Dear Neighbors and Hopkinton residents,
My name is Patrick O’Brien and I have been a resident of Hopkinton for 33 years. I was a full-time police officer in Hopkinton for 32 years. I have worked with Chief Joseph Bennett for over 20 years and have worked with Sgt. Brennan for over 15 years. I consider them both close personal friends.
Sgt. Brennan is a good police officer who is the epitome of a community police officer. Sgt. Brennan always goes above and beyond what a typical police officer would do when dealing with people involved in his cases. Sgt. Brennan always shows his caring and empathic ways while handling all cases, both easy and hard.
Chief Bennett has always been a professional with the highest degree of integrity. Chief Bennett has risen through the ranks at Hopkinton Police holding most positions including patrol, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and deputy chief. While working with Chief Bennett throughout those years and knowing him since I never would question his dedication and integrity as a police officer or police chief.
I have been heartened by the public support of Sgt. Brennan. In times when it seems the police profession is constantly being portrayed in a negative light, it is nice to see the community come forward and show support to a member of our police department.
I have been disheartened by the unsupported, malicious allegations written about Chief Bennett. Please remember that MOST of us do not know the whole story regarding Sgt. Brennan being placed on administrative leave. We do not know the testimony that was given at the Grand Jury. Some people were shown a much-redacted version of the investigation done by Kroll. However, the complete report has not been made public. Some people have concluded without having all the information available to them. For anyone to suggest that Chief Bennett would not follow up, allow, or sabotage an investigation of an alleged sexual assault of a minor is ridiculous. For anyone to suggest that Chief Bennett would try to impugn Sgt. Brennan to weaken the ongoing case against Jay Porter to “shield themselves from liability by weakening those who might strengthen the victim’s case” is purely reckless.
I feel it is fair to question why this investigation and hearing has taken this long and Sgt. Brennan has been out of work and not able to publicly defend his actions.
I feel it is fair to question why Blackstone Valley Tech was not advised of the ongoing criminal investigation.
After working with Sgt. Brennan for many years I feel he is a great asset to the department and the town. I hope that on Friday this matter is resolved so that Sgt. Brennan can return to work and the healing can begin and confidence in the Hopkinton Police Department can be restored.
Patrick O’Brien, Ray Street
Thank you Pat no one has more right to comment on this than you 32 years you’ve walked the walk. I truly appreciate and trust your opinion but as a good friend of Tim’s this has the look of an ego damaged chief. Pat when this mess is over I think HPD policy needs to have extensive review. The new patrol officer in town don’t look like you there dressed in combat gear ,I saw an officer wearing 4 m4 30 round magazines and as many handgun magazines as possible. This is not Hopkinton. Pat this town could use someone with your knowledge and personality to lead police policy review. This town should be able to put together a small team to clean up policy to keep this from happening again. Thanks Pat for your good service to Hopkinton Steve Snow
Patrick, Very well said. I have always told folks that the model for a perfect Police Officer is Patrick O’Brien. Integrity, honor and commitment. Your words speak volumes. Sgt Brennan & Chief Bennett are both good men in a terrible situation. As a former dispatcher of that Dept and a town resident, i pray this gets resolved quickly.
I’ll second that Lou… No one knows those involved like Pat O’Brien does, and his comments should be honored and respected…
I am not most – I know the full story. The Chief is a liar! He deserves all the malicious negative comments that are being thrown at him. Chief Bennett & the alleged perpetrator, Jay Porter are very good if not best friends. The Chief covered this up before anyone ever came forward to Sgt Brennan. That’s a fact.
I reread this. I wonder if the author still feels that same way after Chief Bennet out the victim by name twice in official documents released by him to the public. I’m sure the blame will go around, the simple truth is Bennet is a liar and needs to go. He has gone after Brennan because he lacks the courage to discipline an officer more suited to his job than he is.
Chief Bennet is a coward and a liar. Chief Bennet should be fired immediately. I’m unsure why he hasn’t been fired or put on leave.
Residents of Hopkinton we deserve better. This is a fiasco, and we financed it. How many more hundreds of thousands of dollars do we waste on this incompetent and falsely punitive chief. He has gone after Brennan and the Victim. Chief needs to go and to be prosecuted for breaking the law and outing the victim. I would call her a survivor, but she is being victimized again.
This is appalling.
Fire Bennet and reprimand or recall the SB members trying to cover their behinds for promoting a rapist and the vengeful and delinquent now. The actions and behaviors of these town servants should not be tolerated. The Chief especially, he broke the law. All Brennan did was a policy violation to help a rape victim.
#thankyoutim