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Internal affairs cop quits state force
By Maureen Boyle, Enterprise staff writer
The head of the state police internal affairs section is quitting the force, claiming top brass are letting too many members of the department get away with a slap on the wrist for wrongdoing.
Major John Burns, one of the highest ranking minority officers on the state police, said his disciplinary recommendations were regularly overturned, despite his objections, including in cases where he believed laws were broken.
But state police Col. Thomas J. Foley said that's not true and Burns never brought any concerns to him about criminal misconduct going unpunished.
"The suggestion that this department condones any type of criminal conduct by a member is outrageous," Foley said in a statement issued Monday night after learning of Burns' allegations.
He said he has ordered Burns to immediately submit a written report with all information concerning his allegations so "that I may determine if a complete and thorough investigation is warranted."
"At no time have I ever condoned or tolerated allegations of criminal misconduct. I will continue to hold members accountable for their actions when the facts presented clearly support it," Foley said.
Burns, formerly of Brockton, declined Monday to detail cases where his disciplinary recommendations were overturned or provide other information about those cases until after he formally leaves the state police on Friday. He has been the deputy commander of standards and training for the past five years and has been responsible for internal affairs investigations.
"We took an oath as police officers to uphold the law, and conduct that violates that to me is unacceptable, period," Burns said.
Foley said he doesn't know what cases Burns is talking about. "It is difficult to respond to Major Burns' allegations as this is the first time he has brought them to my attention .... As Major Burns is well aware of, this department investigates all complaints of criminal misconduct. Furthermore, it has always been the practice of this department to refer any allegations of criminal misconduct or behavior to the district attorney or the attorney general's office for further determination," he said.
Over the years, a number of officers on the state police have been fired or prosecuted. Those cases ranged from instances where drug dealers had been tipped off to the theft of drug evidence.
Burns' attorney, Joel P. Suttenberg, said his client has been bothered for more than a year that disciplinary recommendations were overturned or "trivialized."
"That is why he is so frustrated," Suttenburg said. "His integrity is unquestioned."
Burns, who is formally retiring, said it is tough to leave the state police.
"It is fair to say I leave with a very heavy heart. It is a profession that I thoroughly loved and I am proud to be a member of the state police," he said.
Burns said he decided to leave the force for "ethical and moral" reasons because the small number of officers involved in wrongdoing are not being properly disciplined.
"I believe it serves to undermine the good will and discipline of the department but, more importantly, I believe it does a disservice to the public that we serve," he said.
Burns said wrongdoing cannot be tolerated by members of law enforcement.
Colleagues have asked him to reconsider, Burns said.
"I have to ask myself, what would change?" he said. "I don't see what difference it would make to reconsider."
By Maureen Boyle, Enterprise staff writer
The head of the state police internal affairs section is quitting the force, claiming top brass are letting too many members of the department get away with a slap on the wrist for wrongdoing.
Major John Burns, one of the highest ranking minority officers on the state police, said his disciplinary recommendations were regularly overturned, despite his objections, including in cases where he believed laws were broken.
But state police Col. Thomas J. Foley said that's not true and Burns never brought any concerns to him about criminal misconduct going unpunished.
"The suggestion that this department condones any type of criminal conduct by a member is outrageous," Foley said in a statement issued Monday night after learning of Burns' allegations.
He said he has ordered Burns to immediately submit a written report with all information concerning his allegations so "that I may determine if a complete and thorough investigation is warranted."
"At no time have I ever condoned or tolerated allegations of criminal misconduct. I will continue to hold members accountable for their actions when the facts presented clearly support it," Foley said.
Burns, formerly of Brockton, declined Monday to detail cases where his disciplinary recommendations were overturned or provide other information about those cases until after he formally leaves the state police on Friday. He has been the deputy commander of standards and training for the past five years and has been responsible for internal affairs investigations.
"We took an oath as police officers to uphold the law, and conduct that violates that to me is unacceptable, period," Burns said.
Foley said he doesn't know what cases Burns is talking about. "It is difficult to respond to Major Burns' allegations as this is the first time he has brought them to my attention .... As Major Burns is well aware of, this department investigates all complaints of criminal misconduct. Furthermore, it has always been the practice of this department to refer any allegations of criminal misconduct or behavior to the district attorney or the attorney general's office for further determination," he said.
Over the years, a number of officers on the state police have been fired or prosecuted. Those cases ranged from instances where drug dealers had been tipped off to the theft of drug evidence.
Burns' attorney, Joel P. Suttenberg, said his client has been bothered for more than a year that disciplinary recommendations were overturned or "trivialized."
"That is why he is so frustrated," Suttenburg said. "His integrity is unquestioned."
Burns, who is formally retiring, said it is tough to leave the state police.
"It is fair to say I leave with a very heavy heart. It is a profession that I thoroughly loved and I am proud to be a member of the state police," he said.
Burns said he decided to leave the force for "ethical and moral" reasons because the small number of officers involved in wrongdoing are not being properly disciplined.
"I believe it serves to undermine the good will and discipline of the department but, more importantly, I believe it does a disservice to the public that we serve," he said.
Burns said wrongdoing cannot be tolerated by members of law enforcement.
Colleagues have asked him to reconsider, Burns said.
"I have to ask myself, what would change?" he said. "I don't see what difference it would make to reconsider."
): The trooper yells at the top of his lungs for the staff (no sissy intercoms in those days!): "There's some guy claiming to be a captain that wants to speak to you..." 8) 
