Detective Accused Of Helping Drug Dealer No Longer Part Of SPD

SOMERVILLE, MA – A longtime Somerville detective accused of helping an alleged drug dealer is no longer on the police force, Mayor Joseph Curtatone told the Boston Globe Wednesday. Det. Dante DiFronzo was dismissed this week following a disciplinary hearing into the 2015 incident.

DiFronzo is accused of helping Jonathan Machado, his street source, find a rival dealer. On March 2, 2015, Machado and an accomplice allegedly broke into the rival's home, where Machado threatened one man with a machete and his accomplice stabbed the rival eight times, according to public records obtained by the Globe.

DiFronzo and Machado purportedly exchanged texts about how to find the other dealer the day before the attack, which resulted in DiFronzo being placed on paid administrative leave in the fall of 2016.

DiFronzo worked for the department for 10 years and had twice been awarded officer of the year. His attorney, Timothy Burke, called the hearing "biased" in an interview with the Globe and said they will appeal the dismissal.

Read more from the Boston Globe.

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