March 28, 2024

Police Chief Sues Town of Seekonk, Board of Selectmen

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 Police Chief Dean Isabella is suing the Town of Seekonk and the Board of Selectmen for breach of contract.

The board voted unanimously Wednesday to terminate Isabella’s employment contract, which still had nearly a year remaining. The members include Chairman Justin Sullivan, Christopher Zorra, David Andrade, Adam Petronio, and Michael Healy.

Isabella was hired in December 2020. On January 6, Town Administrator Shawn Cadime suspended Isabella and placed him on paid administrative leave.

A public hearing was held at Wednesday’s meeting. In the January 19 court filing with the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Isabella’s attorney Eric Brainsky notes: “The (Board of Selectmen) opened the hearing by highlighting their erroneous position the BOS is entitled to terminate Chief Isabella’s employment with the Town with, or without cause. The BOS presented no evidence or allegations of any wrongdoing by Chief Isabella that would purportedly justify his termination or the termination of his Contract. During said hearing, no findings or even so much as any discussion regarding just cause or cause to terminate Chief Isabella’s employment and/or Contract was had by the BOS.”

Brainsky also alleged the town violated Isabella’s rights to due process as guaranteed in the fifth and fourteenth amendments to the Constitution: “(The) Defendants, acting under color of law, knowingly, intentionally, egregiously, arbitrarily, capriciously, corruptly and outrageously disregarded the law, violating Plaintiff’s life, liberty and property rights.”

In the past year, the Police Department has been plagued by resignations and retirements. The department roster is supposed to have a total of 40 officers. There are three open positions currently. Two officers are on military leave and one more is out due to injuries, according to Cadime.

The issue of staffing was addressed at the pre-termination hearing. Brainsky stated: “Chief Isabella testified that during his first year as Chief of Police, he recognized staffing as a major challenge and knew that the majority of officers in the Department had less than six (6) years of service; and as such, he believed that it was a priority to create advancement opportunities for the Town’s rank and file police officers.”

Brainsky also explained that “Chief Isabella also testified that recently, he submitted a comprehensive staffing proposal to the Town’s Administration that included a staffing study from a Massachusetts-based research firm outlining the current and future staffing levels needed to serve the Town.”

In addition, Brainsky said Isabella “has suffered personal injuries, severe emotional distress and irreparable harm (s) resulting from damages to his reputation and psyche. Such damages cannot be easily quantified considering the permanent impacts that such damages will likely have on Chief Isabella and his family.”

Brainsky said in order to avoid litigation, Isabella would accept a lump sum payment of $500,000 from the Town, as well as rescind the administrative suspension, provide a letter of recommendation for future employment (in a form that is acceptable to both Parties), and for the Town to issue a press release indicating that the Parties have resolved their differences and that Chief Isabella has voluntarily resigned from the position of Police Chief.”

Cadime declined to comment on the lawsuit.

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