OAK BLUFFS, Mass. (AP) — A veteran Massachusetts police detective has been fired after an investigation found that he had conducted illegal background checks on multiple people who were not under criminal investigation.
The internal probe into Oak Bluffs detective James Morse started after an unrelated investigation into cocaine delivered to a tenant at Morse’s Falmouth home. Authorities say it does not appear Morse was involved in any illegal drug activity.
An internal report found Morse had used police computers while on duty over the last year to look up the criminal histories for people not associated with involved in current cases, a violation of state law. He was fired Nov. 9.
The motive for the background checks is unclear.
Morse, who is also a lawyer, declined comment when reached by phone at his office.
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