP program:\n• The FTEP program should be expanded to 8 weeks to create opportunity for additional exposure to the\n various types of calls and responses necessary as a police officer.\n\nXV. Section 1, part (w): Body-Worn Cameras\nBody-worn camera training:\n• The official overseeing the BWC program should coordinate with the sergeant in charge of training to\n conduct training.\n• BWC videos that capture positive and negative actions are a great training tool for the Canton PD.\n\nXVI. Section 1, part (x): LPR’s / Flock Cameras\n• Purchase additional cameras.\n\nXVII. Section 1, part (z): Informants\nUpdated procedures for meeting with informants:\n• Require a minimum of two (2) officers to be present when meeting with an established or potential\n informant.\n• The informant should be searched for contraband and weapons prior to every meeting.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=192","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=192","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p192","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p193","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":193,"printedPage":"188","pageLabel":"Report p. 188 · PDF p. 193","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"• Conduct thorough background checks to include a full criminal history, photos and fingerprints when\n establishing an informant.\n• Canton PD sergeants should provide a summary of the informant's reliability and their planned usage\n to the Lieutenant over Investigations.\n• Canton PD detective should author an initial activation report to be approved by a lieutenant or higher-\n ranking Canton PD official.\n• CDP Lieutenant of Investigations, or higher-ranking Canton PD official, should conduct periodic\n assessments (180 days) to validate continued establishment and use of an informant.\n• All usage, debriefings and information obtained from, or through the use, of an informant should be\n documented and copies of those reports should be maintained in the informant file as well as the\n respective case file.\n• All informants should be debriefed every ninety (90) days at minimum. This quarterly debriefing should\n be maintained in the informant file.\n\nXVIII. Section 1, part (bb): Sexual Assaults\nCrime scene response training emphasizing first responder protocols:\n• Canton PD officers should undergo training in proper procedures upon immediate response to the\n scene, especially considering the significance of the \"First Complaint\" in sexual assault cases.\n\nXIX. Section 1, part (cc): Dead Bodies Policy\nCrime scene training including scenarios and tabletop exercises:\n• Conduct tabletop exercises to provide a training opportunity for officers to anticipate potential\n challenges and initiate constructive discussions. Exercises can be conducted locally without the need\n for elaborate setups or travel.\n• Develop a proactive training approach that enables the department to equip each officer effectively\n and ensure they are well-prepared to fulfill their duties.\n• Officers should photograph all crime scenes that resulted in suspicious deaths.\nAll police vehicles should be equipped with standard evidence collection equipment:\n• All patrol officers should have standard evidence collection equipment in their patrol cars.\n• As the first responders, Canton PD officers should receive training on evidence collection and\n preservation relevant to crimes scenes involving dead bodies.\n\nXX. Section 1, part (ee): Criminal Intelligence\nEnsure documentation of all criminal intelligence:\n• Develop a consistent format for documenting and memorializing all criminal intelligence.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=193","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=193","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p193","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p194","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":194,"printedPage":"189","pageLabel":"Report p. 189 · PDF p. 194","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"XXI. Section 1, part (gg): Victim Witness Rights\nEnsure enforcement of laws as written:\n• Canton PD should enforce all laws as applicable and as cited in Massachusetts General Law Chapter\n 253b regardless of public sentiment.\n\nXXII. Section 1, part (pp): School Resource Officer Policy\nAssign one (1) SRO to each school:\n• It is advisable for additional resources to be assigned so that each school can always have its own\n officer present, rather than requiring one (1) officer to cover three (3) schools.\n\nXXIII. Section 1, part (ss): CALEA Standards on Specified Policies\nUpdating CALEA accreditation or incorporating MPAC standards into existing policies:\n• Update the CALEA accreditation or incorporate MPAC standards into the existing Policies and\n Procedures of the Canton Police Department to enhance overall standards compliance.\n\nXXIV. Section 1, part (vv): Personal Use of Cellular Phones\nPolicy prohibition against the use of personal cellphones for department business:\n• All officers of the Canton PD should be issued departmental phones.\n• At a minimum, all officers of the rank of sergeant and above, as well as the detectives in the\n investigative division, should be issued departmental phones.\n• Use of personal phones to conduct department business should be prohibited.\n\nXXV. Section 2: Crime Scene Protocols\nCanton PD should digitally photograph all crime scenes upon initial response:\n• Canton PD should conduct basic scene security and documentation, including photographs and a\n sketch of the scene, regardless of whether the investigation is transferred to another law enforcement\n agency, such as the Massachusetts State Police.\nCrime scene training:\n• Training in Crime Scene Preservation/Processing.\nEvidence collection equipment:\n• Ensure readily available collection equipment.\nChange the culture of expectations for response to a scene:\n• Even though the investigation will be turned over to Massachusetts State Police, Canton PD should\n take ownership of the scene as the first responders and conduct follow-up investigations with MSP.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=194","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=194","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p194","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p195","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":195,"printedPage":"190","pageLabel":"Report p. 190 · PDF p. 195","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"XXVI. Section 3: Professional Standards and Accountability\nThe Internal Affairs (IA) Complaints/Investigation procedures should be updated to include a formal\ninvestigation process with improvement recommendations or corrections.\n• In addition to the existing policy in Section 4.01, a formal investigation process should be established.\n Such a process should include witness interviews, statements in writing or recorded interviews by\n officers.\n• Recommendations should be made in the findings report such as additional training needed or\n protocols to improve the officer’s conduct.\nPursuant to existing policy, any citizen complaints regarding misconduct are directed to the police\ndepartment and reported to “the Officer in Charge.”\n1. If an officer is made aware of a citizen wishing to file a civilian complaint, whether against that officer\n or another officer, the officer should immediately contact a supervisor. It then becomes that\n supervisor’s responsibility to immediately respond to the scene and interview the complainant.\n2. The supervisor should offer to accompany the complainant to Canton PD for the purpose of providing\n the complainant with the proper civilian complaint forms and any additional resources or assistance\n that may be necessary.\n3. Whether at Canton PD or in the field, a supervisor shall meet with and interview the complainant and\n determine the nature of the complaint. That supervisor will assess the complaint and determine if\n immediate action is necessary based on the nature of the complaint.\n4. If it is determined that immediate action is necessary, that supervisor shall immediately contact the\n commanding officer.\n5. If the supervisor determines that the nature of the complaint does not require immediate action, that\n supervisor will provide the complainant with a civilian complaint form and shall also explain to the\n complainant the civilian complaint process.\n6. If the supervisor obtains information during his/her initial inquiry that would prove or disprove the\n allegation made, that supervisor will document and forward the information in writing to the Chief of\n Police for action as deemed appropriate.\n7. The Chief of Police shall be notified of all complaints against the agency or its members in a timely\n manner.\n8. Allegations of criminal conduct, as well as incidents that are/will likely be high-profile in nature, shall\n be brought to the immediate attention of the Chief of Police.\n52.1.1: Immediate Resolution of a Complaint\n\nIn some cases, a complaint can be resolved to the complainant’s satisfaction at the time by the Shift\nSupervisor.\n\n• This immediate resolution can often be accomplished if the incident is clearly not of a serious nature,\n or arises from a misunderstanding, or lack of knowledge of the law or limitations of a police officer’s\n authority.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=195","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=195","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p195","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p196","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":196,"printedPage":"191","pageLabel":"Report p. 191 · PDF p. 196","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"• If a complaint that arose from misunderstanding, or lack of knowledge of the law was resolved by the\n Shift Supervisor, a notation will be made by the Shift Supervisor in his/her own file, however, no formal\n complaint form should be filed.\n\n[Note: The Audit Team agrees with the policy and procedures related to resolving complaints to satisfy the\ncomplainant.]\n\nInternal Affairs (IA) Responsibility\n\n• The Deputy Chief of Operations is granted the authority to oversee and assign investigative authority of\n IA investigations. The Deputy Chief of Police will report directly to the Chief of Police on the progress of\n the investigation.\n• The Chief of Police shall be notified of all complaints against the agency, or its members in a timely\n manner.\n• Allegations of criminal conduct, as well as incidents that are/will likely be high-profile in nature, shall\n be brought to the immediate attention of the Chief of Police.\n• Upon the receipt of a complaint, an IA member should be assigned to investigate and/or document the\n complaint.\n • IA members shall ensure that all applicable protocols pertaining to civilian complaint forms are\n executed.\n • All complaints of officer misconduct shall be entered by the assigned IA Investigator into a Canton\n PD case file, preferably a software application designated for this purpose. The software can be\n used to document the incident and the steps taken by the department via entering all pertinent\n information in the appropriate data fields and narratives.\n• The IA investigator shall make periodic updates to the complainant of the status of the investigation.\nProcess:\n• All civilian complaints to the police department should be documented on a Canton PD complaint\n form and filed with the Canton PD Desk Sergeant or e-mailed to a department email address utilized to\n receive complaints. Any civilian who enters the Canton PD with a complaint will be provided with the\n form and an opportunity to complete it. All completed forms will be entered into the dispatch log with a\n time stamp and receipt and then forwarded to the Deputy Chief of Operations (DC-Ops) and\n Investigations for processing, numbering, evaluation and further action if necessary.\n• In cases where an IA investigation is warranted, the DC-Ops will record his rationale in a report, assign\n an IA number to the complaint, (in addition to the civilian complaint number) and appoint an\n investigator of suitable rank and experience to conduct the investigation. The DC-Ops will inform the\n Chief about the allegation and subsequent investigation, ensuring compliance with POST\n requirements. The investigator(s) should take recorded statements, collect physical evidence, and\n review any material as necessary. All evidence obtained during the IA investigation should be handled\n as regular evidence, labeled and processed with exhibit numbers. When the investigation is complete,\n the entire packet will be sent back to the DC-Ops for review.\n• Upon completion of the IA investigation, the entire file, including reports, interviews, transcripts, and\n evidence, will be reviewed by the DC-Ops for thoroughness. If the investigation is deemed","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=196","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=196","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p196","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p197","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":197,"printedPage":"192","pageLabel":"Report p. 192 · PDF p. 197","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"comprehensive and capable of assessing the validity of the complaint, the file will be passed on to the\n Deputy Chief of Administration (DC-Admin) for further review as it pertains to policy violations.\n• The DC-Admin will examine the file for policy violations by any Canton PD member, irrespective of the\n original complaint and allegation. Misconduct violations will be identified by policy number, directives,\n date of infraction, and specific details outlining the misconduct. The DC-Admin will record the findings\n of misconduct violations, or lack thereof, in an official report and the findings report and IA file will\n then go to the Chief of Police for final decision based on Police Collective Bargaining agreements,\n Town By-Laws, Civil Service regulations, and CMR 555. In instances where misconduct or policy\n violations are confirmed, a disciplinary matrix should be used to ensure consistent corrective actions\n are taken with all officers for similar sustained charges of misconduct.