MEDFORD — A Medford firefighter was arrested after he allegedly sent lewd messages to an undercover police officer posing as a 14-year-old girl.
According to a joint statement from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and the Medford Police Department, on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, Hugh McEleney, 63, of Medford, was taken into custody and charged with dissemination of matter harmful to minors.
McEleney is currently employed as a firefighter in the city of Medford.
According to CBS Boston, the investigation began in September after police in St. Petersburg, Florida, contacted Massachusetts police. They said McEleney allegedly used the messaging app Kik to communicate with an undercover officer he believed was a freshman in high school.
In a message, the undercover officer wrote to McEleney, “I’m about to turn 15 where are you,” and McEleney allegedly later sent a video of himself performing a lewd act.
McEleney was arraigned Tuesday in Somerville District Court, where a not guilty plea was entered on his behalf, according to CBS Boston. Prosecutors requested $20,000 cash bail, but the judge ordered McEleney released on $1,000 cash bail.
As conditions of release, the judge ordered McEleney to have no contact with anyone under the age of 18 and prohibited him from accessing the internet or social media.
Defense counsel requested personal recognizance, citing McEleney’s four children, his 39 years of service as a firefighter, and a lack of flight risk.
In a statement issued Monday, Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn said she and the fire chief were briefed at the station for a couple hours and would cooperate with investigators.
“This is an active investigation and we as well as the city will cooperate with the DA’s office, the state police and the Medford police throughout the investigation,” Mayor Lungo-Koehn said.
