Officer in alleged beating is suspended

LAWRENCE -- A Lawrence police officer in the center of a high-profile excessive force case has been suspended for 30 days, Mayor Michael J. Sullivan confirmed yesterday.

The mayor would not name the officer, but Sullivan said the officer was involved in the alleged beating of resident Moises Fernandez after an arrest in December.

Hank B. Brennan, a lawyer for Fernandez, identified Kyle Wilcox as the police officer who beat Fernandez shortly after arriving at the police station. Fernandez sustained head injuries, and his ear was "severely damaged" during the beating, said Brennan.

According to a Dec. 22 police report, Wilcox was dispatched to a home to mediate a dispute between Fernandez's former wife and a renter. After Wilson spoke with Fernandez, the report said, Fernandez became irate and combative toward Wilcox, who placed him under arrest.

After arriving at the station, Wilcox took Fernandez to a room and beat him while he was handcuffed until he was unconscious, Brennan said. Fernandez later woke up and called 911 with a cellphone to report the beating and asked for help, said Brennan.

Police Chief John J. Romero confirmed that Fernandez made a call, but said he could not comment further on the case because it was a personnel matter and there was an ongoing investigation.

Romero said Fernandez has refused to cooperate with an internal affairs investigation.

Sullivan said the officer has five days to appeal his suspension.

It was not the first allegation of excessive force for Wilcox. In 2000, as a Boston Municipal Police officer, Wilcox fatally shot a 29-year-old man in the back of his neck during a chase in Dorchester. Suffolk District Attorney Ralph C. Martin II declined to bring charges against Wilcox.

Wilcox could not be reached for comment yesterday.

He was hired by the Lawrence Police Department in 2004.

Russell Contreras can be reached at rcontreras@globe.com.