NEW: LeBeau: Bogus Claims by Rep. Binienda Supporters “Reckless” and “Disturbing”
Monday, September 17, 2012
LeBeau was one of the officers who lost their jobs when Spencer disbanded its police department and State Police took over in 1997.
Over the course of the following five years, LeBeau was the lead plaintiff in a federal lawsuit against the Town of Spencer seeking back pay owed and reinstatement of the officers to their previously held positions for lack of due process.
Another individual from the department faced assault and drug charges, and now rumors are alleged to be circulating among Binienda's supporters linking those charges to LeBeau.
"I certainly thought that this stuff was settled over 10 years ago," he said.
After leaving the Spencer department, LeBeau worked for several years as a police officer at Assumption College before moving on to his current occupation as a truck driver.
Central to that trial was a document known as the Clark Report. The 540-page report was presented in the 2001 trial, and Worcester District Attorney John Conte dismissed it as containing uncorroborated allegations and hearsay and publicly stated there was no basis for any criminal prosecution of anyone mentioned in it.
LeBeau said he did not believe the report was ever made public and no one ever admitted to having released it.
However, rumors of its existence and contents have surfaced in recent months, and LeBeau said he believes they are originated from Binienda's campaign.
Binienda, who has held the 17th District seat for the past 26 years and has not faced a challenger in 12 years, said he has not said a word about his opponent.
"I don't know about his past," Binienda said.
"I know that he was a police officer in Spencer and he's a truck driver now. I assume he retired."
Binienda denied any knowledge of the rumors or their dissemination by his campaign, yet the Representative was previously quoted in the Telegram & Gazette saying, "All I know about LeBeau is that he was fired as a Spencer police officer. He knows what he was fired for."
LeBeau claimed that the rumors of his firing from the department have been circulating for several months, and Binienda never asked him about their veracity.
"I wish that he had asked me directly," LeBeau said. "I would have answered any of his questions."
Binienda said he has only met LeBeau on one occasion and characterized it as pleasant.
"I talked to him on primary day standing in front of the Leicester polls," he said.
LeBeau is calling on his opponent to address the false rumors and get the race back on track as Election Day nears.
"It's on the Representative to do the right thing here and make this right."
Related Articles
- LeBeau’s ‘Last Minute’ Decision to Challenge Binienda
- Lebeau Takes on Binienda in 17th Worcester House race
- NEW: Endorsements Roll in for Rep. Binienda
- NEW: State Rep. Binienda Increases Funding for Veteran Services
- 5 Local Races You Should Be Watching
Follow us on Pinterest Google + Facebook Twitter See It Read It