LAWRENCE, Mass. — Lawrence police chief William Castro has been placed on administrative leave.
Mayor Brian A. DePeña’s office did not provide any additional details on why Chief Castro was placed on leave.
Castro, last served as DePena’s chief of staff at City Hall and was named acting Chief back in the fall.
According to court documents obtained by Boston 25, Castro “engaged in a motor-vehicle pursuit in violation of the policies of the Lawrence Police Department, that he was untruthful in his subsequent written report regarding that pursuit, and that he and/or his appointing authority failed to independently investigate.”
The documents also say that credible reports have called into question Castro’s hiring and certification practices concerning certain candidates for employment as law enforcement officers for the Lawrence Police Department.
Castro was a criminal investigator assigned to the DEA at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department for more than 20 years.
Lieutenant Melix Bonilla was named provisional police chief until further notice.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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