Marblehead: Keating decision will stand

MARBLEHEAD – The Civil Service decision to overturn former Police Sgt. Marion Keating?s 50-day suspension will stand.Town Counsel Mark Miller said Monday, “The appeal period has passed and this will not be appealed. The selectmen decided it was in the best interest of all the parties not to appeal the decision.”Keating?s lawyer, Attorney Douglas Louison of Boston, said, “I think this was prudent. Marion Keating is gratified that this long and difficult battle is over.”Louison added that Town Administrator Tony Sasso has already contacted Keating and had a check issued to restore her lost 50 days pay, plus benefits, estimated in excess of $16,000.Keating was suspended in 2010 for 30 days for submitting a false police report, 10 days for conduct unbecoming an officer and 10 days for creating a hostile workplace environment. She appealed the suspension, which was based on a Dec. 22, 2009 conversation in which Keating reportedly told Assistant District Attorney Emily Tarr that Marblehead Patrolman Michael Daigle wanted to have sex with Tarr, a statement that Keating has denied making.Civil Service Commissioner Christopher Bowman said in his lengthy July 1 decision that the town never proved that the alleged statement created a hostile work environment and “overreached” in accusing Keating of conduct unbecoming a police officer.Keating has since retired, Daigle has transferred to another department and Tarr has taken a post with a U.S. agency in Bosnia. Sgt. Donald Decker, another officer mentioned in the decision, has retired.