State Rules Beverly Police Favored Family, Friends In Hiring

BEVERLY, MA —Beverly Police Chief John LeLacheur chose candidates with multiple driver's license suspensions and who was involved in a fight that left the victim with serious injuries over Cambridge firefighter Nicholas Menard for appointment as a reserve officer, according to a ruling by the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission. The ruling said that the candidates chosen over Menard, who was deemed more qualified, were friends and relatives of current Beverly police officers.

Thursday's ruling requires Beverly to place Menard's name at the of the list for future permanent reserve police officer openings. If the department is not appointing reserve officers, Menard's name should go at the top of a list for a full-time police officer opening.

"I thought we presented a good case, but they made their decision and we'll honor the decision," LeLacheur told the Salem News, which first reported this story. The ruling says Beverly police hiring decisions were "unduly subjective."

For more on this story, see the Salem News.