Officer Loses Job Over Restraining Order Error

When a Watertown police officer failed to properly serve a restraining order and lied about it, he found himself being fired from the department. Officer Roberto Velasquez-Johnson was dismissed on November 29th following a public hearing regarding his case on October 19.

According to Town Manager Michael Driscoll, "after reviewing the Hearing Officer's report and other documents related to the hearing, I have concluded that just cause exists to terminate Officer Velasquez-Johnson."

The incident in question happened on July 2nd when, after nobody answered the door at the residence in question, Velasquez-Johnson left the restraining order on the doorstep. Police protocol requires officers to deliver such notices to the person directly.

During his trial Velasquez-Johnson's attorney Alan Shapiro tried to argue that Police Chief Edward Deveau had singled the officer out due to his vocal opposition to the chief's leadership skills. Shapiro also claims that the department did not follow protocol regarding its internal affairs policy on how to notify police officers that they are under investigation.

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