Photo: Lawrence Police Department
LAWRENCE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Lawrence Provisional Police Chief William Castro has been suspended following an order from the state.
The Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission voted Thursday to suspend Castro, saying it had received "sufficient evidence" that Castro engaged in a car chase that violated the Lawrence Police Department's policies, was "untruthful" in his written report about the pursuit, and that "he and/or his appointing authority failed to independently investigate whether there was a policy violation or report the same to the Commission."
The commission also said it had received "credible reports" raising concerns around Castro's "hiring and certification practices concerning certain candidates for employment as law enforcement officers for the Lawrence Police Department."
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On Friday morning, Lawrence Mayor Brian DePeña announced that Castro has been placed on paid administrative leave and Lt. Melix Bonilla has been put in charge of the police department as provisional chief.
"William Castro is a great police chief and he has my support, 100 percent," DePeña told reporters.
Before he was named acting police chief in October 2023, Castro served as DePeña's chief of staff. He also worked for more than 20 years for the Essex County Sheriff's Department.
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