September 22, 2017
BRAINTREE – New contracts with town police unions call for officers to undergo random drug testing.
The contracts, with the Braintree Police Superior Officers Association and the Braintree Police Officers Association, were approved by the town council Tuesday night. They are retroactive to July 1, 2016, and call for a pay raise of 2 percent in the first year and 2.5 percent in the second and third years.
The cost of the pay increases and other items in the contracts is $344,000. The money was set aside last year.
In a memo sent Tuesday to the town council, Mayor Joseph Sullivan said the drug-testing provision is a major benefit for the town.
Making evidence officer a higher-paying specialist position is another plus, the mayor said. The appointing of an evidence officer will require the mayor's approval.
Sullivan also cited "achieving the goal of national accreditation standards of operation for the department."
National accreditation of the department has been an objective of Police Chief Paul Shastany since his appointment last year in the wake of a scandal involving the department's evidence room. An audit of the evidence room showed that cash, drugs and guns were missing.
"Someone dropped the ball," Dewey said. June 20, 2022 Benjamin Zeringue was arrested Monday charged with injuring public records, malfeasance in office and theft of firearms. He posted an $18,000 bond...
The missing money involves a homicide case, according to Iberville Parish Sheriff June 20, 2022 ST. GABRIEL - St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau is denying any wrongdoing after search warrant...
The allegations against Acree include accusations of stealing drugs from an evidence locker June 16, 2022 Deandre Robertson and Darryl Robertson were previously sentenced on drug charges in Dece...