Town Manager: Chief O'Leary Works for Foxborough, Not the Patriots

Town Manager Bill Keegan would like the media and public to know that Police Chief Edward O’Leary is an employee of the Town of Foxborough and not the New England Patriots or Gillette Stadium.

Citing several reports that mischaracterized O’Leary’s role for event day security, Keegan said through a press release that O’Leary serves as the town’s chief of policing service at Gillette Stadium, just as Fire Chief Roger Hatfield serves as the town’s chief of fire suppression and EMS services for events at the stadium.

“Both chiefs are compensated solely by the town of Foxborough for any services they provide relating to such events. The cost of this work is then charged to the stadium as an event associated cost and the town is reimbursed said cost,” the statement read.

Since the discovery a medical incident at the Foxborough Public Safety building involving Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones, commentators online and on sports radio have questioned O’Leary, calling him the head of security for the stadium and speculating if he was part of a coverup.

“The chiefs are not, nor have they ever been, employees of the stadium, nor do they act under the supervision and control of stadium authorities. It is a requirement of law that civilian personnel cannot direct police officers or firefighters to perform their duties while working such events. As such, from the 1970’s to the present time, it has been standard practice that all municipal police and fire services are directed by and through each of the respective chiefs as the town’s representatives at such events,” Keegan said.

The release added that O’Leary regularly coordinates the services of the town police officers with the stadium security, the Massachusetts State Police, and any other law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction over these events.

Thursday afternoon, the town released two police reports detailing the handling of Jones and his medical evaluation after receiving multiple requests from media members.