20 Medford police officers suspended after investigation into detail pay violations

MEDFORD, MASS. (WHDH) - Twenty Medford police officers have been suspended without pay after a monthslong investigation into detail pay violations, officials said.

In June, Mayor Stephanie M. Burke was told the Medford Police Department’s detail policy may not have been followed at the Cradock Bridge construction project, City Solicitor Mark Rumley announced Thursday.

“I can’t explain it. It is a lapse of judgment, maybe,” Medford Police Chief Jack Buckley told 7’s Steve Cooper. “Maybe it’s more of a moral lapse.”

The suspensions, which range from two days to 30 days, are linked to police details at the bridge project between February and April of 2018.

The officers found in violation of department policy have agreed to repay detail payments ranging from $200 to $2,000, and in all totaling $17,000.

In a statement, Burke called the officers’ actions appalling and disappointing.

“As Mayor, I’m dismayed and disappointed with the actions of some members of the Medford Police Department,” Burke said. “However, I remain confident that in concert with the chief of police, we handled this matter swiftly, professionally, and with veracity.”

After Burke consulted with Buckley and Rumley, former Massachusetts State Police Captain Paul L’Italien was selected to lead an independent investigation into allegations that officers violated policies related to detail work by falsifying time cards.

L’Italien’s investigation wrapped up in August after he received the “full cooperation of the officers” who answered his inquiries “candidly without reservation,” officials said.

After reviewing L’Italien’s findings, Buckley says he informed Burke that he believed it was necessary to discipline each officer based on the nature of their violations.

In total, 45 officers were investigated. Fifteen were fully exonerated, while seven others were given written reprimands.

Many of the officers have since been banned from working details for at least a year.

This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS for updates online and on-air.

(Copyright (c) 2026 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)