Waltham's Top News This Week: More Police Troubles

Miss a Waltham headline this week? Catch up with our weekly news roundup.

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix, who is facing serious criminal charges, recevied a large bonus while on paid leave.  More conditions of release emerged for the Waltham Police officer facing child pornography chagres. A Waltham City Councillor lent his support to a proposed Starbucks in Waltham.  The Massachusetts Republican Party announced it would file an ethics complaint against Massachusetts Congressman over special U.S. Senate campaign.

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Waltham Officer's Attorney Experienced in Serious Cases

Attorney Peter A. Bella specializes in criminal defense cases and sex abuse cases.

The attorney representing a Waltham Police Officer facing child pornography charges has an experienced background of defending Waltham residents or officials against serious criminal charges. Peter A. Bella, a Waltham-based criminal defense attorney, is representing Waltham Police Officer Paul Manganelli against child porn charges, but he has also defended several other Waltham individuals. Bella was the first defense attorney to represent Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix against charges he attacked his wife and her friend at his Maynard home in June 2012. Attorney Thomas Drechsler later replaced Bella in LaCroix's case. Bella specializes in sex abuse cases and criminal defense, among other areas, according to his Waltham Patch listing…

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Waltham Police Chief Received Large Bonus While on Leave

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix is on paid leave as he faces domestic battery charges.

Waltham Police Chief Received Large Bonus While on Leave

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix is on paid leave as he faces domestic battery charges.

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix received a large longevity bonus in 2012 as he remained on paid administrative leave from the department following charges he attacked his wife and her friend, according to the Boston Globe. LaCroix, in November 2012, received a $16,814 longevity bonus paid to officers who have served at least 10 years with the department, according to the Boston Globe. The bonus was paid as a percentage of his $146,305 annual salary. Also, LaCroix could received the bonus again this year if he stays on paid leave or is found not guilty at his upcoming trial, according to the Boston Globe. In total, LaCroix earned $182,358 last year and has collected $46,177 this year as of March 20, 2013, according to the Globe. LaCroix…

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Waltham Police Chief Trial Postponed Again

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix is facing charges for allegedly attacking his wife.

The trial of Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix has been delayed again, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's office. LaCroix is facing criminal charges for allegedly attacking his wife and her friend in June 2012. He remains on paid administrative leave from the department and under house arrest. The trial is now scheduled to begin on June 20, according to DA Spokesman Diane McDonald. DA spokesman MaryBeth Long said a scheduling conflict caused the delay.  The trial was scheduled to start at Concord District Court on Feb. 13, but the assistant district attorney handling the case had a scheduling conflict with another trial which forced a delay to March 27.

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Denied Again: Waltham Committee Rejects Police Chief Investigation

Mayor's request for $10,000 for an internal investigation is shot down.

  For the second time, the City Council’s Finance Committee rejected a request for money to conduct an internal affairs investigation of Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix.  LaCroix is facing charges in relation to an alleged June 2012 attack on his wife and her friend at his Maynard home. LaCroix is currently living under house arrest and is on paid leave from the police department. His trial is scheduled to begin March 27. The committee rejected Mayor Jeannette McCarthy’s request for $10,000 for the investigation in a 3-1 vote. The Finance Committee recently rejected a similar request for $20,000 with members saying the same information could be learned from the upcoming trial. McCarthy has insisted an outside investigator is necessary …

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Request For Police Chief Investigation Funds To Be Reviewed Soon

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix is facing serious charges for allegedly attacking his wife and her friend.

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy’s request for $10,000 for an internal investigation of Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix will be reviewed during the Monday, March 4 Finance Committee meeting. LaCroix is facing serious charges for allegedly attacking his wife and her friend at his Maynard home in July 2012. LaCroix is currently under house arrest and is on paid administrative leave from the police department. The City Council has requested McCarthy and Personnel Director Kristin Murphy appear at the meeting, which will be held after the Committee of The Whole meeting at 8 p.m. at City Hall. The Finance Committee recently rejected a similar request for $20,000 saying such an expenditure was not necessary because LaCroix’s upcoming March 27 trial …

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Frosty the Snowman

12:56 am on Friday, March 1, 2013

@NotoTraffic you should contact the WPD, sounds like you are a witness to the crime.   more ›

Mayor Requests Funds For Waltham Police Chief Investigation Again

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix is facing serious charges for allegedly attacking his wife and her friend.

Mayor Jeannette McCarthy has again requested funding for an internal investigation of Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix, who is accused of assaulting his wife and her friend. McCarthy, in a Feb. 20 letter to the City Council, requested $10,000 from the city’s personnel unemployment account that would be used to hire a retired state police officer to investigate whether LaCroix violated the police department’s internal rules. The investigation could lead to disciplinary action.  The money request is on the agenda for the Monday, Feb. 25 City Council meeting during which it will likely be referred to a subcommittee for future discussion.  LaCroix is facing serious assault charges for allegedly attacking his wife and her friend at their …

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Waltham Police Chief Trial Delayed; Internal Investigation Plans Halted

Waltham City Councilors denied a funding request that would have paid for an internal affairs investigation of Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix.

Jury selection for the trial of Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix has been postponed until March 27, according to Acting Waltham Police Chief Keith MacPherson. MacPherson acknowledged the development during a Monday, Feb. 4 Waltham City Council Finance Committee meeting. LaCroix is facing serious assault charges for allegedly attacking his wife and her friend at their Maynard home in June of 2012. LaCroix is currently on paid leave from the Waltham Police Department.  MacPherson said the trial was delayed because the prosecutor had a scheduling conflict. Also, the Waltham Police Department has halted its plans for an internal affairs investigation of LaCroix as a result of the Finance Committee denying a $20,000 request to fund it, …

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New Details Emerge on Waltham Police Chief Internal Investigation

Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix is facing criminal charges.

More details have emerged over how the internal affairs investigation of Waltham Police Chief Thomas LaCroix will be conducted. LaCroix remains under house arrest and on paid leave from the Police Department as his Feb. 13 trial date approaches. He is accused of assaulting his wife and her friend at his Maynard home in June 2012. An independent consultant will be hired to conduct an investigation of LaCroix’s actions and the results could lead to disciplinary actions, Acting Police Chief Keith MacPherson told Waltham Patch. Normally, MacPherson said, an Internal Affairs Unit Officer of a rank higher than the officer being investigated conducts the investigation. Currently, however, every IA officer is of a lower rank than the chief. The …

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