\n• The Chief will review the file and the report outlining the policy violations. The Chief will make a\n decision to find the misconduct substantiated or unsubstantiated. For unsubstantiated misconduct,\n the officer will receive a Letter of Caution, a Letter of Warning, or a Letter of Clearance. Discipline\n warranted for substantiated misconduct will be issued by the Chief in accordance with Town Policy,\n POST requirements, and the collective bargaining agreement. A copy of the final decision will be given\n to the officer and included in the IA Investigative file and utilized as a closing document. Upon the file\n closing, the DC-Ops will then contact the original complainant and inform them of the investigation\n and its conclusion. The complainant is entitled to know that their allegation was unsubstantiated and\n closed, or it was substantiated and resulted in discipline to the officer and closed. The Canton PD has\n no requirement to provide further explanation.\n\nThe implementation of the above format, or a similar format that meets the rules and requirements of the\ndepartment, is crucial for transparency and fairness, fostering an environment within the department of\naccountability.\n\n[Note: According to Canton PD Rules and Regulations, officers are subject to disciplinary actions outlined\nin statute (M.G.L c. 31 sec. 43) and other appropriate measures deemed fit by the Chief, including letters of\nreprimand. Procedural requirements governing notice and hearings will be followed.]\n\nRecords:\n• Maintain case files pertaining to current investigations or closed/unsubstantiated investigations for all\n complaints made against the Canton PD and/or its employees within secured areas over which only\n the Chief of Police or designee has access and control. The Officer in Charge of the investigation shall\n see that all records and reports of investigations are in a locked desk or cabinet to ensure\n confidentiality. [52.1.2 (3,4,5)]\n• All completed investigation files will be locked in the office of the Chief of Police. [52.1.2 (5)]\n• When employees are notified that they have become the subject of an IA investigation, a written\n statement of the allegations and the employee's rights and responsibilities relative to the investigation\n shall be issued to the employee at the time of said notification.\n• All information obtained during the investigation of a personnel complaint is considered confidential.\n Therefore, it is imperative that all documents pertaining to personnel complaints be properly secured\n to protect all parties involved.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=197","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=197","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p197","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p198","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":198,"printedPage":"193","pageLabel":"Report p. 193 · PDF p. 198","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"• Under current policy, the IA investigation details a full written report to be submitted to the Chief of\n Police. The report will include the following.\n • The original complaint report\n • Any additional statements taken from the complainant or statements obtained from witnesses\n • Any statement made, or reports submitted by the department employee under investigation\n • A summary of all evidence gathered\n • Any mitigating circumstances\n • An evaluation of the complaint and a “conclusion of fact” as to whether the charges made by the\n complainant were:\n • Valid and supported by sufficient evidence\n • Un-sustained because of inadequate or insufficient evidence\n • Unfounded as the allegations were without foundation; or\n • Unjustified or unwarranted as the actions of the accused department employee were in\n compliance with law or in accordance with Department policy and procedure 52.2.8.\n\nXXVII. Section 4: Organizational Structure and Governance\n• The police department should resume posting public announcements, notifications and public\n warnings of importance on all relevant social media platforms immediately,\n• Public comments should remain disabled until they can become beneficial and promote a positive\n exchange of information.\n\nAdditionally, the Town of Canton Should:\n\n• Canton PD has the authority to investigate misconduct complaints per their policy. However, the Audit\n Team recommends hiring outside firms for IA investigations where conflicts and potential conflicts\n exist, or cases where multiple officers are involved.\n• Increase the number of officers trained in crime scene processing, management and preservation.\n• Train officers in report writing to improve their skills and require the submission of concise, detailed\n incident reports that explain how the situation was addressed and resolved.\n• Provide training for officers in courtroom testimony.\n• Ensure all police vehicles are equipped with essential evidence collection tools, such as digital\n cameras and department-issued cell phones. It is impractical to use a department-issued laptop for\n capturing photos/videos at a scene.\n• The police prosecutor officer and the detective sergeant positions should not be combined.\n• Hire administrative staff, including a secretary or for the C-suite and detective bureau, as well as\n interns and or analysts. A full-time Administrative Assistant for the Detective Bureau is desperately\n needed.\n• Hire dispatchers who can work with uniformed officers to handle emergency and non-emergency calls,\n enter data, and service information requests from the public.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=198","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=198","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p198","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p199","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":199,"printedPage":"194","pageLabel":"Report p. 194 · PDF p. 199","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"XXVIII. Section 6: Management Operations and Culture\nSecure permanent funding for additional positions:\n• Secure permanent funding for a Mental Health Professional (MHP).\n• Secure permanent funding for two (2) additional SRO positions, one (1) for each elementary school.\n• The grant renewal for the Mental Health Professional (MHP) was delayed this year, causing\n uncertainty. The MHP has been identified as a valuable asset by all department personnel during in-\n person interviews.\nConduct IA investigations in-house:\n• The Audit Team recommends that IA investigations be conducted by the Canton PD in accordance with\n their policy when appropriate. Since the Canton PD is a small department, when investigations involve\n conflicts of interest, or multiple officers, we recommend hiring outside firms to conduct the IA\n investigation.\n• Four (4) IA cases were investigated by a contracted independent investigator from 2022-2024. This\n cost of $27,360.00 was paid from the Canton PD budget.\nHire outside entity to conduct IA investigations:\n• The Audit Team recommends that IA investigations be conducted by an outside entity to avoid any\n internal conflicts within a small department. The expense of hiring an outside reviewer is minor\n compared to the potential time and expense spent addressing allegations of bias or inconsistent\n processes.\n• The Audit Team recommends hiring outside firms for IA investigations where conflicts and potential\n conflicts exist, or cases where multiple officers are involved.\nEffective communication channels should be established between town leaders, elected officials, and\nofficers in the department:\n• Meetings should be held directly with elected town leaders and department officers for productive\n discussions, with a focus on improving communication.\n• These meetings should not be open to the public to ensure efficiency in making the meetings\n productive.\n\nXXIX. Section 7: Hiring Training Standards and Equipment\nHire an Intelligence Analyst to support the Detective Bureau:\n• Assist the Deputy Chief of Police with tasks like managing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests,\n investigative inquiries, and police report redactions.\nHire a Civilian Dispatcher for each shift:\n• Bringing on one (1) civilian dispatcher for each shift to work alongside a uniformed police officer\n• Additional personnel would ensure continuous coverage for phone calls, radio communications, and\n walk-in inquiries without compromising any specific duty.\n• This setup would also enable sergeants to focus on supervising patrols, maximizing the presence of\n officers on the streets.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=199","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=199","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p199","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p200","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":200,"printedPage":"195","pageLabel":"Report p. 195 · PDF p. 200","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"Address the following equipment needs for Canton PD officers:\n• Portable Radio Coverage: \"dead zones\" present a serious safety issue for officers.\n• Home-to-Work Utilization of Police Vehicles: on-call Detective, Detective Sergeant, and Detective\n Lieutenant\n• Cellular Phones: All Canton PD officers should have a department-issued phone.\n • At a minimum, supervisors of the rank of sergeant or higher should be provided with department-\n issued phones.\n • Each patrol vehicle should be equipped with a department-issued phone.\n• Digital cameras for sergeants and lieutenants\n• Crime scene processing equipment for detectives\n• Crime scene preservation equipment for patrol cars\n\nAddressing these equipment needs will enhance the operational efficiency and safety of Canton PD\nofficers, contributing to effective law enforcement practices.\n\nXXX. Section 14: Evidence Review\n• Assigning part-time personnel, preferably a retired sworn officer, to the evidence room.\n• Better coordination with the police prosecutor for those cases that have been adjudicated.\n• Obtaining Ballistic Testing by ATF on all firearms, even if they were just found, and run a trace for\n ownership and NCIC check.\n• Documentation regarding the chain of custody on evidence could be improved in standard report\n writing.\n\nXXXI. Section 15: Police Detail Financial Review\n • The Canton PD should continue to accept, schedule and provide services to those businesses and\n customers requesting police details.\n • Canton PD will create and send the vendor/customer an invoice, copying the Town of Canton\n Finance Director.\n • Responsibility to ensure invoice payment lays the Town of Canton, Department of Finance.\n • Under no circumstances should the Canton PD be accepting cash/checks or payments.\n • Town of Canton advises police of business or individuals not eligible for detail coverage.\n\nXXXII. Section 18: Liaison Interviews\n • Simplify Reporting: Consolidate multiple brief reports into a single, detailed and\n concise/comprehensive report.\n • Officer Identification: Reports should prominently feature the names of all officers involved in the\n incidents, as well as the names of judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys related to the case.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=200","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=200","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p200","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p201","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":201,"printedPage":"196","pageLabel":"Report p. 196 · PDF p. 201","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"• Use of Audio Recording Devices: Officers and detectives should utilize audio recording devices\n during witness and suspect interviews, with consent whenever possible.\n • Department Issued Mobile Phones: ADA Connors concurred with prior recommendations that\n each member of Canton PD should be equipped with a department-issued mobile phone for\n official use.\n\nXXXIII. Section 19: Security Assessment\n • The rear parking area for police vehicles and officers’ personal vehicles needs to be secured with\n security fencing. Police cruisers are parked there, most of which contain law enforcement\n equipment and firearms.\n • Install an electronic, rolling, and retracting gate and an eight (8)-foot chain link fence, with privacy\n slats, and intercom for security.\n • The entrance to the department and the front of the building facing Washington street need safety\n bollards, which provide a barrier to vehicles from damaging or ramming the doorway and building.\nb) Prioritize improvements based on risk and impact.\n\nThe top priority should be given to recommendations that enhance safety and efficiency in police\noperations. Suggestions such as providing portable radios, issuing cellular phones to Canton PD officers,\nand improving evidence training directly impact both the community and public/officer safety.\nAdditionally, physical security enhancements at Canton PD headquarters must not be overlooked.\n\nEvaluating the feasibility of conducting training in-house or in collaboration with other state agencies can\nhelp minimize costs, as such training often only requires overtime expenditures.\n\nMost of the recommendations involve the need for additional training and equipment, sometimes both. It\nis essential for the Town of Canton to review and potentially increase the training budget for Canton PD,\nwhich has remained stagnant for the past three (3) years. The current training budget of $100,000 for FY\n2023, 2024, and 2025 has not been sufficient, considering that Canton PD spends an average of $170,000\nannually on mandated training, certifications, and legal requirements. Budget shortfalls have been\ncovered by the Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF) shared assets, but those monies cannot be counted on\nannually.\n\nThe Town of Canton leadership should carefully assess their priorities regarding Canton PD training and\nconsider reallocating resources to ensure that officers receive the necessary training and equipment\nrecommended to perform their duties effectively and safely.