Police official denies intervening in disciplinary action

November 14, 2008 02:51 PM Email| Comments (9)| Text size – +

By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

Superintendent-in-Chief Robert Dunford denied today that he tried to interfere with a colleague’s disciplining of a drill instructor suspected of having an affair with a police recruit.

"The whole internal affairs process does not report to me,” he said in a telephone interview. “It reports to the commissioner. I have no role in internal affairs investigations."

A day after he went on leave, Dunford said he may hire a lawyer and plans to return to the department.

“I’m stepping aside until the conclusion of the investigation,” he said.

According to two public officials who spoke to the Globe on condition of anonymity, Deputy Superintendent Marie Donahue, who oversees the police academy, placed Officer Paul Downey on desk duty because she suspected he was having an affair with a female recruit.

The officials said that Dunford soon called her and told her to restore him to full duty. Dunford denied that allegation.

"If I was going to stop her, he wouldn't have been placed on desk duty," he said. Dunford said Donahue never told him she suspected an affair between Downey and the recruit.

The officials who spoke to the Globe said police have recovered 200 emails between Dunford and Downey, some of which had attachments showing scantily clad women.

Asked about the emails, Dunford acknowledged some of the correspondence was racy in nature and said he would take responsibility for what he wrote. He declined to comment on the content of the emails.

Commissioner Edward F. Davis said he expected the investigation to conclude next week.
“It’s been going on for some time now,” he said. “We only have a couple more interviews to do.”

Dunford, who oversees the investigative and patrol units, is the second highest-ranking official in the department.

“It’s a very important position,” Davis said. Davis said that he, Superintendents Daniel Linskey and Bruce Holloway, and Christopher Fox, a civilian who is in charge of administrative duties, would fill in while Dunford is gone.

Asked if he wants Dunford to return to the department, Davis said, “There is an ongoing investigation and it would be inappropriate for me to say anything right now until we have all the facts before us.”

Donahue couldn't immediately be reached for comment and on Thursday declined to comment.

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9 comments so far...

Cops are generally corrupt, this is a prime example. This is one event in which the officer was caught and is being slapped on teh wrist, if this was in the private secote, the woman would be fine and the male superior would have been gone without incident.

They want more money but can't clean up their own acts.
A citizen of this city and once again a disgraced one, what a shame!!!!!!!

Posted by Jim F Smith November 14, 08 04:10 PM

If he's using city computers to send sexually explicit photos or whatever, suspend him without pay for a bit.

Posted by Dan Farnkoff November 14, 08 08:12 PM

you have got to be kidding me. Jim you nothing about nothing. Once again the public gets only a fraction of a story and jumps to conclusions. Pathetic.

Posted by Fred November 14, 08 09:24 PM

Hey Jimbo,
Sorry the English language and all of it's pesky little rules are to tough for you.
We now live in a city where mud is thrown just for the hell of it.
How many of you cubicle warriors trade emails (yes, even those that contain "racy" themes), slide out a little early for little joey's b-day party, or even God forbid take someone from work out on a date.
What a bunch of hypocrites. Go ahead and post your name, place of employment, and address. Lets look at your life.
I guess your b.s degree in "Humanities," places you as an intellectual. hahhahahahahhaa

Posted by Mike November 14, 08 09:55 PM

Dunford is a good man who is being a scapegoat. It's unfortunate that he has to be dragged through the mud after such a great career.

Posted by Jack November 14, 08 10:18 PM

Jim,
"Cops are generally corrupt, this is a prime example." There is corruption in any profession and there are baseless allegations and mud slinging in any line of work. Wise up and realize what this is...the very day after the "fact finding" detail hearing. This is an attack on a union guy and the head of command staff who came out in support of his men at the hearing. It doesn't take a secret squirrel or Inspector Gadget to figure someone is grinding an axe.

Posted by curlymath November 15, 08 12:07 AM

Jack apparently you haven't seen the devious side of Dunford...maybe Adams Village will be a clamer place w/o him and maybe Captains can run their ditricts like they ought to w/o him barking orders and butting in...maybe he will get rid of the MDT in his house and giv eit up...oh but there is the son of his and oh dear Molly with the city job too....those Dunford's.....he is not what he is cracked up to be..

Posted by sierra963 November 15, 08 12:19 AM

Good call sierra,

Dunford's next move should be retirement before the investigation digs any deeper.

The only honorable thing left to do is keep from embarrassing the department at such a crucial period of history (hello? crime is going up, in case you haven't noticed! preserving the trust of the people is KEY for neighborhood policing).

While I'm at it, why not consider letting the hands-on folks dictate tactics, strategy and policy for the department? I know a bunch of good Sergeants and Lieutenants, guys from bloodlines with 50-100 years of service for BPD...

...like Sergeant Marty Kraft!

Posted by LuvThatDurtyWatah November 15, 08 06:26 PM

Sgt. Eblan has no idea what's up or down as registrar. He lies like there's no tomorrow. When he's caught an a lie, he blames it on her. Big ego for little man. Hey... Mr. Bonaparte Complex! What about Captain Murry? Rear ended ex-wife with department car, and anything being done about it? What don't Donahue questioned that too? He's her right hand man. She's an hypocrite!

Posted by John November 17, 08 11:36 AM