Saugus police nominee who faced assault charge no longer in academy

SAUGUS – Matthew Vecchio, a Saugus police officer and president of the Patrolman’s Union, confirmed to the Daily Item that a recent nominee to the department who was charged with domestic assault and battery is no longer in the police academy.Matthew Christiansen, 25, of Stoneham, was arrested in May 2010 on allegations, according to police reports filed in Lynn District Court, that he kicked in his girlfriend’s door and shoved her multiple times. The charges were later dropped when the case went to court.”I don’t know if he stepped down or what the circumstances are, but I know he’s no longer in that academy,” said Vecchio. “He went to the academy and from what I understand is, he finished the first day and that was it.”Town Manager Andrew Bisignani nominated three new members to the Police Department over the summer, including Christiansen, who is also a decorated Iraq war veteran. But the nomination turned some heads because of the assault charge.Police Chief Domenic Dimella had previously stated that he did not recommend hiring Christiansen.Dimella and Assistant Chief Leonard Campanello could not be reached Friday.Vecchio said the two other officers are still in the police academy and that the process is under way to find a replacement for Christiansen.Bisignani on Friday said finding a replacement will be up to the new town manager.”It was an unfortunate incident that happened,” Bisignani said. “He was a veteran that served his country and it’s too bad it didn’t work out. I was hoping the situation would have evolved differently than it did.”Matt Tempesta may be reached at [email protected].