Canton Police Chief Rafferty’s contract extended by one year – NBC Boston

As the city of Canton awaits the verdict in the high-profile Karen Read murder trial, supporters of the defendants are calling for a restructuring of the police department and the resignation of Police Chief Helena Rafferty, even though she was not yet the chief when the case that has Massachusetts on edge began.

“We need a police chief who cares about the safety of all Canton residents, not just the well-connected city residents,” said Canton resident Kathleen Howley.

A vocal group of Canton residents claim the Read investigation was botched and have been urging the City Council for months not to renew Rafferty’s contract.

“We need someone from outside,” said Canton resident Rita Lombardi, who tried to oust Chairman Michael Loughran from the board in the spring, partly because of the way the case was handled.

On the agenda for Tuesday night’s special meeting was a vote to approve a new contract for Rafferty. It was approved, but for one year instead of three.

Before the vote, several residents called on the special committee to fire the chief.

“I think we need to send the message that the status quo is no longer okay,” said local resident Liza Colburn.

Loughran said the majority of the panel decided to extend the police chief’s contract for only one year to allow the situation to calm down after the Read case was concluded and an audit of the police force could be completed.

The mood was tense at a public meeting on Monday to discuss the overhaul of the Canton Police Department, which residents voted for in the wake of the controversy surrounding the Karen Read case.

“We want to go through the process,” Loughran said. “We want a police investigation and give them the opportunity to respond to the findings of the investigation and take appropriate steps to correct the findings of the investigation.”

The board voted 3-1 to extend the contract for one year. Select board member Chris Albert abstained from voting because he was a witness in the Karen Read case.

Patricia Boyden was the only select board member to vote against a new contract for Rafferty. She said, “While she’s a nice person and has been part of the police force since 1989, the last two years have just been crazy and I think we need someone new from outside to help get this city back on its feet.”

Rafferty did not respond to a request for comment.

That year, Rafferty was also charged with failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk after she struck a person with her car while driving in Wrentham. Weeks later, after the crash became public knowledge, she issued a statement calling the incident an “unfortunate accident” and noting, “Upon further reflection and considering the attention that has been brought to Canton, I should have made a statement sooner.”

The police chief of Canton, Massachusetts, is dealing with a case that involves her – and it’s not the Karen Read case that has divided the town. The police chief hit a pedestrian while driving in Wrentham in February. But she’s only now making a public statement about it.

The police exam in Canton was passed by hand last year with a vote of 903 to 800, led by Howley.