NEWS > 25 February 2007

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Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
25 February 2007

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Wrentham Police Department, MA

Threat accusation spurs police

Wrentham's police union is calling for the resignation of a selectwoman who they say falsely accused an officer of making an online death threat against a former member of the Board of Selectmen.

But Jennifer Firth denies she made an accusation against any officer, and said that the police union action is an attempt to unseat her over political differences.

The infighting centers on an e-mail that Firth sent on Jan. 23 to Town Moderator Keith Billian, in which she wrote, "I had hoped we wouldn't publicly disclose the blog in which a police officer suggests killing a candidate for local office (Greg Pazurchek), as it will definitely compromise public confidence." Billian provided a copy of the e-mail to the Globe.

Pazurchek, a former selectman, ran for reelection in 2005 against George A . Labonte and lost by a narrow margin.

In her e-mail to Billian, Firth was apparently referring to an online message board discussion on the website FreeRepublic.com that took place during the tightly contested race in 2005.

A user posting under the name Phantom Lord wrote, "Winning tactic . . . Kill your opponent."

During a Feb. 6 selectmen's meeting, Firth referred to the posting "as a police officer in a blog spot and killing of a political candidate," and said she knew who wrote it.

Police Chief Joseph E . Collamati Jr. , upset about the accusation against a member of his department, asked the Norfolk district attorney's office to investigate.

Last week, the prosecutor's office announced it had found no evidence a Wrentham officer posted the message, and said the message did not constitute a threat.

In an interview with the Globe, Firth said she does not recall sending the e-mail to Billian. The district attorney's report portrays Firth as confused over who wrote the post. "Oh, I don't know how to read these things anyway," she was quoted as telling investigators.

Detective Sergeant William McGrath, president of the Wrentham Police Association, said his union will file a complaint with the State Ethics Commission if Firth does not step down.

"This is the most serious allegation ever made against one of our members," McGrath said.

Firth said Collamati and the union are trying to discredit her so she won't be able to vote for the new police chief when Collamati retires later this year.

"They're worried that I won't support the candidate that they want me to," Firth said.

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Article sourced from

Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA25 February 2007

Threat accusation spurs police

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Boston Globe - Boston,MA,USA
25 February 2007