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Brookline PD chief on leave amid allegations of policy violations

Brookline PD chief on leave amid allegations of policy violations

Officials in the Massachusetts town of Brookline have placed the chief of police on leave after he was accused of violating a town policy. Brookline Town Administrator Mel Kleckner said in a statement that last week, town officials were made aware of multiple allegations that police Chief Ashley Gonzalez violated the town’s policy against discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation. The town immediately began an initial review of the allegations and Gonzalez was placed on paid administrative leave Friday afternoon, according to Kleckner.” The town has a strict zero-tolerance policy against discrimination , sexual harassment and retaliation committed by or against its employees,” Kleckner said in his statement. “We are committed to supporting the investigation, which will determine the facts, and responding accordingly.” Kleckner said the town has hired Quincy-based Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting to conduct a comprehensive review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegations. The outside investigation by Comprehensive is being led by former Secretary of Public Safety and Worcester County First Assistant District Attorney Daniel Bennett and former Massachusetts State Police Col. Kerry Gilpin.Gonzalez will remain on paid leave pending the outcome of the review by Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting.In March , Kleckner selected Gonzalez as his recommendation to be Brookline’s new police chief.The Brookline Select Board then confirmed Gonzalez’s appointment as chief of police in April.Gonzalez has more than 33 years of experience in law enforcement and was most recently the chief of the Austin Independent School District Police Department in Texas.

BROOKLINE, Mass. —

Officials in the Massachusetts town of Brookline have placed the chief of police on leave after he was accused of violating a town policy.

Brookline Town Administrator Mel Kleckner said in a statement that last week, town officials were made aware of multiple allegations that police Chief Ashley Gonzalez violated the town’s policy against discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation.

The town immediately began an initial review of the allegations and Gonzalez was placed on paid administrative leave Friday afternoon, according to Kleckner.

“The town has a strict zero-tolerance policy against discrimination, sexual harassment and retaliation committed by or against its employees,” Kleckner said in his statement. “We are committed to supporting the investigation, which will determine the facts, and responding accordingly.”

Kleckner said the town has hired Quincy-based Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting to conduct a comprehensive review of the facts and circumstances surrounding the allegations. The outside investigation by Comprehensive is being led by former Secretary of Public Safety and Worcester County First Assistant District Attorney Daniel Bennett and former Massachusetts State Police Col. Kerry Gilpin.

Gonzalez will remain on paid leave pending the outcome of the review by Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting.

In March, Kleckner selected Gonzalez as his recommendation to be Brookline’s new police chief. The Brookline Select Board then confirmed Gonzalez’s appointment as chief of police in April.

Gonzalez has more than 33 years of experience in law enforcement and was most recently the chief of the Austin Independent School District Police Department in Texas.

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Woman found dead in central Mass. lake, forcing closure of park

Woman found dead in central Mass. lake, forcing closure of park

Authorities are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a lake in Spencer, Massachusetts. Spencer police said the 51-year-old woman was found dead Saturday afternoon, floating near the shore of Lake Whittemore in Luther Hill Park. was reported missing and later discovered by one of the lifeguards on duty, according to police.Police did not comment on a potential cause of death.Luther Hill Park will be closed for the remainder of Saturday, as state police detectives investigate the area with Spencer police.

SPENCER, Mass. —

Authorities are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found in a lake in Spencer, Massachusetts.

Spencer police said the 51-year-old woman was found dead Saturday afternoon, floating near the shore of Lake Whittemore in Luther Hill Park.

The woman was reported missing and later discovered by one of the lifeguards on duty, according to police.

Police did not comment on a potential cause of death.

Luther Hill Park will be closed for the remainder of Saturday, as state police detectives investigate the area with Spencer police.

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Man convicted in Boston kidnapping, rape case to be sentenced Monday

Man convicted in Boston kidnapping, rape case to be sentenced Monday

A man convicted of kidnapping a woman and then raping her for several days in his Charlestown apartment was sentenced Monday. Victor Pena, 42, was charged with kidnapping and 10 counts of aggravated rape for allegedly holding the 23-year-old woman against her will and sexually assaulting her for three days at his Walford Way home in January 2019. After six days of testimony and evidence, the jury needed just two hours of deliberations to return guilty verdicts on all counts. Pena was sentenced to 29 to 39 years in prison by Judge Anthony Campo. Prosecutors said the state asked for a “murder type” sentence because the kidnapping and rape “really does murder someone.””When I think about how this affected me, I think about how I never fully came back from those days. A part of me died in that apartment and I mourn for the life I could have lived-was supposed to live,” the victim wrote in an impact statement. In testifying in his own defense, Pena claimed what transpired during the three days in question was consensual, and the victim asked him for help and wanted to go to his apartment.“And we started to have nice chemistry,” Pena testified via an interpreter . “I said I have an apartment, I had housing, and then, ‘Let’s go to your apartment,’ she said.”Earlier in the trial, the accuser testified that Pena sexually assaulted her multiple times and threatened her if she tried to leave “I didn’t want to die,” the woman told the court. The accuser said she feared for her life and Pena told her that he rescued her and they would start a family. Pena forced her to drink alcohol and fed her nothing but canned pineapple. A digital forensic specialist said 322 photos and six explicit videos of the victim were found on Pena’s phone. Detectives who found the victim described to the court finding a terrified woman. Until he took the stand, Pena was not present in the courtroom during testimony and was instead watching remotely from another room following inappropriate behavior and disruptive outbursts. During proceedings to seat a jury, Pena suddenly appeared naked on a monitor in the courtroom while he performed to lewd act. After about 16 seconds, the monitor in the courtroom was turned off. That jury pool was excused.

