Hearing for Newton Police Chief Set for Oct. 10

After being placed on administrative leave last month, Newton Police Chief Matthew Cummings will soon have a chance to make his case before of city officials in a public hearing.

The hearing will be held Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 10 a.m. in room 209 at City Hall, according to City Solicitor Donnalyn Kahn. 

Cummings, who requested his dismissal hearing be held in public, was placed on paid administrative leave on August 29 following an independent investigation that looked into claims Cummings verbally humiliated and kicked his former secretary in 2010. 

According to city officials, Cummings' secretary, Jeanne Sweeney Mooney, filed the civil complaint in May of this year and the investigation into Cummings' behavior began shortly thereafter. The investigation concluded that there was  to Mooney as well as kicked her in the foot. 

Meanwhile, Mooney is currently facing larceny charges out of Framingham District Court on allegations from the Newton Police that she stole $660 from the department as well as destroyed $1,500 in checks and a schedule of the fee payments. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment earlier this week and will be back in court on Oct. 29. 

The theft allegedly happened a year ago and Mooney has been on paid administrative leave since September 2011.

Mooney claims the theft charges are retaliation for her civil claims against Cummings. She has been on paid administrative leave since September and recently filed a complaint with the city demanding $600,000 in damages.

Both Warren and City Solicitor Donnalyn Kahn underlined that the city's investigation of Cummings' behavior was completely separate from any criminal cases involving Mooney.