EXCLUSIVE: Chief Gemme Shuts down Twitter Account @911Chief

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Saturday, April 14, 2012

Jaclyn Cashman GoLocalWorcester News Editor

Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme's twitter account @911Chief has been shut down. It says the username no longer exists. Yesterday morning Chief Gemme sparked outrage among City Councilors and even his boss, Manager Mike O'Brien, when he wrote a prediction that GoLocal would not last as a company in Worcester.

Gemme said, “Prediction.. GoLocal will go defunct before the new recruit class graduates and the new officers will have a long and secure career with WPD.”

This comment came in response to a GoLocalWorcester article questioning the job security of the latest round of police recruits, because of the multi-million dollar budget deficit the city is facing. Also, several of the 2009 police recruits were laid off and not rehired.

It has been previously reported by a number of other local media outlets that Gemme has a poor relationship with area reporters. He has a history of using his twitter handle to address media coverage.

Chief Gary Gemme has joined the list of politicians who get a little caught up in Twitter blunders. Check out GoLocal's slides.