North Andover police unions call for removal of chief, citing case of Kelsey Fitzsimmons
Members of the North Andover Patrol Officers Association are calling for the immediate removal of Chief Charles Gray in a vote of no confidence in his leadership, citing the recent case of former officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons.
“We can no longer remain silent while operating under a toxic culture of resentment and professional stagnation. This vote is not about wages, benefits or other traditional labor issues; it is the inevitable result of years of failed leadership, lack of leadership and direct inaction,” the union said in a statement. he said.
The union said the Kelsey Fitzsimmons case was just one example of a pattern of leadership failures; Union members said body-worn cameras were researched, presented and supported, but were never “acted on.”
Former North Andover Police officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons was shot by her colleague while serving a restraining order. Fitzsimmons was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon but was found Two weeks ago I was innocent.
“As a result, the Department’s failure to implement body cameras, despite credible testimony from multiple witnesses, including Officer Pat Noonan, supported by physical evidence, has been cited as an evidentiary gap that negatively impacted the outcome of this case, our members, and our town,” the unions said in a statement. he said.
An April 2024 incident in which a department member was injured by gunfire raised the critical need for body cameras long before the Fitzsimmons incident, according to union members, but concerns were “ignored.”
Last week, Chief Gray said he disabled the department’s official Facebook page after an “unauthorized user” posted a comment on the matter on Wednesday. Kelsey Fitzsimmons According to police and media reports, it was stated that the account was used in the incident.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a former employee, who was not authorized to use the page, accessed the ministry’s Facebook page and left comments on another user’s page.
The union said the “overwhelming vote of no confidence” was a direct reflection of low morale, broken trust, administrative incompetence and lack of accountability.
Boston 25 has reached out to Gray’s office for a statement on the vote.
This is an evolving story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News Facebook And excitement. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
