The two-member board voted unanimously to accept McNeil s resignation, effective May 5.
On April 23, they sent a letter to the chief informing him that they would not renew his contract, which was due to expire this August. They offered no explanation in the letter for the decision.
McNeil became chief of the Somerset Police Department in 2014. Before that, he served as a police lieutenant in Randolph.
Last Wednesday, 100 people tuned in to the selectmen meeting, held over Zoom, many of them to express their support for McNeil. They included Holly McNamara, who resigned as a selectman last month.
“He’s known throughout the entire county and I think this is a terrible decision, she told the board. “I think this is a personal vendetta. I know more than the public does, and that’s all I’ll say.”
This week is just getting started, so before we embark upon that journey, we re taking a look back at the week that was. This past week saw Fall River in the spotlight in both local and national news, especially as the trial of former mayor Jasiel Correia II got underway. These are the stories that resonated most with readers during this very news-heavy week:
Whopper of a job
Our top story this past week was one that was more light-hearted, given the heavy stories that otherwise topped the headlines. A Burger King here in Fall River has undergone a major makeover, as part of an investment from franchise owners James and Sarah Cammilleri. They re making over Burger Kings here in the city and all over the region. Herald News Reporter Charles Winokoor spoke to them about their plans.
Officer Matt Lima was called to a Stop and Shop supermarket in Somerset,
Massachusetts, on 20 December, by security guards who saw two women with two young children not scanning all of their shopping at the self-checkout.
There were numerous items missing from their receipt and they were told to wait inside for the police. Image: The women were caught failing to scan every item at the self-checkout at a Stop and Shop in Somerset, Massachusetts. Pic: Google Streetview
When Mr Lima arrived, he took one woman aside to talk to her while supermarket staff distracted the children.
He found out they had fallen on hard times and tried to steal so they could give the children Christmas dinner.