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

ARLINGTON, MA — Police Lt. Richard Pedrini issued a public apology this week, a month after he completed the restorative justice process and was cleared to return to work. Pedrini had been on administrative leave since October after writing a series of controversial columns in a trade newsletter.

The three columns in the Massachusetts Police Association magazine The Sentinel called for officers to meet "violence with violence." Pedrini also slammed the criminal justice system, elected officials and former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The MPA later 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."

In February, Pedrini reached an agreement with Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine and Acting Police Chief Julie Flaherty to undergo the restorative justice process.

Read his apology below:

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for my comments published in editorials that I authored in the MPA Sentinel Magazine. I’d like to take every opportunity to try to grow as a person and learn from my mistakes. Upon reflection, I now realize that I was careless and crude. For this I am truly sorry and I apologize to everyone that I have offended or hurt in any way with these articles. I realize my words have damaged the well-earned relationship of trust and respect between the department and the community and I especially want to personally apologize to both the entire staff of the Arlington Police Department and the greater community as a whole. I was insensitive in my commentary on issues of great import and I was wrong. I take full responsibility for this.

The restorative justice process has been difficult. Much more difficult than I had imagined it would be. It has forced me to take a deeper look inside myself, to reflect on why I wrote what I did, and to admit the harm that I have caused through the columns written in the Sentinel magazine. After hearing the impact statements from Arlington community members I am able to look at what I wrote through the eyes of others and I realize now how deeply hurtful my words were. I also acknowledge that what I wrote offended many in the Law Enforcement community as well. Here in Massachusetts, we have a reputation for leading the nation when it comes to community policing and the concepts of 21st Century Policing. My columns damaged that reputation not just here, but nationally.

I want to reassure members of the public who were frightened by my writings that my words in these columns are not reflective of my actions or leadership style. I am a police officer that believes and practices de-escalation and I have never had a complaint for allegations of excessive force. Those under my command do not get complaints for excessive force. Those in my charge treat the people we encounter with dignity and respect. We embrace the concepts of procedural justice and other progressive policy initiatives and will continue to do so. I will continue to reinforce the “Guardian Mentality” versus the “Warrior Mindset”. At the APD, we provide a valuable public service and do so as “community caretakers and guardians” who protect our community as opposed to aggressive warriors headed to battle. We use force as a last resort. I have always been proud to be an Arlington police officer and have the opportunity to protect and serve this great community. I apologize to everyone for publishing writings that are inconsistent with my and my department’s values and actions. I am especially remorseful for damaging the trust between the community and the APD. I know I will have to work for a long time to rebuild that trust.

Before coming to the Arlington Police, I was a commissioned officer in the United States Navy. The Armed Services of the United States are some of the most diverse organizations in the world. In performing various shipboard leadership roles, I served with and supervised people of all races and ethnicities, with backgrounds from all over the country. I received several commendations, including the Navy Achievement Medal, for my service. I know how to interact with diverse people on a basis of equality and mutual respect.

I have learned a lot from this experience about how the words I wrote created severe unintended harm. I have always strived to represent the department in a positive light and to never bring discredit to the department. In this case I failed to do so and I am deeply disappointed in myself. I take full responsibility for my actions.

I look forward to mending the harm done and moving forward in the right direction. I am committed to meeting with community groups and contributing on matters pertaining to police policy; whether it is juvenile justice, police legitimacy and transparency, use of force issues, or any other topic that would give me more insight into other people’s lived experiences and gain empathy for those who have had negative interactions with the police. I am also encouraged by the opportunity to take on the role of an advocate for the restorative justice process, procedural justice, and other principles of 21st Century Policing.

Lastly, I want to thank all who took the time to participate in the restorative justice process. I am truly sorry for the damage I have done and the harm that I have caused through my thoughtless writings.

Sincerely,
Rick Pedrini

Previously: 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'