Suspended Arlington Police Lt. To Undergo Restorative Justice

ARLINGTON, MA – A police lieutenant who has been on administrative leave since writing a series of controversial columns in a trade newsletter has agreed to participate in the restorative justice process, according to town officials. Lt. Richard Pedrini published three columns in the Massachusetts Police Association magazine The Sentinel last fall that 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 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."

Earlier this month, Pedrini reached an agreement with Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine and Acting Police Chief Julie Flaherty during what the town called a "restorative circle." The circle, overseen by Communities for Restorative Justice Inc., is a process that recognizes that an offense or crime is a violation of people and relationships, not always simply a violation of rules or laws.

Through the restorative justice process, there will be a second restorative circle with community stakeholders, and subsequent engagement with staff at the department to discuss the harm Pedrini's writings caused and lessons gleaned from the restorative justice process, according to the town. Additional disciplinary measures will also be taken.

Representatives from various community groups, including the Arlington Human Rights Commission, will be asked to participate in the second restorative circle and contribute to the dialogue.

The Town is also soliciting the submission of community statements describing the impact of Pedrini's statements so they can be shared with him as part of the restorative circle process. Community statements can be submitted using a Google form available here: bitly.com/PedriniRJCircle.

Statements will be collected, organized, and shared in the second restorative circle by representatives of the Arlington Human Rights Commission. The deadline for submitting a statement is Wednesday, March 6.The second restorative circle will be scheduled in March.

"When we reviewed all options available to us to resolve this matter, we felt there was no more effective or more fitting solution than the restorative justice process. Not only does this process reflect the values of the Arlington community by allowing for community input and reconciliation, but it provides the greatest opportunity for a lasting and valuable outcome – healing," Chapdelaine said in a statement. "As always, when faced with a difficult situation, we turn to our trusted partners in the community for guidance. Restorative Justice is a tried and true method - championed by Arlington since its inception - to offer healing to the community when there is a breach."

The town's aim is to give Pedrini a path to return to work that affords him the chance to learn from the incident and allows the town to rebuild the trust that was lost, officials said.

"It is our sincere hope that this deeply distressing situation will serve as a teachable moment for all public servants," Flaherty said in a statement. "The partnerships forged here in Arlington are on full display, proving again that a police department's potential for success is only as great as its connection to the community and the trust placed in it by its citizens."

Pedrini has been a member of the Arlington Police Department since 1996.