Salem Schedules Hearing For Suspended Police Captain

SALEM, MA —Investigators interviewed suspended Salem Police Captain Kate Stephens Tuesday and scheduled her disciplinary hearing for later this week, according to Chief Mary Butler.

Stephens, 52, of Reading has been on paid administrative leave since June 1 after she posted what Butler called a "wildly inappropriate" message on the department's Twitter account. The message, which has since been deleted, targeted Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. It read "@martywalsh so you issued a permit for 10 of thousands of people to protest but I can't go to a restaurant? You are ridiculous. You and Too Tall Deval are killing this state."

"The only update at this time is that the investigators conducted the interview today," Butler said Tuesday. "We scheduled a hearing for later this week, but it appears that her counsel may require a change of date."

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Salem police station Friday, calling for the removal ofStephens, a 24-year veteran of the force. Both Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and Butler have condemned the message.

"The posting of personnel commentary and opinions on the Department's social media account is not only against our internal policies, it undermines the public trust and confidence that we, as a Police Department, have worked so hard to achieve here in Salem. It is even more concerning that these comments come from someone in a leadership position within the Department," Butler said in a statement after Stephens was identified as the author of the message. "These comments are uncalled for at any time, but they are particularly egregious at this time when the public is questioning the fairness, equity and legitimacy of the police and their actions."