
Alvarez underwent surgery and survived.ĭiFronzo told police he “had a hunch” that Machado was involved in the attack and arrested him three weeks later. A man who was hiding in another room with his 1-year-old daughter called 911. While Machado held a knife to the head of one occupant, his accomplice allegedly stabbed Alvarez repeatedly. The next day, Machado and an unidentified accomplice forced their way into the home where the teenager was hiding, wielding machetes, according to a police report.

He provided an address on Alston Street in Somerville where he believed Alvarez was hiding and urged him to get a photograph of him for police if he found him. “Do what you got to do,” DiFronzo texted Machado on March 1, 2015. But DiFronzo should have “reevaluated” the situation once Machado told him that he was also looking for the teenager and planned to give him a “beating” because he had stolen a backpack of marijuana from him. Shrage said it wasn’t improper for DiFronzo to reach out to Machado, who had a criminal record, for help finding the suspect, Henry Alvarez. Shrage, who has worked as an arbitrator for 32 years and is a Western New England University professor, found that DiFronzo seemed so focused on finding a teenager suspected of breaking into a vacant apartment in February 2015 that his judgment was “clouded” when he traded information with a street source, Jonathan Machado.
#Somerville police free#
“The mayor of the city is free to appeal and they will lose,” said Burke, calling Curtatone’s objections to the decision “sour grapes and without merit.” Burke, said the arbitrator was picked by city officials and DiFronzo based upon his neutrality and conducted an independent review, including 15 days of testimony. “Employers must be able to take action against the small percentage of officers who are bad actors and not be second-guessed by an arbitrator.”īut DiFronzo’s lawyer, Timothy M. “The system is rigged, and it does not tip in favor of human rights or civil rights,” Curtatone said. Arbitration is the appeals process used by most law enforcement agencies, based on collective bargaining contracts. He questioned the arbitrator’s objectivity and said the decision to overturn the officer’s termination highlights the need to reform how police discipline cases are handled.

Contact the Records Department at 90 x7336 with any questions.Mayor Joseph Curtatone of Somerville denounced the June 4 ruling as “absolutely disgusting” and said he will appeal the case to a Superior Court judge. requests must be submitted to our Records Bureau (not the Detective Bureau), by mail or fax. Open Public Records Act (O.P.R.A.) Requests If you have questions about discovery requests, or need discovery in another media or format, email send a letter/fax to the Detective Bureau (attn: Discovery).
#Somerville police full#
The Somerville Police Department consists of 32 sworn police officers, 1 full time and 1 part time civilian employee.

Highest priority is placed on initial and continued training for all employees, and employee input into the operation of the Police Department is encouraged. In addition, the Somerville Police Department stands committed to total career development for each of its employees. The partnership strives to create a quality of life in Somerville which is second to none in the United States. Members of the Department actively pursue the cooperation of every resident in an effort to create a Police/Community partnership sensitive to the multitude of cultures that makes up the human fabric of our community. Arrest and prosecution of violators of law.The Somerville Police Department is committed to a standard of excellence, both in the quality and quantity of services offered to the community and in the treatment of its employees.
