Piccerelli v. Board of Selectmen of Swansea

• Decision Date: 30 May 1979
• Citation: 7 Mass.App.Ct. 924,389 N.E.2d 793
• Parties: Sorzio PICCERELLI v. BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF SWANSEA (and two companion cases).
• Court: Appeals Court of Massachusetts

Page 793

389 N.E.2d 793

7 Mass.App.Ct. 924

Sorzio PICCERELLI v. BOARD OF SELECTMEN OF SWANSEA (and two companion cases).

Appeals Court of Massachusetts, Bristol.

Argued April 12, 1979.

Decided May 30, 1979.

Kenneth L. Sullivan, Fall River, for Sorzio Piccerelli.

Robert E. Allen, Jr., Raynham, for Kenneth Bell.

Raymond V. Pettine, Town Counsel, Fall River, for defendant.

Before GRANT, PERRETTA and KASS, JJ.

RESCRIPT.

1. There is no merit to the contention that the selectmen lacked authority to conduct their inquiry hearing of June 27, 1975. Although the provisions of G.L. c. 41, § 97A (which has been accepted by the town of Swansea), entrust the supervision and immediate control of all police officers to the chief of police (Chief of Police of Westford v. Westford, 365 Mass. 526, 530, 313 N.E.2d 443 (1974)), those same provisions also charge the selectmen with the duties of (and thus the ultimate responsibility for) appointing and removing all police officers, including the chief of police (here the father of the plaintiff Bell). It is clear from the record in this case that the selectmen, in putting their questions to each plaintiff as to his possible participation in, knowledge of, or concealment of the facts concerning an automobile accident of January 18, 1975, in which one of the automobiles involved was reported to have been stolen, were acting in furtherance of their duty to determine the fitness of the plaintiffs to continue to serve as police officers. See and compare Broderick v. Police Commr. of Boston, 368 Mass. 33, 37, 39-40, 41-43, 44, 330 N.E.2d 199 (1975), cert. denied, 423 U.S. 1048, 96 S.Ct. 773, 46 L.Ed.2d 636 (1976). See also G.L. c. 41, § 23B. 2. The summons served on each plaintiff (G.L. c. 233, § 8) to appear at that hearing required his "presence . . . for the purpose of answering questions relative to the internal affairs of the Swansea Police Department." It is obvious from the remarks concerning newspaper reports made at the hearing by counsel who then represented both plaintiffs, from counsel's demand that he be permitted to examine the report concerning the events of January 18, 1975, which had been submitted to the selectmen by the district attorney, and from the allegations of the first two complaints filed in No. 1962, that neither plaintiff was under any misapprehension as to the subject matter of the selectmen's inquiry. See Gardner v. Massachusetts Turnpike Authy., 347 Mass. 552, 563-564, 199 N.E.2d 186 (1964), Id., 348 Mass. 532, 204 N.E.2d 887 (1965). There is nothing in the record to suggest that the inquiry was other than investigatory (as was repeatedly emphasized by the selectmen); the narrow questions put to the plaintiffs were relevant to the fitness of each to continue to serve as a police officer; no effort was made to force either plaintiff to waive his privilege against self incrimination; and there was no threat of criminal prosecution. See and compare Broderick v. Police Commr. of Boston, 368 Mass. at 38 n.3, 39-40, 41-44, 330 N.E.2d 199. The trial judge's conclusion that that hearing was not "full and fair" appears to rest on nothing firmer than a misunderstanding of the nature, purpose and permissible scope of the inquiry. 3. There is nothing in the record to support the plaintiffs' contention (or the trial judge's conclusion) that there was something unfair about the disciplinary hearing conducted by the selectmen on August 21, 1975. The stenographic transcript of the inquiry of June 27, 1975, was introduced in evidence by agreement of counsel. There is nothing to suggest that either plaintiff was deprived of an opportunity to present evidence to the effect that his refusal to answer the questions put to him at the earlier hearing had been in good faith (if that was material) or had been compelled by some overriding duty to refuse to answer. See Silverio v. Municipal Ct. of City of Boston, 355 Mass. 623, 626, 630-631, 247 N.E.2d 379, cert. denied, 396 U.S. 878, 90 S.Ct. 151, 24 L.Ed.2d 135 (1969). Counsel for the plaintiffs did not advise the selectmen of the identity or anticipated testimony of the witness whose presence was desired by the plaintiffs; there is nothing in the transcript of the August 21, 1975, hearing which would warrant a finding that the selectmen's refusal to grant a continuance was made in bad faith; and no effort was made at trial to prove that that refusal was other than in good faith. See Daley v. District Ct. of Western Hampden, 304 Mass. 86, 96-97, 23 N.E.2d 1 (1939). 4. The refusal of each plaintiff to answer the questions which had been put to him on June 27, 1975, constituted "cause" (G.L. c. 41, § 97A) and "just cause" (St.1968, c. 396) for his removal, as voted by the selectmen at...