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Main Page New Warren Chief - Questionable Degree
(Click here to view the original thread on the MassCops Message Board)

Posted by: Edmizer1

The new Chief of Police in Warren apparently listed himself as having a master's degree. It turns out that the degree is from a bogus college in Ireland that sends you a degree in the mail after you pay a fee. The articles are listed below. My favorite is a quote from a selectman saying that it really doesn't matter that the degree is questionable because the chief has a legit BS degree and that is what is required of the position.

http://telegram.com/article/20071127...153/NEWSREWIND

http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer...story19150.asp

Posted by: fscpd907

Sgt. Leslie resigns in West Brookfield

By J.P. Ellery CORRESPONDENT
WEST BROOKFIELD— In a month’s time, police Sgt. Brice I. Leslie has watched his career crumble.

The nine-year veteran of the West Brookfield Police Department, and a native of Warren, submitted his resignation to selectmen yesterday, after weeks of allegations that his two college degrees were suspect.

Selectmen declined to comment on the resignation and attempts to reach Sgt. Leslie by telephone last night were unsuccessful.

Selectmen did issue a news release after yesterday’s resignation that read: “The Board of Selectmen announces that the town has agreed with Sgt. Brice Leslie and the New England Police Benevolent Association to accept the immediate resignation of Sgt. Leslie.

The town, Sgt. Leslie and the union have agreed to resolve any disputed payroll arrangements and the parties have agreed that this does not constitute either an admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of anyone.”

The release goes on: “This matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the town and the town, the board and the police chief will make no further comment regarding any internal personnel matter.”

Sgt. Leslie, 52, whose résumé lists him as a colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, with a 29-year military background, was appointed police chief in neighboring Warren in late November; soon after, the allegations started flying.

Before Warren selectmen could have a background check completed on the appointee, stories surfaced that Sgt. Leslie’s master’s degree from Shelburne University, an Internet school in Ireland, was tainted.

The university was labeled a “diploma mill” offering degrees for a price.

Then Sgt. Leslie’s bachelor’s degree from Worcester State College was called into question.

West Brookfield selectmen recently instructed Police Chief C. Thomas O’Donnell Jr. to verify the authenticity of the Worcester State College degree, but that certification had not been provided as of late this week, selectmen said.

Sgt. Leslie of West Brookfield kept insisting his degree from Worcester State was valid and it was just some kind of mix-up.

Sgt. Leslie was paid an additional $1,250 a year for about nine years as a reward for his college degree from Worcester State.

Before this resignation, selectmen said they expected Sgt. Leslie to reimburse the town for those funds if his degree could not be substantiated.

Posted by: screamineagle

what a way to piss away a career.

Posted by: kwflatbed

Sounds like he should go into politics.

Posted by: Irish Wampanoag

He could have gone to Curry in a hurry instead.

Posted by: Delta784

This is actually quite widespread. Good Morning America did an investigative report on this several years ago, uncovering people in prominent positions that had either bought degrees from phony schools, or claimed degrees from real schools they didn't earn;

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=126976&page=1

Posted by: Hb13

I know Brice Leslie personally and eventhough i don't know what is actually going on with this whole thing outside of the reports i get from the pricks at the telegram and gazette the 10 or so years I have known him I know he is a good and respectable man to whom I would trust my life. Unless you know something else that hasn't been put out there don't slander him any more than the press already has.

Posted by: alphadog1

I wouldn't call it "slander." People are commenting how stupid it is buying a phony degree. He resigned; that's speaks louder than than the newspaper articles.

Posted by: OldCop

Read the Telegram articles online at www.telegram.com apparently there is much more to this than any of us would like to believe, and as part of the terms of his resignation, he will be reimbursing the Town of W. Brookfield for some money he didn't actually deserve (probably as an alternative to being prosecuted). Save your negative comments about the Telegram - if they legitimately outted this guy, they deserve praise for it, not condemnation. One turd in the apple barrel taints the taste of all of them. If they are wrong, then Leslie is likely to become a millionaire before it is over. The whole thing is sickening for those of us who know /worked/ or have served with him. (And NO, I'm not a WBKFLD PO) Even worse, if he got promoted by the Army from CPT thru Colonel, he is on his way to Leavenworth, not a matter of "IF, but "When?"

