Arbitration case of former Swampscott officer nears end

SWAMPSCOTT – An arbitration process between a former police lieutenant and the town that has dragged on for more than two years could be coming to a close.Former Police Lt. Peter Cassidy Jr. said the arbitration hearings are complete and all parties have to file their closing briefs by Oct. 3.”I expect the arbitrator will make a decision by the end of November,” he said. “I am cautiously optimistic that he will rule in my favor.”The arbitration process has been long and drawn out. The process started immediately after Cassidy was terminated by the Board of Selectmen in April for conduct unbecoming and criminal on April 6, 2006.Cassidy served with the department for 29 years and received numerous commendations during his tenure. One of the incidents mentioned at the time of his termination was an off-duty drunken driving arrest in Vermont on Jan. 13, 2006. Cassidy, who was convicted on those charges, said after his gastric bypass surgery he replaced his compulsive eating with alcohol but his metabolism had changed, which resulted in alcohol addiction.Cassidy admits he made a mistake and said his arrest served as a wake up call. Cassidy said he has been clean and sober since that time and takes his recovery very seriously.According to a former selectman and two former Swampscott police chiefs, Cassidy is not the first officer in the department who ran into difficulties with alcohol, but he is the only officer ever terminated by the Board of Selectmen for alcohol related problems even though other officers were involved in incidents while on duty.Police Chief Ronald Madigan, who recommended Cassidy’s termination, said it is departmental procedure not to comment on personnel matters, arbitration and/or pending litigation.