BEVERLY — The City Council has approved the reappointment of police Chief John LeLacheur, despite some reservations over an ongoing court case.
The council voted 8-1 on Monday night to approve Mayor Mike Cahill’s reappointment of LeLacheur through May 2027, when LeLacheur will reach the mandatory retirement age of 65.
Councilors praised LeLacheur for his work as chief over the last 10 years. But some wondered why he was being reappointed more than a year before his current contract expires, at a time when a court case against him is pending.
“We have a responsibility to represent our constituents who have questions about what they read in the newspaper about what happened,” said Councilor-at-large Hannah Bowen, who voted against the reappointment. “I don’t know if we can answer those questions.”
LeLacheur was sued in 2020 by a woman after he tweeted information about her during a 2017 manhunt in Beverly for a domestic violence suspect, which she said put her and her child in danger. LeLacheur has said he posted the tweet to alert the public of the danger of the suspect.
But instead of attaching the suspect’s “Most Wanted” picture, he said he mistakenly attached a bulletin that had been circulated to law enforcement containing details about the woman, including her name, where she was staying under police protection, and the location and time of her child’s release from school.
LeLacheur deleted the tweet 10 to 15 minutes after it was posted, but not before it was spotted by people following his account, including members of the news media.
Last month, LeLacheur appealed a decision by a Lawrence Superior Court judge who said the case must go to trial. The appeal is pending in the Massachusetts Appeals Court.
At a meeting of the City Council’s legal affairs committee on Monday, Cahill told councilors that the city investigated the circumstances around the tweet when it happened and concluded that LeLacheur made “a very human mistake.”
“Everything he’s done before and since has done nothing but reinforce my confidence and my respect for him,” Cahill said.
Cahill said LeLacheur, who was appointed by former Mayor Bill Scanlon in 2013, has given the city “10 years of consistent professionalism and positive leadership that has really made a strong impact within the department.”
Under LeLacheur, the department has increased the number of police officers from 65 to 74, started a community impact unit, added an officer who works with domestic violence victims, and built a new police station. The department is seeking accreditation and is working to become a regional center for crisis intervention training at the police station, he said.
“We are a fantastic department,” Cahill told councilors. “The chief has set a tone and helped to foster and create a culture that has brought us to a great place with the department.”
Ward 1 Councilor Todd Rotondo asked if the city is looking to reappointment LeLacheur now over concerns that he might leave for another job. LeLacheur said he has not applied for another job since he came to Beverly, despite the fact that “a lot of jobs in this region are paying $30,000 to $40,000 more than I’m making.”
His new contract will continue to pay a current salary of $168,000, with cost-of-living increases.
LeLacheur has an annual pension of $92,235 from his 29-year New Hampshire state police career, according to New Hampshire Retirement System records. In 1999, he was awarded the New Hampshire State Police medal of valor for pulling a fellow officer to safety after his cruiser had been hit by rifle fire.
Assistant City Solicitor Jesse Dole told city councilors the cost of the court case against LeLacheur is being covered by a city insurance policy.
Staff Writer Paul Leighton can be reached at 978-338-2535, by email at pleighton@salemnews.com, or on Twitter at @heardinbeverly.
