Arlington To Assess Police Bias Amid Pedrini Controversy

ARLINGTON, MA — Arlington will have a third party examine potential bias in its police department and hold a series of trainings for all officers as the blowback continues from Lt. Richard Pedrini's comments in a police trade publication last year. In an open letter to the community Thursday, Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine outlined the further steps officials are taking to restore trust between the police department and the community.

Pedrini was placed on administrative leave in October after writing three columns in the Massachusetts Police Association magazine The Sentinel, one of which called for officers to meet "violence with violence." Pedrini also slammed the criminal justice system, elected officials and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

"I am sick and tired of the social justice warriors telling us how to do our jobs," one column read. "It's time we forget about 'restraint', 'measured responses', 'procedural justice', 'de-escalation', 'stigma-reduction', and other feel-good BS that is getting our officers killed. Let's stop lipsynching, please! Let's meet violence with violence and get the job done."

The MPA pulled Pedrini's columns, which he said were intended to be "tongue-in-cheek political satire" for MPA members and "not meant to be taken word for word." He returned to work in April after completing the restorative justice process and later publicly apologized for what he called "careless and crude" comments.

Pedrini is currently serving in an administrative capacity as the lieutenant in charge of the Traffic, Details & Licensing Unit, according to Chapdelaine. He is eligible for overtime and details.

But the Pedrini saga is far from over. A story by Arlington writer Laura Kiesel, published in DigBoston June 12, shed light on Pedrini's history, which included a 2002 restraining order and a complaint against the town alleging that officials were "aware that Pedrini's gun had been taken away and that he was the subject of several lawsuits alleging violent interactions." However, town officials have said he does not have a history of excessive force.

Following the article's publication, a petition circulated among Arlington residents calling on officials to develop a plan for restoring community trust. Chapdelaine responded to that call this week, acknowledging that further engagement from the town and Pedrini himself is necessary.

The plan is to train the entire department in community policing, procedural justice and policing without bias, according to Chapdelaine. Acting Chief Julie Flaherty is working to contract with a third party provider to assess the existence of bias in the Arlington Police Department and provide recommendations for addressing any findings.

Arlington has also created a new government position – Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion – and will provide training on issues of race and equity to managers and supervisors across all town departments, according to Chapdelaine.

"I want to once again make clear my acknowledgement and understanding of the real harm caused by Lt. Pedrini’s words. They have had, and continue to have, real impact on people living in Arlington and beyond," Chapdelaine wrote Thursday. "Additional steps are needed, and will surely be coming, to ensure that our Town and all of its employees live up to the values and aspirations of respect, safety, inclusion and justice for all Arlington residents. I understand that we have more work to do and I am committed to doing it."

Read Chapdelaine's full letter here.

Previously: Arlington Police Lt. Sorry For 'Violence With Violence' Comments

Arlington Police Lt. Richard Pedrini To Return To Work

Suspended Arlington Police Lt. To Undergo Restorative Justice

Police Non-Profit Retracts Arlington Lieutenant's Columns

Arlington Police Lt: Cops Should Meet 'Violence With Violence'