Waltham Police Chief Released From Mental Health Facility
Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix is accused of beating his wife.
Photos
Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix has been released from the mental health facility he was sent to in June after allegedly attacking his wife, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office.
LaCroix, who is currently on paid leave from the police department, is now under home confinement in the care of a family member, according to DA spokesman Stephanie Guyotte. She had no information on when LaCroix was released.
LaCroix had been scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Thursday, Aug. 2 at Concord District Court, but it was continued to Wednesday, Aug. 8 at 9 a.m., Guyotte said.
Also, attorney Peter Bella, who had been representing LaCroix, told Waltham Patch he is no longer representing LaCroix. Attorney Thomas Dreschler is now defending LaCroix, Bella said.
LaCroix must follow the long list of previously-set conditions while on release, according to Guyotte.
It's unclear whether LaCroix wil return to the police department, but Mayor Jeanette McCarthy plans to propose a change in a rule that would allow LaCroix to return to his previous rank of captain.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
7:05 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
The photo indicates he was released a little too soon.
Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III
Walter Tham
9:31 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
Why paid leave?
Walter Tham
9:35 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012
If I get in trouble and can't go to work I don't get paid. Why should he?
Theresa
9:45 am on Saturday, August 4, 2012
Paid leave, my "you know what", it's a "long term vacation". I agree w/Walter, we don't get paid, why should we pay him????? He needs to be terminated, end of story. Just because he was a cop & a Chief @ that does not exclude him from the law. Do what is right.....
Kim
5:54 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Everyone is entitled to a fair trial and is innocent until proven guilty! Tommy Lacroix has been an upstanding citizen and an honorable cop and nobody understands what stress can do to a person. Like everyone else, he is human so until you have walked in his shoes, do not place judgement on him!
Andrea
1:48 pm on Saturday, August 4, 2012
Theresa, Walter, Reverend: If I accuse you of something, but you have not been found guilty of that crime, I should terminate you, is that correct? I am not sure if you are an American Citizen, but in this country we are allowed to be found "innocent until proving guilty". If you are a Citizen, you may want to do some extra reading on the weekends. Also, if you had a disease, let's say Cancer & you were on leave, you shouldn't be paid? I think you might want to move to North Korea, somewhere like that, because AGAIN in this country we allow people that have some sort of medical condition to get the help they need. Chief LaCroix needed to get some help & thank God he is getting that help. I don't think anyone in this situation is on "Vacation" as you say. Not is wife,his beautiful children,their mother,his mother & certainly not him. In fact, I can guarantee you all those involved are living in "hell". Because unlike you, if this was a situation in your family, it wouldn't be in the news. You could deal with it in "private". So please remember "words hurt", he is a good person, an amazing father,a doting son,a respected Police Officer & a good husband for 49 yrs who unfortunately may have let stress get the best of him. No one is perfect, I want you to remember that & if anyone out there thinks differently, tell them to contact his wife, she would be happy to clarify the lies that have been said in the papers!! His pay puts a roof over his children's head, remember them!!
TheHam
12:18 pm on Wednesday, October 10, 2012
"Theresa, Walter, Reverend: If I accuse you of something, but you have not been found guilty of that crime, I should terminate you, is that correct?"
Use your common sense, when you swear to uphold the law and integrity of this once great city, you should not receive ANY pay until proven INNOCENT. That's how it goes for all of us regular citizens (the ones you've asked this question to) and none of us promised/made an oath to uphold the law and would NEVER receive pay with a pending criminal case. Nice try Mrs. LaCroix
Robert Norwood
3:09 pm on Sunday, August 5, 2012
No sympathy for wife beaters. Anyway, the mental health thing is all a ploy to protect himself. The scope of "disabilities" in Massachusetts is pretty wide so, if you suspect you are in danger of losing your job because you're incompetent, drinking, on drugs or just plain bad your best bet is to seek help through EAP. It's confidential and a great "con" if you are so inclined - and who isn't in this "gimmee society? If your employer moves against you have some protections having, essentially, a disability; you might even be able to sue. So this character doing what he did and getting paid is nothing special - it's the system. Quite liberal when you come down to it.