Medfield Parks Director Stole Thousands From Town: AG

MEDFIELD, MA — Medfield's former parks and recreation director has been indicted by a grand Norfolk County jury on theft charges, with prosecutors alleging he stole over $100,000 from the town during his time in office from 2014 to 2022.

Kevin Ryder, 49, was indicted on four counts of larceny by scheme, larceny under $1,200, accepting illegal gratuities and two counts of using his position to obtain unwarranted privilege.

According to state Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Ryder pocketed over $100,000 in Hinkley Swim Pond, and sold town equipment and kept the proceeds. Campbell's office also said Ryder used the town's Amazon account to buy items for himself, and then resold some of those items on eBay.

Ryder also received kickbacks from a gym that received money from the town for exercise programs. Ryder earned about $16,000 from that scheme, the AG's office said.

Ryder served as a coach in Medfield and as a program coordinator in the parks department for about five years until 2013. He then left to become a program coordinator in Wellesley before returning to take over Medfield's parks department.

"I think that what I was able to gain in Wellesley is going to pay off hugely for Medfield," Ryder said in a town news release when he took over as director in 2014.

Ryder will be arraigned later on the theft charges at Norfolk County Superior Court, according to Campbell's office.