I hope to God that someone had the common sense and decency to revoke his LTC and get all of his guns before they let him walk out the door. 'Tis the season, and anybody who's been around for a while knows what I'm talking about................

If you Google "Brice Leslie" it will come up on the site below. Scroll down and you'll find a Major who got busted for phony medals - look at the penalty!

What do you think 3 promotions, a couple active duty tours, accepting pay, etc. will garner in the Fed Pen?

www.diplomamillnews.blogspot.com/

Posted by: KozmoKramer

This question might be a little off topic, but it ties in a bit.

Who conducts the BI on an incoming chief? The usual staff member(s) of the hiring department, or do they use an outside agency or the town HR dept.?

Posted by: kwflatbed

Quote:

Originally Posted by KozmoKramer

This question might be a little off topic, but it ties in a bit.

Who conducts the BI on an incoming chief? The usual staff member(s) of the hiring department, or do they use an outside agency or the town HR dept.?

In the small towns it is usualy the board of selectmen

Posted by: OldCop

They never got that far. The search committee included a couple LE (A Chief from a neighboring town and a local EPO) who assumed that since Leslie was working on a PD in the next town, everything was legit. The S-men hired an investigator to do all of the top 3 candidates, but they never got to that point before some of the info started hitting the press. As for WBkfld, he was there for a long time, 9 yrs, and I believe, preceeded the present chief. I guess one would assume that everything was legit, given the circumstances. Also, remember, he was promoted to COLONEL in the USAR. That requires a SECURITY CLEARANCE. Again, one would ASSUME that having those credentials, everything was on the up and up. I've got a long time military affiliation and some rank, and I know what I go through for clearances, promotions, overseas orders, etc. Again, the assumption is everything is legit for everyone wearing the uniform and carrying the ID card. Pretty tough position to thrown-down with an O-6 and start questioning him, especially when you KNOW he's been down-range a couple times.

He's either got to be the consumate sociopath or it's a big mistake and the town is losing out on some good talent.

I personally know a guy, who is a close friend, that has two lovely daughters, a very nice wife, and a successful business. When he was around 18-19 yrs old he was in a car accident and broke his neck, on a fairly remote stretch of Rt 9, late at night. He would not be here today if it hadn't been for Leslie stabilizing him and making sure he was properly cared for on the way to the hospital. I believe the volunteer ambulance crew at the time assumed he was dead, or at least not going to make it. (And NO, douche bags, I'm not related to Leslie....)

Hell, I've known him for almost 30 yrs, and I still hope that it's not true. If it is, he gets what he gets. The GSA will need new license plates for their fleet come next year.

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hb13

I know Brice Leslie personally and eventhough i don't know what is actually going on with this whole thing outside of the reports i get from the pricks at the telegram and gazette the 10 or so years I have known him I know he is a good and respectable man to whom I would trust my life. Unless you know something else that hasn't been put out there don't slander him any more than the press already has.

Slander and libel (libel being the written word) are patently untrue statements about someone. That doesn't appear to be the case here.

We catch enough shit from the public about the Quinn Bill; we don't need someone in our profession trying to take a shortcut by purchasing a degree over the Internet to make it even worse.

Posted by: Irish Wampanoag

Either he has a degree or he does'nt have a degree. Its very easy to confirm and or deny the existence of such. Its does not take a congressional investigation to get to the truth one this one.

Posted by: mikemac64

His transcript from WSC will say "degree conferred" or something like that.

Posted by: jettsixx

The only question I have is, Why would someone who had a stable career in as a Sgt. in a small town apply for a position that he knew required a degree if he knew his degree was bogus?

Posted by: Delta784

Quote:

Originally Posted by jettsixx

The only question I have is, Why would someone who had a stable career in as a Sgt. in a small town apply for a position that he knew required a degree if he knew his degree was bogus?

Because he got away with it for so many years.

Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldCop

The search committee included a couple LE (A Chief from a neighboring town and a local EPO)

Just wondering...
Did the EPO have to turn over his weapon before entering the town hall!?

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