City Hall to Host Hearing for Fired Officer
Richard Pierce Jr., son of the former Attleboro police chief, is challenging his 2011 dismissal from the department.
Two days of hearings are scheduled to take place this week at Attleboro City Hall regarding former police officer Richard Pierce Jr.'s appeal of his 2011 dismissal from the department for alleged use of a Taser during an arrest. Pierce's father, Richard Pierce, was forced to resign as police chief in 2010 because of his interference in the investigation of his son, for which he received a $3,500 fine from the state Ethics Commission.
State Civil Service Commissioner Paul M. Stein will oversee the hearings on Tuesday and Thursday at 10 a.m. They are not open to the public unless Pierce requests them to be. The entire five-member commission will vote on the appeal and issue a written decision, which will become a public document, later this year.
The commission's decision can be appealed to the state Superior Court.
Pierce was fired in February 2011 following an investigation about a 2010 arrest in which he allegedly used a Taser on a suspect. Police union attorney Leigh Panettiere issued a written statement to the media the next month stating, "Once we have had the opportunity to present his case to an impartial hearing officer, Officer Pierce will be vindicated and returned to work."
paul
7:53 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012
If you give a cop a taser, he will use it. Those things are like toys and you never hear anything good about them. In the real world when you get fired or laid off, you move on and go find a new job. 2 years later we are talking maybe vindication, return to work and I'm sure back pay. Now you know why people hate unions.
Sailor
8:35 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
This from a story in the Sun Chronicle dated 11-2010:
"The younger Pierce was suspended for allegedly lying about using a taser to subdue a suspect in February. He allegedly failed to report the use of the taser, then blamed another officer not involved in the incident."
There's more to this story than just "he allegedly used a Taser on a suspect"
Melissa
8:40 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Walk a mile in a Police Officer's shoes, then comment
Sailor
8:10 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
Melissa, as a taxpayer and a former cop who has already walked many miles in a cop's shoes I think I can comment on any subject I wish. I could care less if he used a Taser if he had cause. The point of the allegations is that he LIED about it. Do you want a lying dishonorable cop on the force? If you do keep that in mind if you ever have official interaction with him.
paul
9:00 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012
As taxpayers we are paying for police officers shoes, why should we walk a mile in them?
Max Opus
9:50 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012
I agree with "Sailor". It's ridiculous that he can even fight this... he lied about it. The Union should not be on his side. He is dishonorable and one of the main reasons it is so difficult for people to trust in law enforcement (and unions).