Two Newton Police Lieutenants Clear Out Their Offices

Lieutenant Edward Aucoin, the head of the department’s internal affairs office, and Lieutenant Hugh Downing, the chief executive officer, reportedly cleared out their offices and left this week, making them the latest in a string of shake-ups at the Newton Police Department.

According to Boston.com, Newton Police Chief Howard Mintz arrived Wednesday to find the lieutenants' offices cleared out and letters on his desk from both stating they would be using their accrued time off.

Neither Aucoin nor Downing has officially retired or resigned, Mintz told Boston.com, and the department has not yet calculated how much time off they've earned.

Both Aucoin and Downing were involved in the investigation into Jeanne Sweeney Mooney, former chief Matthew Cummings' secretary. Mooney was acquitted by a jury last month of larceny charges stemming from an accusation that she took an envelope of money from the department. Aucoin and Downing testified against Sweeney in her trial, Boston.com reported.

Sweeney claimed that the larceny accusation was retaliation for her filing a civil claim against Cummings. Cummings was fired following an administrative leave period that began last August and kicked her in the foot.

Mintz replaced Cummings in March after serving as interim chief for several months.

Upon his appointment as chief, Mintz said he planned to conduct a 45-day review of the department that included an examination of personnel positions, policies, procedures and the "overall structure of the department."

He told Boston.com that he was considering moving Aucoin and Downing out of the chief’s office and the police executive department, but that decision was not "directly related" to their involvement in the Mooney case.