Trooper who shot at motrocyclist on 93 last year is indicted

Why this trooper is not fired is beyond me.

From Channel 5

BOSTON —
A Massachusetts State Police trooper accused of firing his weapon at an all-terrain vehicle and injuring the operator on a Boston highway in 2018 has been indicted by a grand jury.
A Suffolk County grand jury indicted Trooper Matthew Sheehan Wednesday on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon.

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Sheehan was among 13 state troopers who caught several people on ATVs and dirt bikes driving erratically on Interstate 93 south on Feb. 24, 2018.
During the arrests on the Southeast Expressway, Sheehan allegedly fired his department-issued semi-automatic rifle at an ATV and hit its driver, who was not badly injured.
The district attorney's office said Sheehan was the only one of the 13 troopers present who fired a weapon. He retrieved his rifle from his cruiser prior to the encounter and chose to fire the semi-automatic weapon instead of his handgun, according to investigators.
Investigators said Sheehan fired two rounds, and one of the bullets entered the side of the ATV's tire, not the front. According to the district attorney's office, the angle at which the bullet struck the tire indicates the vehicle was parallel to Sheehan and was not heading toward him -- thus, the trooper was not in the type of imminent danger that would permit the use of potentially deadly force in self-defense.
“Every day I have the honor of working with law enforcement officers who uphold the law and keep our communities safe,’’ Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement. “Members of law enforcement have a special role in society and overwhelmingly, these officers serve with distinction, courage and compassion for the communities they protect. Unfortunately, there are a small number whose actions are unacceptable and, as we allege here, criminal.”
According to 5 Investigates, Sheehan was involved in the state police overtime scandal. He was also indefinitely suspended without pay shortly after the I-93 incident after questions were raised about racist comments on social media, according to state police.

Trooper who fired weapon suspended after questions about racist posts

Dave Procopio, director of media communications for the state police, released the following statement regarding the indictment:
"The Department recognizes the seriousness of the alleged offenses contained in this indictment and will take appropriate action following, and based upon, the outcome of the upcoming judicial proceedings. Colonel (Kerry) Gilpin and her Command Staff expect and demand that all MSP members uphold the highest standards of integrity, on- and off-duty, an expectation that is shared and embraced by the vast majority of men and women who serve as state troopers.
"Trooper Sheehan was suspended without pay since early 2018, when the Department opened an Internal Affairs case for inappropriate social media postings. He will remain suspended without pay for the duration of the criminal proceedings and any subsequent internal investigation.
"The District Attorney’s investigation was led by State Police detectives assigned to that office."
The district attorney's office said eight individuals among the group of reckless ATV and dirt bike operators were arrested. Seven of those people have been prosecuted and their cases have been resolved. One case remains pending in the Central Division of Boston Municipal Court.
“They are being held accountable,’’ Rollins said. “The actions of these individuals should not have prompted a trained law enforcement professional to respond with deadly force, as we allege.”