Officials Speak Out on Dedham Officer's Recent Arrest

One week after a Dedham police officer was arrested in connection with an alleged kidnapping that took place during the winter, officials in town are reaching out to the community to address the matter.

Officer Michael Schoener was taken into custody last Wednesday, accused of providing police-related equipment two other suspects reportedly used as they allegedly posed as police officers to take Avon resident James Robertson from his home in January. Robertson is still reported missing, and another Dedham resident has been accused as the alleged “architect” of the plan.

In response to the developments and local connections to the incident, Dedham officials submitted the following Letter to the Editor on Wednesday, Aug. 13:

To the Dedham Community,

Recently, allegations have come to light regarding a member of the Dedham Police Department that have resulted in criminal charges against him and several other individuals. The story has been widely reported in the news media, and as Town leaders, we wanted to take a few moments to address the residents and business owners of Dedham directly.

This is a deeply troubling situation. These charges, if true, represent a staggering breach of public trust.

As this remains an open and ongoing investigation in the District Attorney’s office, there are certain things that we are not allowed to discuss publicly. However, we want to let you know that the Dedham Police Department and the Town of Dedham have been in constant communication with District Attorney Morrissey and the Massachusetts State Police, and we will continue to cooperate fully with this investigation.

Please be assured that the Town has acted swiftly and appropriately in response to the allegations against this officer. The Town will take such further actions as may be warranted based on the results of the Dedham Police Department’s own, ongoing internal affairs investigation into this matter.

There will be more discussions about this case as it unfolds. At the same time, we want to reassure you that the men and women of the Dedham Police Department are an extremely dedicated group of people who work hard every day for the people of Dedham.

Dedham is a strong, tight-knit community. We share your profound concern, and we pledge to do our utmost going forward to ensure that our community is as well informed and well-served as possible.

Respectfully Submitted,

James A. MacDonald, Chairman, Board of Selectmen
Nancy A. Baker, Interim Town Manager
Michael d’Entremont, Chief of Police