Fitchburg police officer permanently decertified after findings of sexual misconduct and harassment

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission has permanently revoked the certification of former Fitchburg police officer James McCall after concluding he is “not fit for duty as an officer and is dangerous to the public.”

The commission’s decision, issued August 14, 2025, upheld a May 27 Initial Decision by Hearing Officer Honorable Judith A. Cowin (Retired), who presided over a day-long hearing in April. Two witnesses testified and 24 exhibits were introduced, including internal affairs reports, settlement agreements, and electronic communications.

In her findings, Cowin determined there was “clear and convincing evidence” that McCall had a pattern of sexual misconduct and harassment toward female colleagues and inappropriate communications with a juvenile.

Misconduct spanning years

Evidence presented included multiple sustained internal affairs investigations. In 2016, McCall admitted to having sexual relations with women while on duty, resulting in a Last Chance Agreement with the Fitchburg Police Department (FPD). That agreement warned that any further misconduct could lead to termination.

In 2020, a female employee of the FPD testified that McCall pushed her up against a wall on the top floor of the FPD building and placed his hands on her waist. The woman testified that she raised her hands and “felt really uncomfortable,” saying she feared the officer was about to kiss her. When she raised her hands, McCall stopped and apologized, though the witness testified the encounter still left her feeling “uncomfortable.”

A broader 2023 investigation revealed multiple allegations from female FPD employees. According to testimony from then-Captain and now Chief Steven Giannini, women reported that McCall repeatedly sent sexually explicit messages, commented on their bodies, and harassed them in person. For instance, the investigation revealed that, in 2009, while McCall was a patrolman he sent a photograph of his genitals in a text message to a female employee of the FPD. McCall asked the woman to send a picture of her breasts, and she refused.

In 2012, while McCall was still a patrolman, he told a teenage girl that she was “beautiful,” “sexy,” and “hot.” He then asked her to come to his house while his wife wasn’t home.

“She knew the Respondent was a Fitchburg police officer and she looked up to him because she was considering a law enforcement career,” the decision said. “This woman did in fact later become a FPD employee; she reported the past conduct during the investigation.”

It was also reported that while McCall was employed by the FPD, he posted a sexually explicit meme on Instagram that read: “Tag someone who deserves a glass of wine and unproblematic dick,” tagging a female co-worker in the process.

Snapchat incident with juvenile

The Commission also cited a 2023 Snapchat exchange between McCall and a juvenile high school student he met while on duty at Fitchburg High School. McCall, in uniform and driving a cruiser, messaged the student as she stopped for food at McDonald’s: “Yummy… the food that is! Lol.” Moments later, he followed with, “Well you’re yummy too! Lol.”

The student testified she became upset and began to cry, fearing McCall might approach her. McCall later deleted her from his Snapchat contacts, which permanently erased their prior communications. The FPD sustained the allegations, finding him guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer.

Commission’s ruling

McCall resigned from the Fitchburg Police Department effective August 31, 2023, after a settlement agreement allowed him to withdraw his civil service appeal without prejudice. The POST Commission later reviewed his record and, in its final ruling, adopted the Hearing Officer’s recommendation.

“The Commission finds by clear and convincing evidence that the Respondent is not fit for duty as an officer and is dangerous to the public,” Chair Hon. Margaret R. Hinkle (Ret.) wrote in the Final Decision.

The ruling requires McCall’s decertification to be entered into the National Decertification Index, effectively barring him from serving as a law enforcement officer anywhere in the United States.

McCall has the right to appeal the Commission’s decision to the Superior Court within 30 days.