\n\nA prioritization for the implementation of recommendations should be:\n\n• Safety (first the public and second the officers)\n• Civil Liability of the Town of Canton\n• Police department efficiency\n• Financial Constraints Increase in Training Budgets","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=201","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=201","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p201","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p202","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":202,"printedPage":"197","pageLabel":"Report p. 197 · PDF p. 202","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"c) Provide actionable steps for implementation and e) Provide a complete report of compliance issues\nand how they can be improved and enforced to industry standards\nImplementation of Recommended Improvement Strategies for Compliances Issues:\n\nThroughout the report, recommendations have been made in response to all compliance issues. The\nspecific recommendations are noted following every policy or section reviewed within Section 1 and\nsummarized in Section 20, part (a). All compliance issues noted can be remediated by either 1) ensuring\nthe policies in place are followed as written, or 2) developing policies to address any issues as they evolve\nnot currently addressed by existing policies. The Canton PD policies are well written and all are aligned\nwith CALEA and MPAC Standards. Policies identified within the above-mentioned sections that were not\nfollowed as written should be noted and addressed through the recommended implementation strategy\nbelow.\n\nThe proposed strategy for implementing the recommended corrections to compliance issues as noted in\nSections 20, part (a) and (e) is as follows:\n\n• The Canton PD should establish protocols to ensure adherence to the already written policies; to\n include annual certification by officers acknowledging they have read and understand departmental\n policies\n• Initiate low-cost training for Canton PD officers addressing compliance issues; (training conducted in\n conjunction with another agency such as the DA’s office)\n• Apply for funding to the Town of Canton to secure external training and additional equipment where\n needed.\nStrategies to Ensure Adherence to Policies as Written:\n• Many recommendations were made regarding policies that were already in place but not followed in\n every applicable instance. Establishing protocols and practices as needed to ensure current policies\n are followed is an immediately available course of remedial action.\n• Where noted within the report, policies with multiple compliance issues should be reviewed with an\n oversight protocol in mind.\n• Policies that evolve and become insufficient should be immediately updated with the policy directives\n recommended within the report.\nExamples:\n • Immediately begin an annual certification process requiring Canton PD officers to sign a certificate\n affirming they have read and understood Canton PD policy as written. Important policies to review\n and certify include:\n • Handling of Juveniles Policy\n • Duty to Intervene Policy\n • Sexual Assault Policy\n • Update policies to include MPAC standards since MPAC holds Canton PD’s current accreditation.\n Alternatively, obtain a current CALEA accreditation since most policies are in line with CALEA\n standards.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=202","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=202","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p202","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p203","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":203,"printedPage":"198","pageLabel":"Report p. 198 · PDF p. 203","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"• Institute post-incident evaluations of deviations from policy to review effectiveness of policy\n corrections.\n • Updated the Social Media Policy with recommendations within the report in consideration of the\n current community climate.\n • Evaluate and update policies, such as the Bias-free Policing Policy, with feedback from community\n discussion forums.\n • Update the Informant Policy with the recommended protocols detailed within the report.\n • Ensure policies are followed as written along with applicable Massachusetts laws, regardless of\n public sentiment, including the Victim Witness Rights policy.\n • Amend the Officer Vehicle Use Policy to include parameters dictating personal use of police\n vehicles.\n • Update the Dispatch Policy to limit access to the dispatch area to only those involved in dispatch\n functions.\n• Examples of Evidence and Related Policy Protocols:\n • Immediately implement report writing templates or guidelines that ensures consistency in\n formatting and structure. Ensure documentation is completed of any non-action, not only action or\n use of force. Confer with the Norfolk DA’s office for content.\n • Additionally, establish a report writing review process that requires all reports to be reviewed by a\n supervisor for accuracy and completeness.\n • Implement a checklist to guide a supervisor review of crime scene response protocols to ensure all\n required follow-up is complete, including Canton PD responsibilities and documented turnover to\n MSP.\n • Establish protocols for “unannounced” evidence room audits.\n • Ensure proper documentation of all criminal intelligence received, regardless of perceived\n relevance at the time.\n• Personal Cellphone Policy\n • Immediately amend Canton PD Policy to prohibit the use of personal cellphones for conducting\n any departmental business, including photographing crime scenes.\n• CEO Notification Policy\n • The CEO Notification Policy should be amended to require notification to both the Chief and the\n Deputy Chiefs.\n• Ensure any amendments to the Community Relations Policy are made as a joint effort between the\n Canton PD Administration and the Town Select Board.\nConduct No-Cost Training and Protocol Adjustments:\n• Where feasible, conduct cost-free training. Opportunities can be created locally within the department\n through self-contained training that does not require outside instructors or travel. The District\n Attorney’s office can be a resource for no-cost training in:\n • Discovery Compliance\n • Legal Ethics","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=203","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=203","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p203","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p204","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":204,"printedPage":"199","pageLabel":"Report p. 199 · PDF p. 204","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"• Testifying and Courtroom Procedures\n• Other cost-free training includes scheduled table-top exercises within the Canton PD.\n • Training can include rehearsing crime scene responses which allows officers to mentally rehearse\n what their response will be when called upon. This ensures police officers are prepared, and\n vehicles are properly equipped with gear needed prior to a real-world response.\n• The Canton PD FTEP program for new officers should be extended to eight (8) weeks.\nDevelop Funding Proposal for Outside Training and Equipment.\n• Application for funding to the Town Select Board should be made for outside training needed to ensure\n compliance with policy and best practices.\n• Equipment:\n • Officers should be provided with department issued cellphones for conducting police business.\n • Each police vehicle should be stocked with basic crime scene collection equipment.\n • Each police vehicle, or at a minimum, each detective and supervisor vehicle, should be equipped\n with a digital camera.\n • Allocate necessary funds to diagnose the Canton PD radio communications issues where there is\n little to no transmission or reception capabilities covering certain areas of the Town of Canton.\n Ensure Canton PD has the funds needed to purchase additional equipment to resolve the issue.\n • Funds should be obtained for additional Flock traffic cameras to be installed within the Town of\n Canton.\n• Support:\n • Funding for a full-time Mental Health Professional should be explored through the Town of Canton\n in the event of DOJ funding delays.\n • Civilian dispatchers should be hired to work in the dispatch center alongside sworn officers.\n • Funding should be obtained for at least two (2) more school resource officers to ensure a police\n presence at each elementary school at all times.\n • Additional funding for more full-time officers will reduce the need for overtime funding.\n• Training:\n • Funding should be obtained for patrolmen and detectives to attend a “Crime Scene Preservation”\n class.\n • At least two (2) detectives should receive training in sexual assault crime scene response.\n • Overtime funding should be allotted for officers to attend no-cost training when time is required to\n do so.\n\nFurther recommendations made within the report should be prioritized and implemented in line with the\nabove implementation strategy.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=204","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=204","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p204","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p205","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":205,"printedPage":"200","pageLabel":"Report p. 200 · PDF p. 205","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"d) Consider community input and stakeholder engagement.\n\nRebuilding Community Trust\nLaw enforcement is tasked with the difficult job of maintaining the trust of the community while acting as\nan enforcement body for community members in violation of the law. While criminal enforcement is a\nnecessary and vital community service, it invites the highest forms of examination and criticism. Any\ndeprivation of basic freedoms (through seizures, searches, fines, criminal penalties, etc.) is relentlessly\nand rightfully scrutinized. Tragedies that deeply affect community members prompt the highest\nexpectations of a police response. Police officers must respond to emergencies immediately, with little\nopportunity to plan and ponder regardless of the conditions. Their actions, though legally reviewed from\nthe perspective of a reasonable officer at the time of event, are reviewed by the community and media\nfrom the perspective of hindsight with unlimited speculation.\n\nPolicy guidelines are pertinent to demonstrating an officer’s accurate and successful performance of\ninvestigative duties in the face of criticism. When policies and guidelines are not followed or protocols do\nnot exist, a dangerous perception gap is created between what should have happened and what actually\nhappened. This gives critiquing parties (including community members, media and defense attorneys) the\nspace to fill the gap with reasonable doubt as to the credibility of the officer or entire department.\nInevitably, imperfect conditions will always be present when conducting law enforcement operations,\nmaking policies nearly impossible to always follow. Officers will occasionally make honest mistakes when\nresponding to rapidly evolving situations. Police are expected to follow 100% of the rules while dealing\nwith criminals, who are expected to follow none.\n\nNevertheless, this is a responsibility law enforcement officers commit to bear at the outset of their\ncareers, as reflected in their Oath of Office. Therefore, officers must prioritize their position of “public\ntrust” through continually earning the public’s trust. Ensuring a commitment to the community they serve\nincludes proving themselves trustworthy through not only community policing programs, but through\ncontinuity in following established guidelines and procedures. Departmental support is paramount in this\neffort as officers require clear guidance not only in the policy guidelines, but in the practical adherence\nthereto. Practical “real-world” training should be conducted regarding guidelines that cover crime scenes,\nreport writing, use of force, etc., and how to appropriately document where deviations from policy must\noccur. Additionally, mentorship programs should be encouraged for new officers by the senior officers\nwith exceptional reputations for integrity and experience in police work. As the expectations of policy\ncompliance increase, policies should be routinely reviewed so that obsolete policies are eliminated, and\noverly complex policies are changed. Department officers must be able to count on Canton PD\nmanagement and Town Select Board members to trust they are not being set up for failure with impossible\nor impractical expectations. In the event an officer is found to be in repeated or reckless violation of\npolicies, disciplinary review, and if necessary, disciplinary action should occur. Records documenting any\ncorrective action taken should be maintained to demonstrate accountability in practice.\n\nEfforts to repair the relationship between the Canton PD and the Town of Canton community must be an\nongoing process. The Audit Team noted instances where some policies were not fully followed and noted\nrecommended changes within. Proven records demonstrate compliance with even the smallest policies","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=205","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=205","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p205","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"audit-p206","documentId":"audit","pdfPage":206,"printedPage":"201","pageLabel":"Report p. 201 · PDF p. 206","section":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","topic":"","title":"Section 20: Recommended Improvements and Summary","text":"produce a tangible metric of trustworthiness. Efforts to initiate compliance metrics demonstrate\ntransparency with the community of the Town of Canton.\n\nAdditionally, Canton PD could develop a path to deeper public trust through continued engagement with\nthe citizens of the Town of Canton. The Audit Team noted commendable efforts of the department inviting\nengagement with the community – specifically the SRO program. When feasible, opportunities should be\nexplored for educating the community on law enforcement practices and procedures (i.e., Department\nevents where Canton PD officers use community demonstrations, or “academies” to inform participants\nof typical law enforcement scenarios and practices). Engaging with the community in this way not only\ninvites understanding of the challenges facing police, but also facilitates an appreciation for law\nenforcement officers as true professionals in their field.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11832/Canton-Report-April-1-2025#page=206","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-april-2025.pdf#page=206","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#audit-p206","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p1","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":1,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 1 · PDF p. 1","section":"","topic":"","title":"“For such a time as this”","text":"“For such a time as this”\n\n Independent Audit of the Canton Police\n Department’s Policies and Procedures,\n Compliance and Adherence to the Rules and\n Regulations\n\n April 5, 2025","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=1","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=1","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p1","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p2","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":2,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 2 · PDF p. 2","section":"","topic":"","title":"5Si Introduction","text":"5Si Introduction\n\n➢ It is important to note that the report produced by 5Si does not provide legal opinions on\n unresolved legal issues or is it an independent investigation on existing criminal cases involving the\n Canton Police Department.