Shriners, school district respond to child porn arrest of Gardner Whitney

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Saying that they are “saddened and deeply disappointed” by allegations against their former leader, Springfield’s Melha Shriners have issued a statement saying that they will take corrective action.

Meanwhile, the Connecticut school district where he is employed says they are closely monitoring the situation.

Gardner Whitney of Westfield is charged with a single count of indecent assault and battery, four counts of possession of child pornography, three counts of posing a child in the nude, and three counts of secretly recording a nude person. In 2011, Whitney was the Potentate , or local chapter leader, of the Springfield-area Shriners. He is also an employee of Suffield Middle School, according to the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office.

In a statement sent to 22News on Friday, Al Zippin, past Potentate and current Public Relations Chairman for the Melha Shriners, said that their thoughts and prayers are with the alleged victims at this time, and they hold their members to high standards.

“We expect our members to be professional, moral, and ethical in their interactions with children, colleagues, and community members. We will not tolerate any conduct that is inappropriate and unbecoming of a Melha Shriner. We will take corrective action and all disciplinary measures under organization by-laws whenever there is evidence of misconduct,” Zippin wrote.

Suffield Public Schools Superintendent Karen Baldwin did not return calls from 22News for comment on the issue, but she issued a statement to parents on Thursday, saying that Whitney was a “non-certified employee” of the district, and that the equipment allegedly used in the case was “unrelated to school.”

“In accordance with its standard procedures, the District immediately began to work collaboratively with the police to investigate this allegation. The District will review the police reports and any further proceedings in this action to determine what, if any, further action should be taken by the Suffield Public Schools,” Baldwin wrote.

Whitney pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment on January 23.