A man convicted of kidnapping a woman and then raping her for several days in his Charlestown apartment was sentenced Monday.

Victor Pena, 42, was charged with kidnapping and 10 counts of aggravated rape for allegedly holding the 23-year-old woman against her will and sexually assaulting her for three days at his Walford Way home in January 2019.

After six days of testimony and evidence, the jury needed just two hours of deliberations to return guilty verdicts on all counts.

Pena was sentenced to 29 to 39 years in prison by Judge Anthony Campo.

Prosecutors said the state asked for a “murder type” sentence because the kidnapping and rape “really does murder someone.”

“When I think about how this affected me, I think about how I never fully came back from those days. A part of me died in that apartment and I mourn for the life I could have lived-was supposed to live,” the victim wrote in an impact statement.

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In testifying in his own defense, Pena claimed what transpired during the three days in question was consensual, and the victim asked him for help and wanted to go to his apartment.

“And we started to have nice chemistry,” Pena testified via an interpreter. “I said I have an apartment, I had housing, and then, ‘Let’s go to your apartment,’ she said.”

Earlier in the trial, the accuser testified that Pena sexually assaulted her multiple times and threatened her if she tried to leave.

“I didn’t want to die,” the woman told the court.

The accuser said she feared for her life and Pena told her that he rescued her and they would start a family. Pena forced her to drink alcohol and fed her nothing but canned pineapple.

A digital forensic specialist said 322 photos and six explicit videos of the victim were found on Pena’s phone. Detectives who found the victim described to the court finding a terrified woman.

Until he took the stand, Pena was not present in the courtroom during testimony and was instead watching remotely from another room following inappropriate behavior and disruptive outbursts.

During proceedings to seat a jury, Pena suddenly appeared naked on a monitor in the courtroom while he performed a lewd act. After about 16 seconds, the monitor in the courtroom was turned off. That jury pool was excused.

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Fishing boat strikes Norwegian Pearl cruise ship off Mass. coast

Fishing boat strikes Norwegian Pearl cruise ship off Mass. coast

Passengers aboard a cruise ship that sails weekly out of Boston awoke to a jolt early Saturday morning when the massive vessel was struck by a fishing boat.The US Coast Guard said it received a report of the collision involving the Norwegian Pearl at 2:25 am A spokesperson said a fishing boat, Gabby G, struck the Pearl’s midsection about 41 nautical miles east of Nantucket. The vessels were operating in rainy conditions at the time of the collision. “The seas were relatively calm and then all of a sudden the ship just started going to the side,” said passenger Jeff Coveney. “It’s a little concerning that we’re not being told completely what has been happening. Even if nothing happened we would like to know that something has not happened but the lack of transparency is worrying.”Coast Guard officials said damage to the cruise ship was minimal, but the fishing vessel was significantly damaged. One person aboard the Gabby G suffered a laceration. No one on the cruise ship was injured. The damaged Gabby G was taken to New Bedford. Video of the ship shows damage to her starboard bow. The Pearl is 965 feet long and can accommodate nearly 2,400 guests. She has 16 dining options, 15 bars and lounges, a casino and a spa. She sails weekly between Boston and Bermuda through November.

BOSTON—

Passengers aboard a cruise ship that sails weekly out of Boston awoke to a jolt early Saturday morning when the massive vessel was struck by a fishing boat.

The US Coast Guard said it received a report of the collision involving the Norwegian Pearl at 2:25 am A spokesperson said a fishing boat, Gabby G, struck the Pearl’s midsection about 41 nautical miles east of Nantucket.

The vessels were operating in rainy conditions at the time of the collision.

“The seas were relatively calm and then all of a sudden the ship just started going to the side,” said passenger Jeff Coveney. “It’s a little concerning that we’re not being told completely what has been happening. Even if nothing happened we would like to know that something has not happened but the lack of transparency is worrying.”

Coast Guard officials said damage to the cruise ship was minimal, but the fishing vessel was significantly damaged. One person aboard the Gabby G suffered a laceration. No one on the cruise ship was injured.

The damaged Gabby G was taken to New Bedford. Video of the ship shows damage to her starboard bow.

The Pearl is 965 feet long and can accommodate nearly 2,400 guests. She has 16 dining options, 15 bars and lounges, a casino and a spa.

She sails weekly between Boston and Bermuda through November.

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