\n\n➢ All information reviewed for the purposes of the Audit was provided by the Canton Police\n Department, the District Attorneys Office, concerned citizens and Town Officials.\n\n➢ 5Si’s Audit Team reviewed all policy and procedures and analyzed the CPD’s application of those\n policies.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=2","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=2","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p2","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p3","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":3,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 3 · PDF p. 3","section":"","topic":"","title":"5Si Tasking","text":"5Si Tasking\n\n➢ 5Si was tasked to conduct an audit of the Canton Police Department.\n\n➢ 5Si did not arbitrarily select areas to audit.\n\n➢ The areas covered in the Audit Report were selected and dictated by the Procurement Committee\n and specifically detailed over 8 pages in the scope of work.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=3","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=3","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p3","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p4","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":4,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 4 · PDF p. 4","section":"","topic":"","title":"5Si Tasking","text":"5Si Tasking\n\nIncluded in Assessment Not included in Assessment\n\n➢ Assess the Canton PD written Policy and ➢ Reinvestigation of any alleged crimes\n measure it against the Massachusetts\n Accrediting authorities ➢ Gathering or collecting any new\n evidence\n➢ Assess the application of Canton PD policy\n in recent investigations\n ➢ Interfering or Impacting any ongoing\n➢ Identify and analyze deviations from policy criminal proceedings\n\n➢ Identify Gaps and make recommendations","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=4","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=4","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p4","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p5","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":5,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 5 · PDF p. 5","section":"","topic":"","title":"Scope of Work","text":"Scope of Work\n\nProject Objectives as outlined in the Request for Proposal:\nPage 3 Paragraph 2 Stated: The scope of services for this engagement includes, but is not limited to: an\naudit of Canton Police department (CPD) policies and procedures, and adherence to the policies and\nprocedures; including Policies, Procedures, and Regulations; Crime Scene Protocols; Professional\nStandards and Accountability; Organizational Structure and Governance; Citizens’ Privacy Protections;\nManagement, Operations, and Culture; Hiring, Training Standards, and Equipment; Citizens’ Complaints\nProcess; Conflicts of Interest; Select Board Oversight and Industry Standards; Recommendations and\nCompliance Review; Recommended Improvements; Evidence Review; Police Detail Financial Review;\nAdditional Administrative Items to Review; Civil Rights Review; and Presentation of Findings and\nrecommendations.\n➢ Page 3 Paragraph 4 stated: The community is interested to understand what the department is doing\n well, and more importantly, what the department could improve upon...\n\n➢ The Scope of work outlined the above areas of concentration over 8 pages.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=5","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=5","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p5","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p6","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":6,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 6 · PDF p. 6","section":"","topic":"","title":"Areas of Review","text":"Areas of Review\n\n CPD Operations/Areas Reviewed\n\n➢ CPD Policy ➢ Select Board Industry and Standards\n➢ Crime Scene Protocols ➢ Recommendations and Compliance\n➢ Professional Standards and Accountability ➢ Forfeiture Forensic Review\n➢ Organizational Structure and Governance ➢ Evidence Review\n➢ Citizens Privacy Protections ➢ Police Detail Financial Review\n➢ Management, Operations and Culture ➢ Additional Administrative Items\n➢ Hiring, Training Standards and Equipment ➢ Civil Rights Review\n➢ Citizens Complaint Process ➢ Disclosure of Legal Issues\n➢ Conflicts of Interest","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=6","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=6","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p6","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p7","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":7,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 7 · PDF p. 7","section":"","topic":"","title":"5Si Methodology","text":"5Si Methodology\n\n➢ When feasible, the audit team scrutinized all documents, reports, and policies digitally.\n\n➢ In instances where digital review was not viable, physical examination of these documents\n occurred on-site at the Canton Police Department.\n\n➢ The audit team assessed the actions of the CPD against established policies and\n procedures.\n\n➢ Observations / Findings and Applicable Recommendations documented.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=7","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=7","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p7","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p8","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":8,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 8 · PDF p. 8","section":"","topic":"","title":"Policies, Procedures, Regulations","text":"Policies, Procedures,\n Regulations\n\n➢ 98 Policies & CPD Rules and Regulations ➢ MPAC re-certification of the CPD in June of 2024\n Assessed\n➢ CPD Policies and their application weighed ➢ 5Si utilized Mass GL/POST and CALEA as\n against: measuring sticks\n ➢ Massachusetts Police Accreditation\n Compliance (MPAC) ➢ CALEA –Considered the “Gold Standard for Law\n ➢ Massachusetts Police Standards and Enforcement” is an international certification for\n Training Requirements (POST) public safety agencies\n ➢ Massachusetts General Law (Mass GL)\n ➢ Commission on Accreditation For Law ➢ 483 standards related to Law Enforcement\n Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=8","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=8","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p8","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p9","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":9,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 9 · PDF p. 9","section":"","topic":"","title":"Policies, Procedures, Regulations","text":"Policies, Procedures,\n Regulations\n\n➢ CPD Policy and Directives meet or exceed all POST, Mass GL\n and CALEA requirements\n➢ Some of the recommendations made to enhance existing\n policy or its application were:\n\n ➢ CPD officers Personal Phone Use\n ➢ Annual Certifications/Acknowledgments\n ➢ Documentation Practices\n ➢ Photographs\n ➢ Crime Scene Preservation\n ➢ Civilian Complaints\n ➢ Cameras","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=9","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=9","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p9","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p10","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":10,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 10 · PDF p. 10","section":"","topic":"","title":"Crime Scene Protocols","text":"Crime Scene Protocols\n\n➢ The Audit Team Reviewed Police Actions at multiple crime scenes spanning the last ten\n years.\n\n➢ Deviations of policy and investigative best practices existed as it related to the policies at\n various scenes.\n\n➢ The Audit Team did not uncover any information suggesting intentional misconduct, or a\n conspiracy to conceal evidence or alter material facts in any investigation.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=10","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=10","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p10","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p11","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":11,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 11 · PDF p. 11","section":"","topic":"","title":"Crime Scene Protocols","text":"Crime Scene Protocols\n\n Recommendations\n➢Mass GL- Part 1, Title VI, Chapter 38, Section 3,\nindividuals must immediately notify the Office of the ➢ Crime Scene Preservation\nChief Medical Examiner for deaths involving; criminal\n ➢ Interviews\nviolence, accidents, suicides...\n ➢ Photographs\n➢CPD IS NOT RECUSED- Mass GL Part 1, Title VI,\nChapter 38, Section 4 states: “The district attorney or ➢ Documentation\nhis law enforcement representative (Mass State Police) ➢ Evidence Collection Methods\nshall direct and control the investigation...and shall\ncoordinate the investigation with... the police ➢ Coordination\ndepartment within whose jurisdiction the death\n ➢ Ownership of Crime Scene / Coordination\noccurred”... ➢ Stop Recusing-\n ➢ Recusal ≠ Integrity","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=11","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=11","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p11","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p12","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":12,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 12 · PDF p. 12","section":"","topic":"","title":"Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"Professional Standards and\n Accountability\n\n➢Internal Affairs (IA) =Professional Standards/Civilian Complaints/Officer\nMisconduct\n\n➢CPD Policy as it relates to Professional Standards is in alignment with\nPOST/MPAC and CALEA requirement’s\n\n➢Inconsistency in Policy Execution, Documentation and Process\n ➢Each IA had an appropriate outcome\n ➢The method of investigation for each IA was inconsistent\n ➢The documentation for each IA was inconsistent\n ➢This practice spanned the tenure of 4 Chiefs\n\n➢This Lack of Consistency opens the doors for questions/accusations","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=12","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=12","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p12","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p13","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":13,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 13 · PDF p. 13","section":"","topic":"","title":"Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"Professional Standards and\n Accountability\n\n➢The audit team reviewed 75 internal affairs\ninvestigations and disciplinary actions back to September\n28, 1991 ➢All POST requirements as they related to these\n inquiries and subsequent disciplinary actions were met.\n➢These 75 actions resulted in:\n ➢ 63 clearances ➢On February 3, 2023, the Executive Director of the\n ➢ 12 acts of sustained violations, resulting in; Massachusetts Post Commission emailed the Chiefs and\n ➢4 suspensions, 1 demotion and 7 Sheriffs stating only certain levels of sustained\n counseling/training sessions misconduct should be reported, specifically, sustained\n misconduct of a serious nature was to be reported.\n➢These IA’s were the result of\n ➢ civilian complaints ➢CPD Chief Rafferty exceeded Massachusetts POST\n ➢at the direction of supervision based upon reporting requirements.\n performance/observations","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=13","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=13","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p13","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p14","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":14,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 14 · PDF p. 14","section":"","topic":"","title":"Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"Professional Standards and\n Accountability\n ➢ Two Cases: Correct outcomes inconsistent process\n ➢Detective with family pet\n ➢Correct outcome\n ➢Consistent with civilian cases before and after\n ➢Process should have been more thorough\n ➢Final decision was consistent with precedent and\n appropriate\n\n ➢Detective leaves Badge-Alcohol Consumption on Duty\n ➢Unnecessary Reaction\n ➢Non-Beneficial - Officer-Administrative Leave\n ➢Unnecessary Outsourced investigation ($/Time)\n ➢Unnecessary Delay -3 Months vs 5 Days\n ➢ Final Decision was consistent with precedent and\n appropriate","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=14","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=14","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p14","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p15","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":15,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 15 · PDF p. 15","section":"","topic":"","title":"Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"Professional Standards and\n Accountability\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n➢All complaints must be handled the exact same way\n ➢Detailed process\n ➢Document the Negative\n ➢No Calls to the Chief/Deputy Chief/ or Officer\n\n➢Officers Should\n ➢Provide Complaint Form\n ➢Accept Complaint Form\n ➢Provide time stamped receipt to complainant\n ➢Forward to Deputy Chief\n\n➢Officers Should Not\n ➢Try to Mediate\n ➢Offer Suggestions/Responses\n ➢Calm or appease complainant","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=15","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=15","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p15","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p16","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":16,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 16 · PDF p. 16","section":"","topic":"","title":"Professional Standards and Accountability","text":"Professional Standards and\n Accountability\n RECOMMENDATIONS\n➢Limit the Outsourcing of IA