Somerville police chief abruptly retires
Somerville Police Chief George McLean abruptly retired Friday, Feb. 25 after a long history of tension with Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, according to the Somerville Journal.
"Despite any professional differences we may have had, I respected him," Curtatone told the Journal. "I wish him the best."
The mayor's office ordered McLean to turn in his gun and badge before leaving on Friday, which several police officers called a "slap in the face" after the former chief's nearly three decades of service.
Curtatone spokesman Mark Horan said, however, that the order was standard procedure for the police department.
Disagreement regarding hiring decisions, scathing reviews of leadership, and inter-office criticisms created and exacerbated a rift between the mayor's office and the police chief, according to the Journal.
"He served the city a long time. I wish him well ... Obviously the mayor and the chief had philosophical differences," Somerville Alderman at Large Dennis Sullivan told the Journal.
Captain Robert Bradley has been appointed acting police chief for the time being.
84-year-old man struck in parking lot, police need to corroborate driver's story
Gerry Dinitto, 84, was killed in a CVS parking lot in Magoun Square, Somerville, last week after an SUV backed into him, knocking him to the ground.
Initially, Somerville Police Lieutenant James Polito told the Somerville Journal that Dinitto's injuries did not seem life-threatening. An ambulance was called as a safety precaution, and Dinitto died at Boston Medical Center from internal bleeding in his head.
The driver of the SUV claimed that he had looked behind him before backing up, but failed to see Dinitto.
"No charges have been filed [against the driver] up to this point," Polito told the Journal.
Police are looking for witnesses, however, to corroborate the driver's story.
The driver's name has not been released.
Wrestling coach, Medford resident charged with sexual abuse
A Medford man who had worked in many Massachusetts schools as a wrestling coach was arrested for sexual abuse, according to the Medford Transcript.
Everett Bower, 32, was charged with indecent assault and battery on a child over 14 years of age, as well as dissemination of harmful matter to a minor.
A 17-year-old boy recently came forward and described incidents of abuse when he was 14 years old. Bower allegedly kissed, hugged, and touched the boy, bought him alcohol, cuddled with him naked, and told him he loved him.
"It's definitely an ongoing investigation," Middlesex District Attorney Spokeswoman Melissa Sherman told the Transcript. "The prosecutor said in court that she anticipates additional charges."
Assistant District Attorney Michelle Margolis said that she expects more people to come forward now that the first boy did. Bower coached at three area schools in recent years, and is currently unemployed.
According to the Transcript, Bower is due back in court April 4 for a pre-trial hearing.
-- Compiled by Bruce Hamilton from the Medford Transcript and Somerville Journal
