Kelley stands by controversial comments alleging police corruption

BROCKTON – Mayoral candidate Gayle Kelley said her claim of corruption within the Police Department did what she intended it to do.

``It lit a fire under the entire campaign process for everyone,'' Kelley said Thursday. ``I want that to happen, I want people to get to the polls and vote.''

During the second debate of the race Wednesday, Kelley shocked fellow candidates and the audience with claims that some police officers are involved in drug dealing, bribery and assaults.

``It was the most startling thing I ever heard,'' said Allyne Pecevich, a political activist on the local, state and national level for 25 years and adviser to Mayor James Harrington’s bid for a second term.

Police Department leaders responded with equal shock, noting that Kelley did not have any substantiation and has failed to approach authorities to report the allegations.

On Thursday, Kelley reveled in the public response that came via phone calls and e-mails to her campaign headquarters as the three candidates head into the final weekend of the campaign. Voters go to the polls Tuesday to select two of the three candidates who will move on to November’s election.

But will the flap help her at the polls?

``I’m sure it’s working both ways,'' said Kelley. ``I’m focused on getting people fired up. I came into this race to inspire and re-engage people. I didn’t get in to roll over and play dead.''

She took the opportunity Thursday to qualify her allegations, but stuck to them.

``I’m not saying the police force is corrupt,'' she said. ``I know for a fact there are a few rotten apples in the police force. Several different officers spoke to me from upper strata all the way down to the cop on the beat. In the community, people are afraid to talk to the police, afraid they’ll have the crap beaten out of them.''

She said she made the comments intending to show there is across-the-board preferential treatment in the city – for jobs, for fines and more.

``Somebody had to say this,'' she said. ``It’s naive for people to say corruption doesn’t exist.''

She said there is too much ``fear-politics'' in the city and the calls she received Thursday endorsed that.

Jass Stewart, in his second bid for mayor, said no institution is perfect, but Kelley’s comments were inappropriate.

``A leader of a municipality needs to be able to demonstrate and show good judgment around these very important issues,'' he said. ``What I saw last night was poor on the part of Ms. Kelley.''

He declined to speculate on the impact it may or may not have on the election.

``If I were advising a campaign like that, I don’t know what I’d do. I’d be overwhelmed,'' said Pecevich, a Harrington adviser. ``I just can’t imagine whatever possessed her to say a thing like that and days before an election when the slightest little mistake can cost you votes. You have to be careful.''

Police Chief William Conlon was among those expressing shock and disappointment, noting that if Kelley has information of wrongdoing, she has never notified authorities.

``It is character assassination to the whole department,'' Conlon said. ``If you have something to say, you better have some facts to back it up.

``Otherwise, it is just smearing all the good officers that are here.''

He said the department vigorously investigates any and all allegations, disciplining officers when the claims are substantiated.

Since 2005, the Police Department’s internal affairs unit has conducted 21 formal investigations. Five officers have been disciplined following those investigations, including three who were suspended. None of the complaints resulted in criminal charges.

There have also been 78 ``informal investigations,'' cases where people have called to make a complaint about an officer, but did not file a formal complaint.

Retired Chief Paul Studenski, now a city councilor, echoed Conlon’s words.

``Those are things that you investigate, that you address as fast as you can,'' he said. ``If she had information, she should have brought it forward the second she got it.''

Leaders of the patrolmen’s and ranking officers’ unions also took issue with her statements.

``Gayle who?'' asked William F. Healy, president of the Brockton Police Association.

Enterprise staff writer Maureen Boyle contributed to this story. Elaine Allegrini can be reached at eallegrini@enterprisenews.com.