Worcester Police Chief Gemme in Yet Another Controversy; He Said, He Said

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Monday, November 16, 2015

GoLocalWorcester News Team

Worcester’s long-time police chief is in the midst of another controversy - this time City Councilman and failed candidate for Mayor Michael Gaffney has filed an ethics complaint against Chief Gary Gemme. 

Gaffney alleges that Petty violated ethics standards by tweeting a pro-Mayor Joe Petty press article during the campaign - thus, creating an endorsement.

For Gemme, this is yet another controversy - last year GoLocal unveiled that Gemme had failed to implement best practice programs to combat the opioid addiction. Worcester’s police Department was months behind other Commonwealth cities in implementing police procedures for the usage of Narcan to save opioid drug overdoses. The failure to implement a policy can be linked to dozens of overdose deaths.

Previously, Gemme has gotten into problems using social media when he violated Worcester's social media standards. In 2012, Gemme was disciplined.

"Kevin Ksen told GoLocal his reaction when he saw Gemme’s comments on twitter Friday morning. “I was surprised seeing that this morning. It is like the police chief is refusing to change….It is unprofessional and stupid.”

Gemme’s response

In a bizarre Police Department press statement, Gemme/the Worcester Police Department refuted Gaffney’s claims. It is unclear why the statement was issued by the Department and placed on the City of Worcester’s website.

Chief Gemme did not endorse a political candidate for any elective office and his comments regarding Mayor Joe Petty's strong support for the Worcester Police Department has been stated numerous times in multiple venues by the Chief during his tenure. The Chief has also publicly recognized the work of numerous elective officials while speaking to the media and at public events.

Further, the statement claims that Gemme is not political and has not “not endorsed a political candidate, attended political fundraisers, nor donated funds to a candidate for elective office.”

The Worcester Police Department also stated, “Since ethics complaints are confidential, as councilor Gaffney is well aware, the Chief will have no additional comments.”

It is unclear why the statement was issued by the Worcester Police Department rather than Gemme as an individual. 

Did Gaffney Violate Ethics Rules

The Police Department statement infers that Gaffney may have violated ethics rules by publicizing the filing. According to the ethics rules all materials and the name of the complainant are to be kept confidential.

If you believe that a state, county or municipal employee has violated the conflict of interest or financial disclosure law, you can file a complaint with the Commission's Enforcement Division.  All materials relating to a complaint are required by law to be kept confidential, as well as the name of the complainant.  A complaint may be filed by telephone by speaking to an Intake Investigator, or in writing via U.S. mail, or electronically by email using the Commission's online complaint form.

Not the first fight between Gaffney and Gemme

Last October, GoLocal unveiled Gemme’s contract provisions that made it nearly impossible to fire the him despite his record. Gaffney was one of the members of the Council that raised serious questions about the agreement.

“I don’t know why the chief is so protected by this contract because he is already offered a degree of protection under the city charter,” said Gaffney. “I wasn’t a part of the negotiation process so I don’t know why the contract is the way it is but I think that the Chief staying on as a Captain in the police force if he was removed as Chief for whatever reason could be problematic.”

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Related Slideshow: Worcester Crime Trends and Lack of Police Transparency

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• EXCLUSIVE: Chief Gemme Shuts down Twitter Account @911Chief
• Chief Gemme Joins Social Media Disaster List
• Exclusive: City Councilors Want Chief Gemme Gone
• EXCLUSIVE: Chief Gemme Cancels Community Forum on Race Relations
• Crime is Worcester’s Plague - Gemme Goes Silent
• BREAKING: Mayor Petty Defends His Leadership and Gemme in Face of Crime Wave
• Worcester Police Chief Gemme Can’t Be Fired With Current Contract
• EDITORIAL: Chief Gemme Must Go
• Local Media Still Battle for Transparency with Worcester Police Chief Gemme

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