Holbrook officer gets job back

By Franci R. Ellement, Globe Correspondent

HOLBROOK — The Holbrook police officer who was recently acquitted of using excessive force on a prisoner is getting his job back.

After a four-hour, closed-door hearing last night, the Board of Selectmen voted to reinstate police officer John Kearney to his $70,000-a-year post. He will return to work on Saturday night.

‘‘I’m very happy with the way I was treated by the Board of Selectmen,’’ said the 39-year-old Holbrook native. ‘‘They took care of me tonight.’’ Selectmen held a hearing to discuss whether Kearney broke department policies and procedures, aside from the law, when he threw Daniel H. Bonin, 29, into a wall and kneed him several times during his arrest on Jan. 29, 2007.

Kearney was also accused of hitting Bonin twice in the face with a closed fist and falsifying a police report. The incident with Bonin was captured on a graphic and disturbing video first posted on boston.com. Kearney was placed on administrative leave with pay as the Norfolk County district attorney indicted him and sent the case to trial. A jury recently acquitted Kearney of three assault and battery charges and falsifying the police report after a five-day trial at Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham.

Selectmen could have ruled not to reinstate Kearney or asked him to take some remedial training courses before he returned to work. Selectman Matt Moore said that Kearney was asked only to get recertified in using his gun, since he has been out of work for nearly 18 months. After hearing Kearney’s attorneys defend their client, Moore said the videotape did not show other aspects of the incident. ‘‘He was reinstated based on the facts presented at the hearing,’’ Moore said. ‘‘There are a lot of things behind the tape that need to be bore in mind.’’

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