DANVERS, Mass. — Danvers leaders faced new fallout from alleged violent racist, homophobic, and antisemitic behavior by its high school boys hockey team.
Thursday night during a town meeting, the NAACP will push for Danvers town officials, including the Police Department, to make changes in the wake of the scandal and their role in the controversy.
The group is calling for the town to remove the former high school hockey coach, Stephen Baldassare from his current position as supervisor of school resource officers.
At the time of the incidents, Danvers Police Sgt. Steve Baldessare was the high school’s hockey coach.
Coach Baldassare claims he never knew what was happening in the locker room. The Attorney General’s office also announced it is now investigating the handling of those allegations.
Last fall, parents and hockey players reported racist hazing rituals on the team. The NAACP says those rituals, and a lack of transparency by Danvers leaders, have caused trauma for residents of color.
Boston 25 reached out to the Danvers School district for a comment regarding the investigation, “from the outset, starting with the initial outreach to the school department, the district has been receptive to the review process initiated by the Attorney General’s office. We have made ourselves available to answer all of their questions, we have provided all documentation that has been requested of us, and we are prepared to implement recommendations that may follow,” said the department.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
©2022 Cox Media Group