Investigations\n\n➢Assignment & training for Senior Lieutenant, Sgt and Detective for IA Investigation\n\n➢Completed investigations are to be reviewed by Deputy Chief of Operations for thoroughness and\nthen forwarded Deputy Chief of Administration for Policy violations\n\n➢Completed investigation to include policy violations forwarded to Chief for Final Decision\n\n➢Any disciplinary action will be issued by Chief with Select Board concurrence as dictated in Town by\nLaws and Union Contract","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=16","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=16","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p16","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p17","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":17,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 17 · PDF p. 17","section":"","topic":"","title":"Organizational Structure and Governance","text":"Organizational Structure and\n Governance\n\n➢Paramilitary Hierarchical Structure\n\n➢Chain of Command is receptive and available to all officers\n\n➢Communication flows appropriately between patrol, detective and command divisions\n\n➢FOIA requests\n\n➢Recommendations-\n ➢The Department should continue /resume public safety notification\n ➢Additional Administrative Employees","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=17","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=17","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p17","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p18","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":18,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 18 · PDF p. 18","section":"","topic":"","title":"Citizen’s Privacy","text":"Citizen’s Privacy\n\n➢ The Police Department is compliant with all ➢ Unprosecuted cases: Retained for 6 years after final\n laws and policy requirements as it relates to action\n citizens data\n ➢ Landmark cases: Retained permanently\n➢ Computer data bases / Indices utilized by\n CPD contain their own electronic\n ➢ Criminal cases: Retained for 35 years after final action\n surveillance and safeguards\n\n➢ Retainment of personal information is ➢ Medicaid, insurance, or unemployment fraud cases:\n established by the MGL Table of Retention Retained for 25 years after final action\n\n➢ This is established in conjunction with the ➢ Litigation involving fatalities: Retained for 25 years after\n District Attorney and dictated by the type of final action\n investigation\n ➢ Civil cases: Retained for 20 years after final action","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=18","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=18","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p18","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p19","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":19,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 19 · PDF p. 19","section":"","topic":"","title":"Management Operations and Culture","text":"Management Operations\n and Culture\n➢The Chief and the CPD Command Staff have the respect of their employees and law enforcement\ncounterparts.\n\n➢The CPD effectively utilizes its resources as they relate to overtime for minimum staffing\nrequirements and town commitments such as sporting events, holidays and elections.\n\n➢The culture within the department and amongst its officers as it relates to each other and their\nresponsibilities is positive and centered on serving the community.\n\n➢The community relationship is fractured and affecting morale.\n\n➢Public comments specifically by Town Leaders in public forums, have contributed to the morale of\nthe officers.\n\n➢Recommendations: Meetings between Town officials and police officers to candidly discuss issues","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=19","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=19","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p19","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p20","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":20,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 20 · PDF p. 20","section":"","topic":"","title":"Management Operations and Culture","text":"Management Operations\n and Culture\n ➢ “My wife asks me every day, why I would risk my life\n for a town that wouldn't care if I died. Every day, I\n tell her I love this town and the guys I work with.\n That’s why I go to work.”\n\n ➢ “No one in this town will care about us until one of\n us gets murdered, even then half the town will\n probably celebrate that.”\n\n ➢ “Elected officials don’t care about us. Now the\n easiest way to gain popularity or get elected is to\n publicly trash us. They have no political platform,\n just trash the police. That’s it. It doesn't even have\n to be true, just do it.\n\n ➢ “People in town just keep fueling the false rumors\n and it is going to get one of us killed.”","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=20","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=20","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p20","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p21","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":21,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 21 · PDF p. 21","section":"","topic":"","title":"Hiring, Training and Standards","text":"Hiring, Training and\n Standards\n HIRING\n\n➢CPD is a Civil Service Department\n\n➢Potential Candidates hired with approval of Select Board\n\n➢Recruits attend Municipal Police Training Committee Academy\n\n➢Upon Graduation Compete Field Training Officer Program\n\n➢ One year of Probationary Status","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=21","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=21","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p21","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p22","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":22,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 22 · PDF p. 22","section":"","topic":"","title":"Hiring, Training and Standards","text":"Hiring, Training and\n Standards\n TRAINING\n\n➢ Training for recruits and FTO mandated by POST and MPAC requirements\n\n➢ In Service Training for experienced officers is a budgetary concern\n\n➢ Almost 70% of officers interviewed say they want more training\n\n➢ Difference between being qualified and being trained\n\n➢ Recommendations\n ➢ Each officer receive an 8-hour allotment for additional elective training\n (in addition to annual certifications and requirements)\n ➢ Allocate monies to address training deficiencies","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=22","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=22","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p22","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p23","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":23,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 23 · PDF p. 23","section":"","topic":"","title":"Hiring, Training and Standards","text":"Hiring, Training and\n Standards\n Promotions\n➢ 2024-Hanrahan Consulting was hired to perform assessment center testing for Sergeant and\n Lieutenant positions\n\n➢ CPD takes the requisite number from civil service list utilizing the 2n+1 formula for\n candidates\n ➢ N=Openings\n\n➢ A number of officers feel there should be a minimum of 5 years experience to promote to\n supervisor\n ➢ (civil service laws require 1)\n\n➢ Recommendations\n ➢ Hiring additional civilian staff\n ➢ Dispatchers / Intelligence Analysts\n ➢ Administrative Assistants","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=23","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=23","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p23","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p24","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":24,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 24 · PDF p. 24","section":"","topic":"","title":"Conflicts of Interest","text":"Conflicts of Interest\n\n➢ The Audit Team found no conflicts of interests among CPD officers and Town Officials.\n Further, no conflicts of interest have influenced police actions, criminal investigations,\n evidence gathering, crime scene processing, or the overall workflow of the CPD's daily\n operations.\n\n➢ The Audit Team has examined records, FOIA requests, investigations, incidents related to\n mental health, civilian contacts, civilian complaints, and non-enforcement police contacts.\n We have not found any evidence suggesting the existence of a conflict of interest in any of\n the mentioned areas that was not disclosed.\n\n➢ CPD daily operations have been hindered by excessive and unnecessary actions taken to\n prevent any appearance of conflict/impropriety. (Unnecessary Voluntary Recusals)","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=24","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=24","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p24","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p25","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":25,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 25 · PDF p. 25","section":"","topic":"","title":"Conflicts of Interest","text":"Conflicts of Interest\n\n➢ The Audit Team found no instances of cases being referred to the Attorney General or\n State Police due to conflicts of interest.\n\n➢ The Sandra Birchmore and John O’Keefe investigations were controlled by the State Police\n in line with Massachusetts law Title VI, Chapter 38, section 4.\n\n➢ Any CPD recusal was voluntary demonstrating a commitment to transparency amid public\n scrutiny.\n\n➢ While the CPD's voluntary recusal reflected ethical standards, it also led led to lapses in\n the timing and securing of the crime scene, managing witnesses, sharing information and\n documenting statements.\n\n➢ Recommendations\n\n ➢ Limit Voluntary Recusals to the most extreme situations","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=25","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=25","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p25","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p26","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":26,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 26 · PDF p. 26","section":"","topic":"","title":"Select Board Oversight","text":"Select Board Oversight\n\n➢ The Canton Select Board, as outlined in the charter, functions as commissioners with\n direct oversight of the police department.\n ➢ No Influence on Promotions\n ➢ Approve New Hires\n\n➢ No designated primary point of contact from the Select Board.\n\n➢ The Select Board is responsible for the budget, formulation and promulgation of policy\n directives and guidelines.\n\n➢ Town Communications- The Audit Team reviewed email communications of Stakeholders\n and the CPD Leadership. One Select Board member has had regular communications and\n has requested monthly meetings with the Chief.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=26","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=26","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p26","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p27","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":27,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 27 · PDF p. 27","section":"","topic":"","title":"Financial Audit Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF)","text":"Financial Audit\n Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF)\n Monies Received\n\n $395,262.40\n\n $106,891.20\n $87,517.58 $90,418.87\n $79,907.84 $71,471.28 $72,283.41\n $43,733.53\n $17,894.87\n $7,911.02\n\n 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024\n\n➢ Totals above represent shared proceeds from the DOJ Asset Forfeiture Fund (AFF).\n➢ CPD has one officer assigned to a DEA Task Force\n➢ From 2015 through 2024 CPD received over $1.8 million dollars from DOJ asset sharing\n➢ CPD complied with the equitable sharing guidelines","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=27","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=27","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p27","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p28","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":28,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 28 · PDF p. 28","section":"","topic":"","title":"Financial Audit AFF Expenditures","text":"Financial Audit\n AFF Expenditures\n $384,676.06\n\n $269,309.62\n\n $208,000.34\n $194,022.28 $188,534.40\n\n $118,324.28 $112,281.81\n\n $71,447.13 $71,471.28 $72,283.41\n\n 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024\n\n➢ During the period of October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2024, CPD received $381,156.30\n➢ 2024-$375,495.66 of equitable sharing funds were spent on salaries (Staffing minimum-overtime)\n➢ Additional monies spent on Law Enforcement Equipment.\n➢ CPD complied with the equitable sharing guidelines.