An executive leader with the Massachusetts Police Association is calling to “meet violence with violence” when it comes to officer restraint.
Arlington Police Lieutenant Rick Pedrini is the incoming MPA executive director- and a man with a few choice words about the current police climate of “stigma reduction.”
“I am sick and tired of the social justice warriors telling us how to do our jobs. It’s time we forget about ‘restraint’, ‘measured responses’, ‘procedural justice’, ‘de-escalation’, ‘stigma-reduction’, and other feel-good BS that is getting our officers killed,” Pedrini wrote in The Sentinel, the official publication of the MPA. “Let’s stop lipsynching, please! Let’s meet violence with violence and get the job done.”
Pedrini slammed the Criminal Justice Reform Bill signed into law earlier this year, claiming it only emboldens “maggot” offenders.
“If you haven’t read it, the ‘CJ Reform Bill’ is 100 plus pages of blather and feel-good initiatives that will do nothing to put maggot criminals behind bars,” Pedrini wrote.
According to MassLive, the bill eliminated several mandatory minimum sentences for crimes such as drug dealing and other offenses.
Arlington Police Chief Frederick Ryan denied any support of Pedrini’s statements, saying that his Lieutenant made the remarks in his capacity as an MPA official.
“Mr. Pedrini writes as an MPA official, not as an official of the APD,” Ryan wrote in an email. “APD’s unwavering commitment to fair and impartial policing has been well documented.”
Chief Ryan also expressed concern in regard to the statements.
“I too am concerned and I will take immediate measures to address the situation,” Ryan said. “The public doesn’t expect us to be perfect, but they expect us to be honest. And I will have a through and transparent review of this matter.”
Pedrini’s heated statements are linked to the murders of Yarmouth Sgt. Sean Gannon and Weymouth Sgt. Michael Chesna, who were killed while trying to apprehend hardened criminals.
Pedrini channeled the anger, it seems, that was felt by many police in the region.
“These are the same people who have tied our hands with CJ Reform, de-criminalization of dangerous narcotics, and the current juvenile justice disaster,” he wrote. “How about you all just leave us alone, go down to the border, and hand out tin-foil blankets to the people you really care about? Or maybe drop the charade and get out on the streets with BLM, Antifa, and the ‘Resist’ crowd. That’s all you’re good for. We know whose side you’re on and it’s not ours.”
The MPA did not return a request for comment but it’s now being reported that Pedrini has been placed on paid administrative leave over the comments.
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“Speak softly but carry a big stick”. As true now as it was then. People will not respect the law if they don’t believe there will be severe consequences for committing a crime.
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