ICYMI: Feds, Attorney General to Look Into Gloucester Chief

GLOUCESTER, MA – The Essex District Attorney's office has finished its review of the allegations against soon-to-be-retired Police Chief Leonard Campanello, and is turning the case over to Attorney General Maura Healey and U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz.

In a statement released Thursday afternoon, District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said the Essex District Attorney's office will no longer be involved in the matter, and the two agencies mentioned have agreed to work together on the case.

The City of Gloucester commissioned audits of the police department, Campanello, and Gloucester Sgt. Sean Conners after allegations came to light regarding "certain aspects" of Campanello's relationship with women. Campanello has been accused of destroying evidence related to that investigation. Details of the investigation into Conners are unclear, and it has not been confirmed that it is related to Campanello's.

Gloucester turned over materials related to those audits to the Essex District Attorney's office for review after Campanello was accused of erasing information from his city-issued cell phone.

"After a careful review of the materials and discussions with Attorney General Healey, U.S. Attorney Ortiz and their staffs, I believe that, with their combined resources, they are best able to investigate these matters," said Blodgett in Thursday's statement. "Both agencies have agreed to work together and the Essex District Attorney's Office will no longer be involved in any aspect of this matter."

The city initiated termination proceedings against Campanello earlier this month, but later agreed to allow him to retired in January 2017.

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Photo courtesy of PAARI