Peabody conflict boils over
Staff writers
A highly charged city council meeting last week in which Peabody police accused the city’s mayor-elect of violating their privacy and endangering their families has erupted into an online petition demanding that the incoming mayor resign.
The non-binding petition urges Kevin Burke to step aside before taking office, saying claims made at the meeting have undermined public trust in his ability to lead.
The controversy erupted during what was to be the final council meeting of outgoing mayor Catherine Weems, whom Burke defeated in November’s general election.
She began the meeting by stating that she had received a communication from Police Chief Matthew Neal that Burke and a community member, whom she did not identify, had engaged in surveillance of police personnel and contacted officers’ family members.
Video of the meeting can be found here.
“In the interest of transparency, we will discuss this matter openly,” Weems told the council. “This potentially puts the city into a lawsuit.”
At the center of the dispute is a city-owned police car — a Ford Explorer that Neal reportedly drives out of town to his home and to other destinations.
Burke said he was attempting to determine whether the council had authorized Neal to leave town with the vehicle and whether it was being used for personal purposes.
“I was trying to gather information about the car so that I could present something to the council,” Burke said. “That’s what this was about.”
Burke denied contacting officers’ family members, denied photographing homes or arranging surveillance, and said he did not make allegations about officers’ personal lives.
According to a source who declined to be identified, Neal was seen among other things visiting a female officer’s out-of-town home at 2 a.m. The Record could not independently verify this information.
The officers claimed last week that their integrity was being impugned by false allegations and that family members had been contacted.
But Burke repeatedly said he did not contact family members “in any way, shape or form” and “I didn’t take any pictures.”
The three officers who spoke at length at the meeting said the situation went far beyond a routine equipment question.
Neal told council members his residence had been photographed and his family members, including children, had been contacted.
These and other unsubstantiated personal allegations, he and another officer said, left officers fearful for their safety.
Police speaking at the meeting said County Attorney Michelle Brown had been contacted and implied that she was considering filing changes.
However, Brown, contacted by the Record after the meeting, said she had not authorized any criminal charges.
“I never in any way, shape, or form told anyone I was charging either Kevin Burke or the police chief,” Brown said.
Statements also were made during the meeting that the KBI had been asked to review the matter. As a matter of routine, the KBI does not comment on what, if anything, it might be investigating.
Officer Jessica LaValley told the council she had been warned her home was being watched and that photos of her residence were taken. She said she kept her address confidential and that even some of her own family members did not know her address.
“I don’t feel safe or comfortable in my own home anymore, and neither does my daughter,” LaValley said. “I signed up to protect the community, not to feel unsafe in my home.”
LaValley said allegations that she was involved in an inappropriate relationship were false. She characterized such allegations as being rooted in gender discrimination.
“I have never been accused of anything like that in 11 years of law enforcement,” she said. “If I were a man, those accusations would never be made.”
Neal said he welcomed oversight and accountability but thought that involving officers’ families, which Burke denied doing, crossed a line.
“If you don’t like the job I’m doing, fire me,” Neal said. “But don’t come after my family. That’s not acceptable.”
Weems said that the department’s vehicle usage was documented, tracked by GPS, and linked to official business, including maintenance and investigations, and that any concerns should have been brought to her through normal channels and “handled with a conversation.”
Near the end of the meeting, Burke apologized if anything he did cause harm to Neal or his family.
“That was never my intent,” Burke said.
Neal accepted the apology but said clear boundaries would have to be respected moving forward.
“My family is off limits,” he said.
Weems said trust must be rebuilt and communication improved as Peabody continues efforts to stabilize and rebuild its police department, which has incurred multiple instances of complete turnover in recent years.
“We have worked hard to get this department back,” she said. “We need to stick to the facts and work together.”
Fire chief Colton Glenn, who was at the meeting, has become very vocal on social media since then.
“It became clear to me that many residents were unaware of what had taken place,” Glenn said. “As someone in a leadership role, I felt a responsibility to inform the community and encourage transparency around the process being used to make decisions that affect Peabody.”
Glenn said his concern was whether decisions were being made in a way that respected due process and served the future of Peabody.
“Prior to the meeting, I did not have a negative opinion of Mr. Burke,” Glenn said. “My concerns arose solely from what occurred during and after that meeting. Based on my observations, I believe external pressures may have influenced certain decisions. That belief is based on patterns I have personally experienced and witnessed, not on personal hostility.”
Messages seeking additional comment from Burke after the meeting were not returned.
Neal declined further comment, citing a desire to maintain working relations with the incoming mayor.
After publication of the this story Wednesday, Neal called the newspaper and said that children of his girlfriend had been improperly contacted and that Burke was “on the call.” Neal also denied that he had ever visited any of his officers’ homes.