The Select Board stated at its Feb. 26 meeting that it will not be “pursuing an appeal in the matter of Officer Christopher Gallo.”
The board expressed its “unwavering support for Police Chief Dennis King” regarding the disciplinary action taken against Gallo in its prepared statement.
“As public officials entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of our community, we stand behind the Chief’s decision to uphold the integrity of our police force and to maintain the highest standards of conduct among our officers,” Select Board Chair Erin Noonan read.
She continued, “The board’s decision to adopt the findings and recommendation of the hearing officer was not made lightly, but with the understanding that accountability is a cornerstone of effective law enforcement and essential for maintaining the public trust. While we may not agree with the outcome, we respect the process and the arbitrator’s ruling, and we are committed to moving forward in the best interest of all parties involved.”
The Select Board made no further comments regarding the arbitrator’s decision to reinstate Gallo to the Marblehead Police Department, and King simply echoed the Select Board’s statement.
The majority of the meeting was focused on Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer’s discussion on this year’s Town Meeting warrant, which was formally posted Feb. 28.
He explained that the first 22 articles included were the articles regarding the Town’s usual business, like budget information. Articles 23-44 regarded a myriad of other business such as updating floodplains and shifting the age limit requirements for police officers to apply to Marblehead Police Department. The remaining eight articles were led by citizens and ranged from creating a recall provision for elected positions to monitoring the storage of fishing gear and lobster traps.
