Dear Editor,
Please publish this open letter.
Hopkinton Officials Must Address Decades of Silence on Convicted Sex Offender’s Business License.
To Hopkinton Town Manager Lazarus, Select Board, Police Chief Joe Bennett, and Acting Police Chief Scott van Raalten,
We are tired. We are tired of the smoke, the mirrors, and the carefully lawyered letters that lecture us about statutes while refusing to answer why the Hopkinton Police Department (HPD) stayed silent when they had a duty to voice concerns about a convicted predator operating a local business that employs teenage girls.
Three Decades Without Police Department Concern on Common Victualler License
For three decades, the Hopkinton Police Department signed the request for a Common Victualler license renewal, without comment. This, for a convicted sex offender, whose record is 114 pages long.
We would never ask the HPD to provide unlawful information regarding the details of Sismanis’ multiple convictions. However, nothing prevented the HPD from providing simple statements on their Vic License renewal form that could have saved a young woman from sexual assault.
Police Department Had Options to Flag Public Safety Concerns
The HPD could have issued statements such as any of the following:
- The HPD opposes the issuance of a Common Victualler License to Hiller’s Pizza.
- The HPD cannot describe the confidential matters, but we have public safety concerns.
- The HPD recommends that the Select Board exercise heightened scrutiny in evaluating this application.
All of which would have (hopefully) given the Select Board pause before rubberstamping each license renewal. Instead, they chose silence for decades.
Not only did the HPD not indicate any level of concern, but they also chose to celebrate the convicted sex offender! Sismanis was treated as a valued community partner. More shocking is that the HPD even sent the public to Hiller’s Pizza in a promotional video—all while knowing he was a convicted sex offender!
They had no problem whatsoever with Sismanis regularly hiring teenage girls to work at his pizza shop. Think about that.
Hopkinton Residents Demand Independent Investigation
Nothing in Massachusetts law explains these choices. We are done with the deflections. We are tired of the lectures on statutes unrelated to the question. To be clear, the question that has been raised in multiple Select Board meetings is simple: WHY?
Once again, we are asking for an independent, outside investigation.
We have asked for this at every Select Board meeting since early August. Either that, or own up to the fact that you, the HPD, Town Manager, and the Select Board, are choosing to protect negligent Police Command Staff over the children of Hopkinton.
We understand that not all of you in your current positions held those positions over the years; however, all of you, except Matt Kizner, approved the most recent Common Victualler License approval for Hiller’s Pizza.
Time’s up!
Respectfully submitted,
Marie Laskowsky
Hopkinton Coalition for Children
For More Information
Please visit: DemandTheTruthHopkinton.com
Sounds like a little pay for protection. Now we know where all the pizzas came from for Joe Bennetts frequent pizza parties. Bet Joe didn’t have to take out his wallet. Quite possible discount food for the HPD. Strange how police chief would be so close to a known child predator especially after his pal and deputy was jailed for child rape. ( not a good look for are community!)
There was a shark in the water and they knew and said nothing. This goes back to Chief Lee and onto Bennett. Why did no one protect our girls/women? To know and say/do nothing is beyond reprehensible. We have a past Select Board member who was seen in court last summer w Sismanis’ family. Same member who collected 3k in campaign donations from 77 West Main Street. Hmm makes one take pause huh?