\n➢ CPD cannot rely on AFF Sharing","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=28","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=28","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p28","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p29","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":29,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 29 · PDF p. 29","section":"","topic":"","title":"Financial Audit Police Details","text":"Financial Audit\n Police Details\n ➢ Total amounts for CPD details from 2020-2024: $5,309,649.33\n\n ➢ Total amount outstanding of $91,074 is approximately 1.3% of the CPD’s\n billable services for that same time frame\n\n ➢ The department collection rate is just under 99% for the monies owed. Since\n the inception of the audit reimbursements continue to come in and the\n outstanding balance for details worked is approximately $17,000 (or .32%)\nFiscal Year (FY) Detail Spend Fiscal Year (FY) Detail Spend\n\nFY 2020 $1,088,293.47 FY 2020 $137,015.45\n\nFY 2021 $900.915.16 FY 2021 $237,462.24\n\nFY 2022 $785,563.44 FY 2022 $173,639.96\n\nFY 2023 $884,392.72 FY 2023 $187,487.47\n\nFY 2024 $662,727.66 FY 2024 $242,151.36\n\nTotal $4,321,892.45 Total $987,756.88\n\n CPD Private Details Town Details","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=29","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=29","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p29","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p30","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":30,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 30 · PDF p. 30","section":"","topic":"","title":"Evidence Collection","text":"Evidence\n Collection\n\n➢ A review CPD investigations revealed sporadic deviations from CPD policy as it relates to\n documentation and collection\n\n➢ External factors must be considered\n\n➢ Documentation standards varied\n\n➢ Photographs of crime scenes\n\n➢ Blood Evidence Collection kits were not available in the CPD in January 2022\n ➢ CPD does not Process Crime Scenes- Plymouth/MSP","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=30","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=30","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p30","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p31","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":31,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 31 · PDF p. 31","section":"","topic":"","title":"Evidence Collection","text":"Evidence\n Collection\n➢ Leaf Blower","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=31","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=31","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p31","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p32","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":32,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 32 · PDF p. 32","section":"","topic":"","title":"Independent Study","text":"Independent Study\n\n[Image text: title and attribution transcribed]\nInnovative Techniques for Collecting Snow Impression Evidence\nJames Wolfe\nJustice Center, University of Alaska, Anchorage, Alaska","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=32","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=32","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p32","textMethod":"PDF text layer; image title and attribution transcribed"},{"id":"presentation-p33","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":33,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 33 · PDF p. 33","section":"","topic":"","title":"Evidence Storage","text":"Evidence\n Storage\n\n➢ A complete inventory and detailed audit was performed by an independent audit team\n from Pomeroy Resources Inc. in October 2024.\n\n➢ The CPD has/started in conjunction with the town to implement all recommendations.\n\n➢ The evidence storage areas are under strict video monitoring with electronic access,\n digitally recorded, and maintained by the Town Administrator.\n\n➢ Surveillance footage of evidence access areas can be reviewed, but not altered by CPD.\n\n➢ The Audit Team on 3 different occasions, one of which was unannounced, conducted\n random inventory checks of exhibits (16,000 exhibits on site) found no discrepancies.\n\n➢ The Audit team found that the CPD has complied with or has started the process in\n conjunction with the town to implement all prior recommendations.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=33","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=33","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p33","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"presentation-p34","documentId":"presentation","pdfPage":34,"printedPage":null,"pageLabel":"Slide 34 · PDF p. 34","section":"","topic":"","title":"Recommendations","text":"Recommendations\n\n Questions?","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11844/April-5-2025--5-Stones-presentation#page=34","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-presentation-april-2025.pdf#page=34","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#presentation-p34","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p1","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":1,"printedPage":"1","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 1 · PDF p. 1","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3453, #3457, #3459","text":"Question # 3453- Requested Email copy of Report-\nAnswer : https://town.canton.ma.us/1080/Police-Audit-Report-and-Information-Sess\nQuestion # 3457- “What is the specific language or assumption by 911 caller that\ndictates crime scene protocol vs accident scene protocol. Also, what are the different\nprocedures governing each? If the victim has not been declared dead, is it standard\nprocedure to photograph him/her or does that typically only occur when death is\ncertain? If the victim is potentially revivable, don’t life-saving techniques take\nprecedence over ‘crime’ scene processing, particularly if the facts initially available\ndo not specifically indicate a crime?”\n\nAnswer: Preservation of life and prevention of bodily harm always take precedence\nover investigative techniques. Regardless of whether a scene is initially classified as an\n“accident” or a “crime,” it requires immediate preservation, thorough documentation, and\ndetailed photography. An accident scene can rapidly evolve into a crime scene based on\nnewly discovered evidence or witness statements. Therefore, both types of scenes must\nbe approached with the same level of care and attention, focusing on the preservation and\ndocumentation of information and evidence.\n\nThere is no single, definitive language that automatically classifies a scene as either an\naccident or a crime. The responding officer’s discretion, training, and experience are\ncritical in identifying the nature of the situation and initiating the appropriate response.\n\nQuestions # 3459- “How was info, quotes given by canton police verified/\nauthenticated? It seems like you took the word of canton police department much of\nthe time. Why Didn’t you speak with social media (Turtleboy), canton residents, police\nvictims, former chief, Brian Higgins, etc to get the full picture? Since the select board\nplays a critical role of the police, why weren’t they investigated thoroughly?\n(Especially certain long-standing members who have been complicit in the system).\nSince the select board hired you, was there any understanding that you would walk a\nline or not criticize certain people to affect the final report?”\n\nAnswer: The scope of work was clearly defined and limited to specific areas of\nassessment. Our role was not to “investigate,” but rather to evaluate the Canton Police\nDepartment’s (CPD) policies and procedures as written, and to assess their application in\nreal-world scenarios. When deviations from policy or its application were identified, we\nanalyzed the contributing factors and recommended strategies for improvement.\n\nAt no point did the scope of work call for, suggest, or authorize an investigation into any\nTown of Canton committee, Select Board member, or individual elected official. Interviews\nwith Canton residents, town officials, and elected officials were conducted when\nappropriate. No interference from any member of the Select Board or any town official was\nencountered during the assessment.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=1","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=1","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p1","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p2","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":2,"printedPage":"2","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 2 · PDF p. 2","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3460, #3461","text":"Question # 3460- “One of the key things posted online about your investigation is\n\"you did not find any indication of conspiracies, corruption or coverrups\" (sic) I don't\ndisagree with that comment but is it equally important to clearly caveat that with \"but\nthere were many things excluded from the scope of our work that COULD have\nidentified any of these items particularly in the Karen Read case where we did not look\nat the Sallyport videos or video system itself, we didn't verify the authenticity of any\nvideos and we didn't review ANY evidence in such case\"? I know you have scope\nlimitations in the back of the report before given all the hype on the case, your\nstatement that you found nothing being misinterpreted by many can you please\nconfirm that you agree with the statement I have written or something similar in the\nalternative?\n\nAnswer: As stated in the report and at the presentation the scope of our assessment\nwas dictated by the scope of work provided by the Town of Canton which specifically\noutlined the areas to be assessed. Our assessment focused on CPD policy and its\nimplementation. Based upon our findings when deviations occurred, they were not the\nresult of corruption nor where they done intentionally with malicious intent. Outside of the\nparameters of our assessment, we are not able to make declarative statements\nconcerning possibilities.\nQuestion # 3461- “In the public form (sic) you mentioned that the town paid a\npersonal expense of a police officer for a $700 car cleaning. You later indicated this\nofficer repaid the expense at an unknown date in connection with the audit much later\nthan the expense was paid. Is it not a policy violation to knowingly submit personal\nexpenses to the town for reimbursement? Do you believe any officers involved should\nbe reprimanded given there doesn't appear to have been a plan to correct this matter\nbefore it came up in the audit and the matter involves the officers integrity? Lastly, did\nyou do a financial audit of officer expenses to determine if this matter is isolated or\nprevalent? If you didn't do an audit of other expenses do you think it is important to\nclarify this to the citizens who would not understand the scope of your audit clearly\nthat other such items MAY exist?\n\nAnswer- The officer did not submit this expense for reimbursement. Rather, the\ndepartment’s leadership took the initiative to cover the cleaning costs while the officer was\non leave, with the understanding that the officer would reimburse the expense upon\nreturning to full duty. There was no attempt to conceal that department funds had been\nused. A communication gap occurred, as the Chief was on temporary travel when the\nAssistant Chief arranged the payment. Upon the Chief’s return, communication at the\ncommand level was unclear, resulting in the reimbursement not being processed as\nintended. Once the issue was identified during the audit (February/March 2025) and\nbrought to the attention of CPD Command staff, the officer immediately reimbursed the\ndepartment. Our audit of time sheets, overtime records, and asset forfeiture fund\nexpenditures found that CPD was in compliance with all applicable policies and\nregulations related to law enforcement activities.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=2","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=2","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p2","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p3","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":3,"printedPage":"3","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 3 · PDF p. 3","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3462, #3463","text":"When issuing internal discipline, it is important to distinguish between actions that are\nintentional and those arising from carelessness or oversight without malicious intent\n(similar to a “Douglas Factors” assessment). While no discipline is warranted in this case,\nthorough documentation and a formal investigation—including a statement from the\ndetective—should have been completed.\n\nQuestion # 3462- “During the session you gave Jen McCabe glowing reviews for her\n911 call. When you made such comments did you take into account that (i) she stated\nthey flipped him over but testimony in the case by two others is that he was face up,\n(ii) she stated the man got out of the car but her testimony is that the man did not get\nout of the car and (iii) she stated the man had been out there a couple of hours when\nher testimony indicates he had been out there approximately 6 hours? You inferred\nher comments were accurate and helpful when a large part of the community believes\nthat nothing in her call was accurate. Is there anything you would like to clarify\nrelative to the comments you made re: her 911 call?”\n\nAnswer- No. Reviewing and evaluating trial testimony by witnesses was not a part of\nthe Audit. During the 911 call, when asked by Canton Fire Rescue about John O’Keefe, Ms.\nMcCabe answered questions as requested by the 911 operator, enabling rescue personnel\nto have advanced information about his condition prior the arrival of rescue personnel.\nQuestion # 3463- “In your report you have indicated the Canton Police responded to\nthe O'Keefe crime scene as a man in the snow. During testimony Jen McCabe, the\nperson that made the 911 call, indicated that she told multiple EMT/police officers on\nthe scene that Karen said \"I think I hit him\". Years later she clarified she stated to\nthese individuals \"I hit him\". Since based on her testimony it seems so apparent that\nthe 911 caller and officers on scene were well aware this was a hit and run murder,\nwhy is there no mention of these policies in your report regarding what the officers\nshould have done in that scene including immediately securing her vehicle until a\nwarrant was obtained? I am confused by the disconnect between the statements the\n911 caller is adamant she heard and communicated to those on site were not (i) acted\non by the officers or (ii) mentioned in their reports so I would appreciate your\nclarification of how you considered such information/statements in your report.”\n\nAnswer- Trial testimony and facts learned or alleged after the fact were not\nconsidered when assessing the response of the CPD the morning of January 29, 2022, as\nreported. The 911 call posted and included in the report speaks for itself. There was no\nindication that the initial responding o_icer’s believed Mr. O’Keefe’s condition was a result\nof a hit and run.\n[Note: The Audit Report outlined witness interviews protocols including investigators\nshould consensually record interviews of witnesses.]","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=3","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=3","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p3","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p4","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":4,"printedPage":"4","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 4 · PDF p. 4","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3464, #3465","text":"Question # 3464- “Independence and objectivity are integral during the audit. As a\nlicensed CPA with many years of experience, a cold read of your report appears to\ninclude apparent bias. Statements are not appropriately tailored for scope\nlimitations, some statements seem made with no related audit procedures/basis for\nsuch statements such that they are easily taken out of context. You offer qualitative\nobservations on personnel which is clearly outside the scope of a compliance audit.