Boston PD Officer From Randolph Charged With Lying To Fly While Armed

BOSTON, MA — A Boston police sergeant detective from Randolph was arraigned in U.S. District Court for allegedly making false statements so he could fly while armed on personal trips and allow a friend to skip security screenings at Logan International Airport.

Bruce E. Smith, 53, of Randolph, is charged with making false statements to the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security, as well as with unlawfully entering a secure airport area with intent to evade security requirements, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

According to court documents, Smith has been employed with the Boston Police Department since 1989 and is currently a sergeant detective assigned to Jamaica Plain, as a district detective supervisor.

Authorities allege that between April 2011 and April 2017, Smith flew out of Logan Airport on personal business while armed 28 times. On each of those trips, he falsely claimed to have obtained supervisor approval for his travel. On at least two trips, Smith allegedly escorted or attempted to escort a friend, Leroy Ross, through Logan Airport without security screening. Smith falsely claimed that Ross was a dignitary under Smith’s official police escort. When questioned by TSA security personnel as to what type of dignitary Ross was, Smith falsely said he was not at liberty to say.

Ross works as a mobile HIV clinic operator in Randolph, according to the U.S. Attorney's office.

Smith also fraudulently requested and received overtime pay for an intelligence meeting/event in Boston that he did not attend because he was on personal travel in North Carolina.

Smith faces up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a fine no greater than $250,000.

Information from the U.S. Attorney's office was used in this article.

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