MA Police Sgt. Fined After Using Cell Phone Search For Private Use

CHARLTON, MA — A Charlton police sergeant will pay a $10,000 fine after state officials determined he violated the conflict of interest law by using his police powers for a personal matter.

According to the state Ethics Commission, Sgt. Steven Madelle used police powers to track down and find information about a person who he was in a private relationship with. In 2021, Madelle ordered a cell phone company to "ping" the phone of the person.

"In Massachusetts, a ping, or remote activation of a phone’s GPS capabilities to transmit its real-time location, may only be initiated by either a search warrant or a request from law enforcement under exigent circumstances," the commission said in a news release. "The circumstances were not exigent and Madelle did not tell the dispatcher that the phone belonged to a person with whom he had a private relationship."

In another attempt to locate the person, Madelle also asked a subordinate Charlton police officer to check when the last time the person's license plate was "run" by police, the ethics commission said.

The commission found that Madelle's actions violated state law by accessing powerful tools for personal use, which the commission also considered of substantial value. He admitted to the violations and waived a hearing, the commission said in a news release.