Leominster city councilor asks mayor to address police chief’s absence amid rumored investigation, council president deflects

LEOMINSTER — At the tail end of the City Council meeting on August 26, Councilor At Large Claire Freda requested that Mayor Dean Mazzarella make a public statement about the ongoing absence of Police Chief Aaron Kennedy, who has reportedly been away from his office since mid-August. Freda’s request for an official statement is in response to rumors circulating in the community that Chief Kennedy has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

“I almost hate to bring it up, but it is mentioned in the KP Law issues on police investigation,” Freda said. “The word is out in the community that our chief is off the job presently. I don’t want to get into any details—I don’t know them—but I think there is a lot of discussion in the community about it. Whatever the mayor can say, even if it’s just a small comment, would let people know that something is happening and that it will be resolved one way or another.”

City Council President Mark Bodanza responded saying, “Well, then that is going to be the mayor’s prerogative; he is the chief executive.” He later added, “But you put it out there, so if he wants to respond, he will.”

More: Leominster Police Chief Absent from Office Several Days Amid Rumored Investigation

Freda agreed it was ultimately the mayor’s decision to address the matter but noted that the issue had already been circulating within the community prior to her mentioning it in the meeting.

This discussion follows a report by News Link Live on August 15 that Chief Kennedy had been absent from his office for several days. Sources familiar with the situation told News Link Live that Chief Kennedy was allegedly sent home by Mayor Mazzarella, pending an investigation, after making discriminatory remarks to a firefighter. The sources also indicated that Chief Kennedy is now on administrative leave, though the details surrounding the remarks and the context of the incident remain unconfirmed.

News Link Live reached out to Mayor Mazzarella for comment, but no response has been received yet. To date, the city has not issued any official statements regarding the situation.

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