\nCan you please confirm if there are any prior relationships or distant relationships\nthat have not previously been disclosed that have resulted in the appearance of an\ninappropriate biased relationship with those that hired you and those you audited? In\naddition, I do not believe governance for the audit was appropriate in that the Police\nAudit Chair showed no respect for the engagement, discounted findings,\ninappropriately limited access to citizens input throughout and the Police Chief was\nthe central point of contact. How did you consider these limitations/abnormalities\nand why are none of them mentioned in your report? In closing, I don't believe a one\nsided report that appears to be a mouthpiece for those that were opposed to the audit\nwill do anything to help heal the community or address this matters that need to be\naddressed in the community. Many citizens still will not feel safe when you state it is\nok to call the cell numbers you always called before you ring dispatch and when you\ndefend a 38 page report related rubber duckies and say it was deserved/well done\nwhen the case was dismissed. Did you consider the case was dismissed in your\nconclusion on whether this was a good use of resources? This was a lost opportunity\nto help this community heal and that is unfortunate.”\n\nAnswer- Thank you for your opinions. No prior relationships existed between the\nAudit Team members, any Town o_icial or members of the Canton PD. The Inner workings\nof the Canton Police Audit Procurement Committee and the actions of the Chair were not\nin the scope of work, nor were they subject to assessment by the Audit Team.\n\nThe dismissal on the part of the judge is not a reflection of the investigation nor does it\nnegate its necessity.\n\nQuestion # 3465- “The two-minute timeframe did not permit me enough time to\nthank 5 Stones intelligence, Inc., for their detailed audit of the Canton Police\nDepartment. As I noted, I wish they performed more community engagement, I\nunderstand that their scope may have been limited by how the RFP and contract were\ndesigned, and the limited access they were permitted to individuals because of how\nthe organizers set this up. It is an unfortunate outcome for those who were hoping this\naudit would provide more opportunity to address the trust issues some people in\nCanton are experiencing. Yet, I am still hopeful we can utilize the audit findings to\ncollectively work towards this goal, and our town leadership will take the opportunity\nto lead this effort. Related to one of the questions I asked at the audit presentation on\n4/5, I would like to let 5 Stones and those who heard the discussion know that I was\ninformed by Louis Jutras, Canton's head of IT, that the information regarding the radio","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=4","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=4","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p4","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p5","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":5,"printedPage":"5","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 5 · PDF p. 5","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3466","text":"communication system implementation was inaccurate. Per Mr. Jutras, radio\nreplacement project is in progress. Police have received their new portables and in\nvehicle radios. Cabinets and repeaters have also arrived. Distribution and installation\nof this equipment begins this month. The comment around the GMS project should\nhave been reported that radio coverage will be further enhanced when this project is\ncompleted as we are looking to install an additional repeater at this site to enhance\ncommunication in that area. Specific to the dead spots, some issues were already\naddressed when an antenna was replaced a few months ago but others won't be fixed\nuntil the new equipment is installed. The expectation is that the new site\nwill be installed and operational by May, and the project to be completed by\nSeptember. The project covers 6 sites for new equipment, 75 + portable radios, and\nabout 55 in vehicle radios so just getting all of the equipment takes time, which is\nunderstandable. While I cannot speak to what 5 Stones was told or heard,\nbecause these details did not make the audit report, I think it is worth noting that the\ndead spot issues for our police department's radios represent a serious safety issue\nthat had been identified and steps to address them were already in process prior to\nthe audit. Best Regards, Greg Murphy.”\n\nAnswer- “Thank you. While we agree with the information you provided above, it is\nimportant to note that even though the issue is ‘in the process of being addressed,’ dead\nspots where the handheld radios were ineffective and failed to provide adequate\ncommunication still existed as of the day of the presentation.”\n\nQuestion # 3466- “Thank you for the opportunity to submit questions and for your\nimportant work. While I believe there is much in the report that will help improve\npolice operations, I'm seeking your additional input on proposed ideas to\nhelp restore trust between Canton residents and the CPD. RE: Section 1.G. / Section\n20.VI: Community Relations Policy - Did 5 Stones include any specific\nrecommendations to the CPD in terms of adapting this policy in light of the current\nstate of public trust? For example, Section 45.2 of the CALEA Standards\naddresses Community involvement, including Quarterly Progress Reports and\nCitizens Surveys. Please explain if these are currently being used by the CPD? If not,\ncould these types of activities help address our public trust gap? RE: Section 1.SS. /\nSection 20.XXIII: Compliance with CALEA Standards on Specified Policies and\nProcedures - Please explain whether there are any standards related to fostering\npublic trust, transparency, and accountability other than CALEA 45.2? Can you give an\nexample of the types of steps the CPD could take to ensure accountability and\nadherence to this type of standard / best practice. What value, if\nany, would MPAC’s Road Map to Certification and Accreditation have, if any, in\nhelping the CPD, Select Board, and other stakeholders develop an implementation\nroadmap for the audit recommendations? Section 4 / Section 20, XXVII: Organization\nStructure and Governance - During the Public Form you stated that Canton","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=5","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=5","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p5","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p6","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":6,"printedPage":"6","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 6 · PDF p. 6","section":"","topic":"","title":"Question and answer (continued)","text":"does not need a civilian advisory board. Alternatively, you recommended police ride-\nalongs. The report states \"Transparency and community engagement are critical\ncomponents of modern policing and can foster trust and cooperation between the\npolice department and the community it serves.\" Do you have any experience\nauditing, designing and/or implementing other activities that foster transparency and\ncommunity engagement? For example, I understand there are citizen police\nacademies, neighborhood walk-and-talks, and coffee with a cop events. If yes, is\nthere any data indicating their effectiveness in positively addressing low police and\ncitizen morale / trust? If no, do you know any other organizations or resources that\nmay be able to help Canton bridge the trust gap at scale? Section 6: / Section\n20:XXVIII: Management Operations and Culture – Is there an equivalent SRO-type\nposition for the community at large? What roles, responsibilities, and skills\nshould this broader role have? How would this position compare to Canton's\nCommunity Relations Officer position described in Section 1.G? How do these roles\nand responsibilities compare to what one would find in a mature community policing\nprogram? How would you compare Canton’s community policing program to the\npeer group you evaluated? Is this a reasonable comparison given the public trust\nissue Canton is currently dealing with? Section 10: Select Board Oversight and\nIndustry Standards - Does 5 Stones have any experience in assessing, developing\nand/or implementing police department evaluation programs that include\nin their scope injury or harm to public trust, community perceptions, and police\ncommunity relations? Do you know if Canton is currently using any metrics to help\nassess department and/or individual performance in these areas? Does 5 Stones have\nany recommendations on how the residents of Canton could best be\nengaged by the CPD and Select Board to help evaluate the appropriateness of these\nmeasures for our use? Section 20.XXXIII.d. Consider Community Input and\nStakeholder Engagement & Implementation Roadmap -Does 5 Stones have any insight\n/ recommended research the Town of Canton could use to more thoroughly\naddress its public trust-related issues?”\n\nAnswer: “The recommendations related to the issues outlined above are included in\nthe report and have been shared with Town leadership. These suggestions align with\nindustry best practices and standards. However, all proposed actions require approval,\nfunding, and implementation at the executive level, along with coordination with the police\nunion. Programs such as Citizen Academies, ride-alongs with officers, and ‘A Day with a\nCop’ are effective tools for fostering communication and building community trust. As\nnoted in the report, it is the responsibility of Town leadership to implement these strategies\nto promote trust and transparency, rather than contribute to the anger and frustration felt\nby community members.”","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=6","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=6","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p6","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p7","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":7,"printedPage":"7","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 7 · PDF p. 7","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3467, #3468, #3469","text":"Question # 3467- “You appear to give Helena Rafferty rave reviews for her\nleadership and commitment to change/improve/address recommendations. In my\nopinion, a Police Chief should take the initiative to identify gaps and address them\nand also understand best practices through her own training and networking. It's\nconcerning in 2025 that she didn't understand it is not appropriate for officers to use\npersonal cell phones to conduct business for legal and other obvious reasons. In\nreaching your conclusions that she is sufficiently qualified and recommended by you\nto continue to serve as Police Chief, how did you consider that under her leadership (i)\nshe thought it was appropriate to spend $200k on a kitchen over essential items such\nas cameras, cell phones and training and (ii) she didn't identify on her own, prior to any\naudit, that additional officer training was necessary when her officers did not take\nphotos, did not photo the TAILIGHT, and did not do many other important items in the\ninvestigations either Officer John O'Keefe or Sandra Birchmore? Similarly, given the\nlack of confidence in her leadership by many in the community, wouldn't it be worth\nconsideration to NOT renew her contract and bring in a highly skilled Police Chief with\nthe requisite skills to restore faith in the police department, address the findings in\nyour reports based on their knowledge and expertise without the need to hire you for\nadditional services? This recommendation seems a bit self-serving since you appear\nto be her crutch to get her to do her job appropriately.”\n\nAnswer- We did not make any statements regarding Chief Rafferty’s contract or future\ntenure, nor did we offer “rave reviews” as suggested. Additionally, the report contains no\nlanguage supporting the claim that we concluded she is “sufficiently qualified and\nrecommended to continue serving as Police Chief.” Our report simply stated that “...her\nleadership style was effective, and she was receptive to our recommendations.”\n\nThe decision to renew Chief Rafferty’s contract rests solely with the Select Board. The\nPolice Audit Committee did not request, and the Audit Team was not tasked with, making\nrecommendations regarding contract extensions for the Chief of Police or any member of\nthe command staff.\n\nQuestion # 3468- “Recently in court, Attorney Brennan indicated that certain\nSallyport videos were replaced. In the session yesterday you indicated no cameras\nhad been replaced due to the pending litigation. Who was incorrect\nAttorney Brennan or what you stated yesterday in response to a question?\n\nAnswer- We were advised by Canton IT Specialist that the mirrored camera inside\nthe sallyport was not replaced as we stated in the question-and-answer segment on April\n5, 2025.\n\nQuestion # 3469- “In the discussion yesterday you mentioned discretion was\nappropriate in the case of the Officer whose dog unfortunately passed away in his car.\nHow do you reconcile/explain no charges in this case when in the of another person","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=7","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=7","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p7","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p8","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":8,"printedPage":"8","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 8 · PDF p. 8","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3470","text":"who left a dog in their vehicle in January 2024 in Canton there were charges levied\nagainst a Braintree man although in that case the dog survived? You mentioned the\nenvironmental police did not levy charges for the rabbit incident. The incident\ninvolved underage drinking and property damage. Were any charges levied for those\nindividuals? I understand there were Alberts present. There were balloons filled with\nchemicals tossed on the lawns of Karen Read supporters. Were those charges\ninvestigated and were any charges ever filed? As you review the responses to all the\nquestions above to (sic) you see why citizens believe they are not treated fairly and\nanyone associated with the CPD get a pass with respect to the law?”