Attorney Bryant Wins Reinstatement For Winthrop Police Union President (Mass C.O.P.)

Police Officer Ferruccio Romeo served the people of Winthrop with distinction for nearly 20 years and as a Union President for nearly a dozen of those years. He was known for being aggressive in his union advocacy and for being truthful in all his dealings with the Town, its officials and its residents. As an attorney, he was familiar with the need for candor and honesty in all facets of his life. He had never been disciplined for any reason.

Yet, following a spate of aggressive union activity by Romeo that angered the police chief and Town officials, Romeo found himself for the first time in his career accused of fraud and untruthfulness. There are among the most incendiary charges one can throw at a police officer or a lawyer. Despite his track record of honesty and solid work performance, the Town terminated him.

Romeo's Union, the Massachusetts Coalition of Police (or Mass C.O.P.), agreed to submit the termination to an independent arbitrator. Evidence introduced at the hearing showed that other officers were permitted by the Chief to engage in the exact same behavior as Romeo without consequence. Following four days of hearing in which the Town could present any evidence that it saw fit, the Arbitrator rejected without hesitation the incendiary allegations of lying and fraud. Romeo, he found, had no reason to lie and was deprived by the Town of opportunity to prepare himself for testimony.

He ordered the Town to reinstate Romeo and make him whole for the wages and benefits he lost when he was fired. The Award allows the Town to issue only a Letter of Warning simply for failing to obtain permission to work an assignment from a different location.