Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Trooper abuse scandal: Were cadets' heads shoved in toilet?
Boston Herald ^ | September 15, 2005 | Michele McPhee and Maggie Mulvihill

Posted on 09/15/2005 4:36:50 AM PDT by billorites

A Massachusetts state police instructor is under investigation for allegedly forcing recruits' heads into dirty toilets in a hazing ritual that was kept under wraps until a female major complained to top brass, sources said.

``The instructor put his boot on the backs of their heads,'' said one source. ``People complained, but their complaints were never taken seriously.''

Lt. Sharon Costine, a state police spokeswoman, confirmed yesterday that the internal probe is underway but declined to elaborate.

``We will conduct a full and thorough investigation and take whatever action is deemed warranted,'' Costine said in a written statement.

The alleged hazing took place at the state police academy in New Braintree, where 174 aspiring troopers have been training since late June. A number of recruits already have dropped out of the grueling 25-week program, one trooper said. The remaining trainees are due to graduate in December.

Academy rules prohibit officers from using ``unprofessional language or behavior.''

But one veteran trooper said because of the state police's paramilitary structure, hazing complaints are not unusual.

``A kick in the ass, a head in the john. It's nothing new,'' he said. ``Anything they did to you at the academy, you kept your mouth shut. That's how bad you wanted to get on the job.''

The recruits spend Monday through Friday at the 780-acre academy campus, where they are up at 5:30 a.m. for physical training and then spend the day in classes ranging from ``defensive tactics'' to ``stress awareness'' to ``weapons of mass destruction.'' Classes end at 8 p.m, with ``lights out'' at 9:30 p.m.

In 1995, a state appeals court judge ruled the state's anti-hazing law did not apply to the academy, after one recruit filed a lawsuit claiming she was denied water and medication during a serious bout with pneumonia while training at the academy.

``I went through absolute torture,'' Carol Perkins, 47, of Sterling said yesterday. ``It gets barbaric in there.''

Perkins, a single mother of two small boys, said she did not appeal the decision because the litigation grew too expensive, but she feared if she stayed in the punishing program, she would end up dead.

``I was so scared. It was like, `What am I in for?' '' she said. ``I often wonder what would have happened, but I feared what happened in Agawam and how far that kid was pushed.''

Cadet Timothy Shepard, 25, died in November 1988, six weeks after collapsing from heat stroke during training at a state police training academy in Agawam.

Fifteen other cadets in the same class suffered severe kidney ailments, and state police banned punitive exercise during training. After a lengthy probe, then Attorney General James M. Shannon declined to file criminal charges against instructors at Agawam, though he labeled the episode ``state government at its worst.''


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: leo; policeacademy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

1 posted on 09/15/2005 4:36:50 AM PDT by billorites
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: billorites

Police instructor is still bullying people like he did in junior high?


2 posted on 09/15/2005 4:39:02 AM PDT by mtbopfuyn (Legality does not dictate morality... Lavin)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites

Why is it important that it was a female major who complained?


3 posted on 09/15/2005 4:39:28 AM PDT by gondramB ("Leadership is getting someone to do what they don't want to do to achieve what they want to achieve)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites

Its called a swirlee. Geez. If cadets can't deal with a little hazing, how will last one day on the streets.


4 posted on 09/15/2005 4:41:18 AM PDT by Fenris6 (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months w/o missing a day of work? He's either John Rambo or a Fraud)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites

Instructors...Brainless bullies with a bad attitude. If they run short, the military has many to spare.


5 posted on 09/15/2005 4:44:06 AM PDT by cynicom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites
The recruits spend Monday through Friday at the 780-acre academy campus, where they are up at 5:30 a.m. for physical training and then spend the day in classes ranging from ``defensive tactics'' to ``stress awareness'' to ``weapons of mass destruction.''

And let's not forget my personal favorite, "Lying Under Oath."

6 posted on 09/15/2005 4:46:27 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cynicom

Where?


7 posted on 09/15/2005 4:48:23 AM PDT by dakine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: gondramB

That's to lend gravitas to the story. That or just a sly reference to the feminization of the police force in the Bloated One's state.


8 posted on 09/15/2005 4:48:44 AM PDT by highlymotivated (If American ever falls, a STINKING LIBERAL will be behind it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: dakine

Check any military training facility.


9 posted on 09/15/2005 4:52:06 AM PDT by cynicom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: billorites

It's just training. How else are they going to learn how to abuse drunk-driving insurance salesmen?


10 posted on 09/15/2005 4:52:07 AM PDT by Fierce Allegiance
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cynicom

Sounds like sour grapes. Failed boot camp did ya?


11 posted on 09/15/2005 4:53:56 AM PDT by highlymotivated (If American ever falls, a STINKING LIBERAL will be behind it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: billorites

12 posted on 09/15/2005 4:54:20 AM PDT by pageonetoo (You'll spot their posts soon enough!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: highlymotivated

Check the other thread running here re cops..


13 posted on 09/15/2005 4:56:17 AM PDT by cynicom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Fenris6
Its called a swirlee. Geez. If cadets can't deal with a little hazing, how will last one day on the streets.

I call it disgusting. How is hazing like that going to make someone a better police officer?

I spent 8 years in the Army as an Air Defense Artillery officer. I never felt the need to abuse my soldiers to make them "tougher".

14 posted on 09/15/2005 4:56:34 AM PDT by Night Hides Not (The only NOC list containing the name of Valerie Plame was stolen by Ethan Hunt.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Night Hides Not

The physical part was expected in the military..The money shakedowns were a tad too much. We were shaken down every week. It was nicknamed "pay or pay". One way or the other you paid.


15 posted on 09/15/2005 4:59:24 AM PDT by cynicom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Night Hides Not

[shrug] I've had it done to me. Its no big deal. I don't approve of it but, like placing panties on Al Queda heads, it doesn't rise to the level of abuse.


16 posted on 09/15/2005 4:59:38 AM PDT by Fenris6 (3 Purple Hearts in 4 months w/o missing a day of work? He's either John Rambo or a Fraud)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: billorites

Next time I get pulled over by a State Cop ("Statie") I think I'll be tempted to tell him he has some toilet paper hanging from the back of his Smokey the Bear hat - AFTER I get the ticket, of course.


17 posted on 09/15/2005 5:00:56 AM PDT by Living Free in NH
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: billorites

Judged by the number of insurance claims, Taxachussets has the lousiest drivers in the nation. Judged by the court system's decisions, it also has the goofiest judiciary. If you want to do law enforcement there, you had better get used to the feel of your head in a toilet while the water swirls around your ears.


18 posted on 09/15/2005 5:05:31 AM PDT by NaughtiusMaximus (The liberals promised to move to Canada but they lied . . . bwaaaaah.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cynicom

Funny, I did 21 years on active duty and was never shaken down for cash. Sure you weren't in the Mexican Army maybe?


19 posted on 09/15/2005 5:10:08 AM PDT by highlymotivated (If American ever falls, a STINKING LIBERAL will be behind it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Fenris6

Agreed. It weeds out the weaklings and the crybabies. The very ones you DON'T want watching your back.


20 posted on 09/15/2005 5:10:56 AM PDT by highlymotivated (If American ever falls, a STINKING LIBERAL will be behind it.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson