REVERE — City Councilor Dan Rizzo wants a criminal investigation into why a pornographic DVD was found in the Parks and Recreation Department. But Mayor Brian Arrigo says the video came in with a donation of more than 300 DVDs and CDs and calls it “an embarrassing oversight.”
“Upon examination of the donated collection by Recreation Department staff, one inappropriate item was discovered,” said Arrigo. “The one item was removed and destroyed. We have absolutely no reason to believe that it ever was seen by any children or by any member of the public.
“The Parks Department Director explained this in an email to Councilor Rizzo after the councilor repeated unattributed comments about the presence of the item in the Recreation Department,” he said.
As soon as Arrigo’s office learned of the concerns, an inquiry was initiated with both Human Resources and the Revere Police Department, he said. Neither department found evidence of wrongdoing by any Recreation Department staff.
“We believe this incident will be found to be nothing more than an embarrassing oversight by the people who had generously donated hundreds of DVDs and CDs to the Recreation Department,” said Arrigo. “It is regrettable that the incident gained such attention. The Revere Parks and Recreation Department is a safe and wholesome environment where our city’s youth can enjoy a wide variety of healthy and constructive activities. It’s a shame that the department could be tainted by accusations that amount to little more than reckless distortion of the donor’s mistake.”
In a motion added to the agenda for Monday night’s City Council meeting, the panel requested Arrigo meet with the council in executive session “for the purpose of discussing the consideration of filing criminal complaints relative to pornographic materials being brought into the Youth Center by a city employee.”
The motion was requested by Rizzo. Rizzo did not return calls seeking comment prior to deadline.
