The attorney for Lieutenant Patrick Saltmarsh says the Town of Mattapoisett’s “wrongful accusations” against Saltmarsh have now opened the Town up to the risk of the exposure of some dubious information about Saltmarsh’s fellow firefighters.
Saltmarsh is accused of allegedly embezzling $1,345 from the Firefighters Association “despite a total lack of evidence,” as Attorney Philip Beauregard stated in a press release dated March 11, the day Saltmarsh stood before a Wareham District Court Judge during a show cause hearing.
“In late summer 2013, Lt. Saltmarsh learned that Captain [David] Scott had engaged in disturbing, inappropriate behavior that jeopardized the department and the relationships among the firefighters,” stated Beauregard.
Beauregard wrote that Saltmarsh reported the matter to Chief Murray and, while the Town was considering terminating Scott’s employment with the Fire Department, Beauregard said Chief Murray “quickly vetoed” the termination.
“This is going to question the credibility of the persons who have decided to push for criminal charges against Patrick,” stated Beauregard during a March 14 phone interview after sending the press release to The Wanderer.
Beauregard says Chief Murray “obviously felt threatened” by Saltmarsh’s accomplishments in fire service in the department and out in the community.
“It is apparent that Chief Murray and Captain Scott have an axe to grind with Lt. Saltmarsh,” says Beauregard.
Over the phone, Beauregard said it appears as though the Fire Department wants to get rid of Saltmarsh, and the Town is backing Chief Murray.
According to Beauregard, Murray and Scott have “misled” the Police Department into seeking the six embezzlement charges against Saltmarsh for transactions that occurred while Saltmarsh was the treasurer of the association.
One count is for the embezzlement of $20, which Beauregard maintains was for a firefighter seminar. At least one other of the questionable withdrawals using the association’s ATM card, Beauregard maintains, was for food for the firefighters after a call.
He added that the Town has refused to accept any of the funds Saltmarsh offered to pay back upon hearing the accusations and is following through with the criminal charges.
“These vendettas are taking a toll on Lt. Saltmarsh and his family,” stated Beauregard. “The insistence on pursuing these charges will now necessarily lead to public revelation of information and documents that will result in a clear showing that Lt. Saltmarsh never misused any of the $1,300 funds for which he now stands irresponsibly accused…”
Saltmarsh and his attorney are now expecting a summons to appear for an arraignment at Wareham District Court in the foreseeable future.
Beauregard said Saltmarsh will be entering a plea of not guilty, and a subsequent pre-trial hearing will be scheduled soon after.
Saltmarsh is still on paid administrative leave for a separate matter, pending the Town’s investigation of a medical emergency-related incident that occurred on December 12.
Beauregard explained that Saltmarsh was reprimanded after calling the police to dispatch an ambulance to the bank across the street from the Fire Station on County Road. According to Beauregard, Saltmarsh was faulted with not personally running across the street to the incident. Beauregard defended Saltmarsh, saying he followed the order of dispatch according to the Town’s policy, and, hearing the sirens arriving on the scene, Saltmarsh believed the situation to be under control.
So far, Town Administrator Michael Gagne has declined to comment on either the criminal charges or the personnel matter.
The Wanderer forwarded Beauregard’s press release to Gagne, Murray, and Police Chief Mary Lyons for comment and received no response before press time.
The Wanderer also attempted to locate the medical emergency incident in the police log archives and in the police scanner recordings from December 12, but was unable to pinpoint the incident, which Saltmarsh told Beauregard took place at about 8:00 am that morning. No calls to the bank were logged on that morning, and the police scanner recording did not reveal anything about the call.
By Jean Perry
Why do I see hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on legal fees related to this case?