SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission has suspended 15 law enforcement officers, including some local ones.
Three local officers who were suspended under this new commission include Leon Davis of the Springfield Police Department, Devon Bones of the Holyoke Police Department, and Brian Pomeroy of the West Springfield Police Department by the POST. However, according to each department all three have already been on leave for some time.
Leon Davis
Springfield Officer Leon Davis was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, using a stun gun multiple times on a pregnant woman. He pleaded not guilty in 2021.
Springfield Police Spokesperson Ryan Walsh told 22News, “Officer Davis hasn’t worked as a Springfield Police Officer for nearly two years. His status within the department is an employment matter that cannot be disclosed at this time.”
Brian Pomeroy
West Springfield Captain Brian Pomeroy is also on the suspension list. He was charged in August with assault and batter on a person over 14 for an incident in March.
West Springfield Police Sgt. Joseph LaFrance told 22News, “Brian Pomeroy has not been employed by the Town of West Springfield since July 13, 2022. The West Springfield Police Department has been transparent and compliant with all of the POST Commissions requirements. We cannot comment on Mr. Pomeroy’s pending legal matters, as he is no longer an employee of the West Springfield Police Department.”
Devon Bones
In a statement sent to 22News, Holyoke Police Captain Matthew Moriarty stated, “Ofc. Devon Bones has been placed on suspension due to an ongoing criminal case out of Springfield, MA. Due to the ongoing investigation the Holyoke Police Department is unable to make any comments pertaining to Ofc. Devon Bones.”
Walsh said that stemmed from a 2020 domestic disturbance incident, where a Springfield police investigation led to a criminal complaint request.
POST Commission
In 2020, Governor Charlie Baker signed into law a landmark police reform law that created the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST Commission. This commission operates independently and has the power to establish policing standards, certify police officers, investigate misconduct allegations, and suspend or revoke the certification of officers found to have violated the commission’s standards.
According to a news release sent to 22News from the Massachusetts POST Commission, POST says it will suspend the certification of an officer who is arrested, charged, or indicted for a felony, and will revoke the certification of an officer who is convicted of a felony.
The Commission can also suspend the certification of an officer who fails to complete in-service training requirements within 90 days of notice. A law enforcement officer whose certification is suspended can request a hearing before a commissioner within 15 days. A suspension order is in effect until a final decision or revocation is made by the Commission.
List of suspended officers:
- Devon Bones, Holyoke Police Department
- Bryan Custadio, Fall River Police Department
- Leon Davis, Springfield Police Department
- Ernest Fontaine, Fitchburg State University Police Department
- David Forte, Needham Police Department
- Kevin Garneau, Lowell Police Department
- Nicholas Hoar, Fall River Police Department
- Tomas Morales, Woburn Police Department
- Keith O’Donnell, Somerville Police Department
- Brian Pomeroy, West Springfield Police Department
- Joseph Ponzo, Stoneham Police Department
- James Quilty, Natick Police Department
- Kevin Rooney, Watertown Police Department
- Matthew Sheehan, Massachusetts State Police
- Colby Turner, Worcester Police Department
“We continue to make progress to meet the directives of the statute and add information to the database that is of great public interest,” said Enrique Zuniga, Executive Director of POST. “POST will suspend the certification of an officer who is arrested, charged or indicted of a felony and will revoke the certification of an officer who is convicted of a felony. The list of suspended officers will be updated periodically as these cases evolve and/or get resolved,” he added.
Officers who had their certification suspended can request a hearing within 15 days.