\n\nAnswer- The Audit Team determined that the use of discretion was appropriate in the\ntragic incident involving the officer’s dog. Discretion is a critical element of law\nenforcement decision-making, and not all cases are handled identically. During our\npresentation, we cited three similar cases: in two, no charges were filed, and in one,\ncharges were pursued. We did not review cases from neighboring towns. It is important to\nnote that decisions regarding charges and prosecution are made by the investigative\ndivision in collaboration with the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.\n\nRegarding the Thanksgiving home incident, the homeowner declined to press charges and\ninstead requested restitution for damages, totaling approximately $20,000. Law\nenforcement interviewed approximately 18 juvenile subjects, and no criminal charges\nwere filed. To ensure transparency and mitigate any concerns of impropriety, the Canton\nPolice Department requested assistance from a neighboring police agency during the\ninvestigation.\n\nAs for other allegations, such as the “Balloon Case,” the complainant is advised to follow\nup directly with the Canton Police Department to inquire whether an investigation was\nconducted and to request copies of any related reports.\n\nQuestion # 3470- “I am following up on a question I asked 5 Stones during the Q&A\nportion of their audit presentation. While they acknowledged the current hierarchy\nabove the police chief works, I would like to know, given that the managing person or\nbody would rarely have detailed knowledge about policing, what responsibilities\nshould the person or body in this oversight position be expected to do/provide the\nchief and police department in terms of: a. Setting policy and direction? b. Overseeing\noperations? c. Managing resources and strategy? d.\nSetting expectations for leadership?\n\nAnswer- The individual or governing body in this role holds the responsibility of\nensuring that the Chief of Police is effectively fulfilling their duties in a manner that serves\nthe best interests of the Town. Communication is critical; it is incumbent upon the\ngoverning body to establish clear lines of communication and to set measurable\nexpectations for both the Chief and the police department.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=8","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=8","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p8","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p9","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":9,"printedPage":"9","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 9 · PDF p. 9","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3471, #3472","text":"While the governing body may not possess expertise in policing or investigations, it should\nnonetheless establish clear standards and performance expectations. Regular requests\nfor and reviews of statistical information—such as internal affairs investigations, citizen\ncomplaints, investigations initiated and prosecuted, and use of force statistics—can\nprovide valuable insights into the department’s operational effectiveness and the quality of\nits leadership.\n\nQuestion # 3471- “The Canton PD follows the state's Civil Service hiring process but\nmany communities in Massachusetts have opted out of the civil service system for\nhiring. One main reason they cited for doing this is because they were seeking greater\nflexibility in hiring and promoting public safety personnel, particularly police and fire\nsta=. While you referenced the CPD's hiring process, given the challenges filling\ncurrent positions and the additional positions you recommended, did you review the\ncivil service hiring process as it relates to Canton and the potential benefits and\ndrawbacks of choosing to opt out? If so, what were your conclusions? Would\nyou advise Canton to opt out of the civil service process?”\n\nAnswer- Yes, we did review the benefits and restrictions of leaving the civil service\nhiring practices. There are many benefits to leaving civil service as many departments\nhave done and it is our recommendations that leaving civil service would be extremely\nbeneficial to the Town of Canton as well as the CPD.\n\nQuestion # 3472- “In the discussion at the April 3rd meeting with three Audit\nCommittee, 5 Stones discussed the cameras at the police station being motion\nactivated. Based on what you saw, did recordings stop the moment movement\nstopped or is there a lag between the motion stopping and the camera stopping\nrecording? I ask because cameras I am familiar with other cameras and how motion\nsensitivity works for them. They start recording as soon as motion is detected and turn\noff only after a defined period of time there is no motion. If there is a lag with the police\ncameras, how long is it? I ask because footage I've seen from a particular case did not\nonly stop the moment motion stopped but apparently stopped while there was active\nmotion. I also understand the motion sensitivity is also based on the camera's set\nmotion zone, the area of detection, if you will, for the camera. Were you able to assess\nthese settings of the cameras to determine whether they are set to detect motion in all\npertinent areas in the sally port? Was the field scaled back at all from detecting\nmotion in any portion of the camera's field of view? If so, were you able to determine a\nreason for the settings? Best Regards, Greg Murphy”\n\nAnswer- The Audit Team was advised that cameras are motion activated. We did not\nassess the settings in the sallyport, because of the ongoing trials, and their evidentiary\nvalue. Our assessment focused on the policy to have a recording device in place as well as\na proper retention and retrieval system with access integrity safeguards. Regarding your","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=9","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=9","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p9","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p10","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":10,"printedPage":"10","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 10 · PDF p. 10","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3473, #3474, #3476","text":"other questions, they would be best addressed through a FOIA requests to the Town IT\nmanager.\n\nQuestion # 3473- I see 5 Stones reviewed many policies, including the relatively\nnew Body Camera Recording Policy. They noted that detectives and SROs used them\nin their report but started (sic) at the 4/5 presentation on the audit that all officers\nwear them. Can you confirm that all officers now wear them? Also, based on your\nreview, is this policy document complete and through? Finally, is this policy one that\ncan and should be made public so citizens can read and understand the policy the\npolice are following? Best Regards, Greg Murphy\n\nAnswer- All Canton PD o_icers have been utilizing Body Worn Cameras (BWC) since\nNovember 2024. The policy is complete and in line with the Department of Justice policy.\nClarification or requests for policies is the right of every citizen of the Town of Canton, and\nreview of that policy will provide clarity on when and how the cameras are activated and\nwhat happens with the subsequent recordings concerning their review and possible\nretention.\n\nQuestions # 3474- “In the Hit and Run Investigations section of 5 Stones' audit\nreport, you explicitly called out that the incident at 34 Fairview involving Officer John\nO'Keefe was only determined to be a hit and run in hindsight. In your opinion, how long\nshould it have taken to determine that an unresponsive man, only feet from the road,\nwith both eyes black and swollen, and a gash on the back of his head, in a snowstorm\nmay have been a hit and run, or at least was something worthy of investigation as a\npotential hit and run, or at least something that warranted several of the steps you\noutlined for this scenario such as, taking photos of the scene and conducting a door-\nto-door canvas of residences in the area to ask people what they may have witnessed,\nas well as maybe seeking potential video footage from anyone who has cameras in the\narea that may have captured something? As you know, anyone who records video\nprobably has their footage overwritten in a matter of days so, requesting these\nrecordings in a timely fashion is critical to potentially confirm exactly what happened.\nBest Regards, Greg Murphy”\n\nAnswer- The Audit Team was tasked with assessing the CPD compliance with policy\nand procedures. Based on CPD policies, CPD o_icers did not comply with all of their crime\nscene protocols prescribed by CPD policies and procedures as noted in the audit report.\nThe Audit Team was notified that o_icers did conduct canvassing of the area to determine\nif any video footage was available with negative results. All possibilities within reason\nshould be entertained upon arrival at a scene and as stated above both suspected\n“Accident Scenes” and “Crime Scenes” should be handled in a similar fashion.\n\nQuestion # 3476- Is it normal policy and procedure for a cop to drink and “forget”\nhis badge & GUN in his friends car?! Is it normal for cops to black out while driving a","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=10","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=10","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p10","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p11","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":11,"printedPage":"11","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 11 · PDF p. 11","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3478","text":"police vehicle? As someone who has received a DUI before, I’m disgusted that the\nsame people arresting me are out doing the same thing. They are supposed to be role\nmodels for the town. The current canton Police are the farthest thing from role\nmodels. Make it make sense? If I move to Canton, can I drink and drive legally? I might\nconsider What a joke, Kevin Albert is!\n\nAnswer- The Audit Team found Detective Albert was in violation of policies and\nprocedures as they related to drinking and operating a Town vehicle.\n\nQuestion # 3478- “I attended Saturday’s presentation, and I was very impressed\nwith Five Stones Intelligence's work and Mr. Germanowski’s clear and thorough\npresentation. However, Mr. McKnight’s statement that Jennifer McCabe discovering\nOfficer O’Keefe’s body on the lawn “must have been very traumatic for her and\nobviously still traumatic to this day” seems to indicate that Five Stones made up their\nmind on what happened to Officer O'Keefe based on hearing biased information. I am\npersonally aware of quite a bit of evidence indicating that finding Officer O’Keefe that\nmorning was not a surprise to Ms. McCabe. This bias is quite concerning, since a jury\nwas not able to reach that conclusion in the first trial. It seems that Five Stones\nachieved their goal of pleasing the Town Administrator and Chief Rafferty, but it is the\nsingle thing that makes me question whether or not there is bias in the rest of the\nreport’s data. Can you please explain how you came to the conclusion that Ms.\nMcCabe didn’t already know that Officer O’Keefe was on the lawn at 34 Fairview when\nshe arrived with Ms. Read that morning? Thank you, Sarah Norton Canton, MA.”\n\nAnswer- The Audit Team reviewed police reports and the 911 call made on the\nmorning of the discovery of John O’Keefe. Critical incidents are often traumatic events for\nall parties involved. The Audit Team was not hired by nor where they hired to please Chief\nRafferty or the Town Administrator. Our team did not re-investigate the John O’Keefe case,\nbut rather reviewed the policies, procedures, as well as their implementation to ensure\nofficers followed the policies as written.\n\nOur team was made aware that Ms. Read contacted Ms. McCabe and Ms. Roberts the\nmorning of January 29.2022 and stated to both that John O’Keefe did not return home the\nprevious evening.\n\n5Si does not have authority to investigate criminal matters. Any information or evidence\nyou may have or that you are aware of involving this criminal matter should be passed to\nthe Norfolk County District Attorney, the Massachusetts State Police, or an appropriate\nlaw enforcement authority.","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=11","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=11","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p11","textMethod":"PDF text layer"},{"id":"qa-p12","documentId":"qa","pdfPage":12,"printedPage":"12","pageLabel":"Q&A p. 12 · PDF p. 12","section":"","topic":"","title":"Questions #3479","text":"Question # 3479- As “Independent” and non-bias auditors, were you told that Sgt.\nMike Lank has a LONG history of coming to the aid of the Albert family, specifically\nChris and Tim Albert. This came up in the Karen Read trial under cross examination of\nMike Lank. Do you know who the Lopilato brothers are? Chris Albert and Mike Lank\nwere at a bar And when they left, Chris got into an argument with one of the Lopilato\nbrothers. Mike Lank stepped in to protect Chris Albert and ultimately beat and bit Mr.\nLopilato. This happened on August 31, 2002 and you can read the court filing case\nnumber: 1:05-cv-10012-WGY Lopilato et al v. Officer Michael Lank et al Also, Tim\nAlbert, (another Albert brother) was driving and hit a parked car and fled the scene\nleaving a trail of transmission fluid leading back to his childhood home at 34 Fairview\nrd. Mike Lank followed the trail and Tim Albert admitted he hit parked cars and fled the\nscene. He was not charged. He was not interviewed at the police station. And he only\nreceived a misdemeanor. Saying Sgt Lank has no conflict of interest and shouldn’t\nhave recused himself is highly inappropriate. Did you hear dashcam audio from\n1/29/22 where Mike Lank says John O’Keefe was in a fight? Did you know / were you\naware that witness Jen McCabe went to Mike Lanks house the very next day, on\nJanuary 30, 2022 and was there for about an hour? Did you know that the other witness\non scene, Kerry Roberts, is good friends with Mike Lanks wife?\n\nAnswer- “The Audit Team is aware of the ‘Lopilato incident’ and of statements made\nby independent witnesses corroborating then-Officer Lank’s response, as documented in\nlaw enforcement reports. We were not made aware of any incident involving Tim Albert.\nNone of the issues presented in this question fall within the scope of the audit.”","sourceUrl":"https://town.canton.ma.us/DocumentCenter/View/11936/Canton-Audit-Questions-and-Answers#page=12","pdfUrl":"/police-audit-report/sources/canton-police-audit-questions-and-answers.pdf#page=12","readerUrl":"/police-audit-report/#qa-p12","textMethod":"PDF text layer"}]}