State suspends Hudson, Mendon police officers. Why they're not on duty

Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News
·2 min read
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Police officers from Hudson and Mendon are among the most recent to be suspended by the state agency tasked with regulating law enforcement.

The state's Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission announced Wednesday that Hudson Police Officer Kevin Johnson, Mendon Police Officer Sean Malone and retired Rowley Police Officer Perry Collins have been suspended. Each is facing criminal charges.

The POST Commission, which was created as part of police reform law in 2020 and has the power to suspend officers, would not say what the officers were suspended for except to say they were required by statute to suspended officers who were either charged, arrested or indicted for a felony.

What is Johnson accused of doing?

Johnson was arrested on Oct. 2 and charged with two counts of domestic assault and battery and one count each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.

He was arraigned Oct. 3 in Marlborough District Court and the case was transferred to Worcester District Court.

Hudson Police Officer Kevin Johnson (center), is currently suspended while he's been charged with domestic violence charges. Here, Johnson is pictured receiving the Hudson Police Department's Life Saving Award during the department's award ceremony.
Hudson Police Officer Kevin Johnson (center), is currently suspended while he's been charged with domestic violence charges. Here, Johnson is pictured receiving the Hudson Police Department's Life Saving Award during the department's award ceremony.

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office issued a notice called "Commonwealth's Notice Regarding a Potential Commonwealth Witness," so the information would be available to the court if Johnson were to be called to testify during a grand jury.

According to the notice, Johnson was placed on paid administrative leave on the day of his arrest. The case remains open.

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Hudson Police Chief Richard DiPersio said Hudson police arrested Johnson for the off-duty incident on Oct. 2 and he remains on paid administrative leave.

According to the Hudson Police Department Facebook page, Johnson joined the department in 2016. In 2018, he became part of the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council's SWAT team.

Last year, during the Hudson Police Department's first Employee Awards Ceremony, Johnson was presented the Life Saving Award "for selfless service, with dedication and courage, that saved another human life."

What is Malone accused of doing?

Details about what Malone is charged with and where the alleged incident took place were not available. According to the Worcester District Attorney's Office, Malone is not facing criminal charges in Worcester County, where Mendon is located.

Mendon Police Officer Sean Malone
Mendon Police Officer Sean Malone

Mendon Police Chief David Kurczy said he could not comment on the case.

"Officer Sean Malone is currently on unpaid administrative leave," he said. "I am not able to comment currently as this matter is still ongoing."

According to a Mendon Police Department Facebook post, Malone joined the department in March 2021 after graduating from Fitchburg State University with a degree in criminal justice.

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Criminal charges lead to Hudson, Mendon police officers' suspensions