The Law is a Two-Tiered System in Brookline

The Law is a Two-Tiered System in Brookline

At a recent Brookline Selectmen meeting, Chief of Police, Dan O’Leary recommended that a owner/manager of a local tavern be closed as a punishment for (1) patrons’ rowdy behavior outside the establishment on two occasions and (2) for failing, on three occasions, to properly have displayed the manager's name.

In response to the board's request, the manager came to the podium, tearfully apologized, begged the board's pardon, and with a hired consultant in tow to help her establishment make positive changes, she promised the errors would not recur. However, regardless of her heart-felt apology, her promise to change, and the presence of a hired professional to assist with these changes, Chief O'Leary still recommended her establishment be closed for ten days.

Is this a case of, “Do as I say, but not as I do?” What right does Chief O’Leary have to recommend that this owner’s establishment be closed down for ten days when Chief O’Leary wasn’t willing to hold a member of his department accountable for his rowdy behavior during his response to the ZBA incident and did not address the, numerous false statements on the related police report and investigative report?

Chief O'Leary seems to be modeling a double standard, which doesn’t meet Brookline's standards for public safety. A department accused of wrong-doing has no business investigating itself. Lax public safety standards are a concern for the entire community. The Board of Selectmen is required by law to investigate false statements on police reports. If they do not investigate these false statements, the law requires that they be dismissed.

Susan F. Allen, M.Ed.