ACLU court petition seeks records about investigation of Salem police officer
Verrocchi
Published: 1/12/2021 6:51:01 PM
After being denied records from the Salem Police Department that delve into how suspended Sgt. Michael Verrocchi came to be criminally charged, the ACLU has filed a petition in Rockingham Superior Court.
In the petition, ACLU attorney Gilles Bissonette accuses the department of taking an unconstitutional position of secrecy concerning one of its members.
Court paperwork dated Jan. 10 says the ACLU wants all reports, investigatory files, disciplinary documents and other records related to Verrocchi’s actions on Nov. 10, 2012.
Verrocchi is accused that day of evading fellow Salem officers who tried to pull him over while he was driving and off duty. He allegedly ran a red light and avoided spike strips put in the road. Verrocchi eventually stopped his vehicle and is said to have laughed, thinking the incident to be a joke.