MARBLEHEAD — A police officer resigned Wednesday after being put on paid administrative leave for allegedly scratching a swastika into the paint of another officer’s personal vehicle.
The officer, Timothy Tufts, joined the department in March 2016 after serving in Afghanistan as a Marine infantryman.
“We were deeply disappointed to learn of this incident, which is both a direct contradiction of the spirit of inclusion we hold dear in our community, and a violation of the high standards to which we hold our law enforcement officers here in Marblehead,” said Marblehead PD Chief Robert Picariello in a statement released Wednesday. “The Marblehead Police Department is committed to equality and respect of human rights and human dignity. This incident is not representative of the dedicated, decent women and men in our agency.”
Picariello reported that he was made aware of the incident — which occurred more than a year ago — in mid-November.
Tufts was placed on administrative leave and an investigation began.
“This former officer’s behavior in no way reflects the values of the department, and that is evident in the swift and decisive way Chief Picariello has responded to this incident once he became aware of it last month,” read a statement released by the Board of Selectmen Wednesday.
Following the incident, Picariello and the town have been in contact with the Anti-Defamation League of New England and intend to employ its training programs with MPD officers.
He also intends to commission an independent administrative review and retain an outside investigator in order to learn all of the facts of the incident for inclusion in police training programs.
“I apologize to our community for this deeply disturbing and unfortunate situation,” said Picariello. “And I vow to do everything and engage every resource available to ensure that this kind of incident does not repeat itself in the future.”
“Ultimately, no amount of training can counteract willful intolerance,” said the Board of Selectmen in Wednesday’s statement. “And we are glad to know that the person responsible for this incident has resigned from the department. We know that this individual’s actions are not reflective of the character of the men and women who serve our community as police officers.”
In the past few years, Marblehead has been involved in several controversies involving the swastika symbol.
In August 2017, a swastika was found drawn in the dirt of the softball field at Marblehead High School.
In 2016, pennies in the shape of a swastika were photographed and posted on Snapchat at a Marblehead school. Swastikas were also scrawled onto the parking lot of the middle school.
“The swastika is a symbol of hate and genocide, and we must speak up against acts of hate and hate speech whenever and wherever we encounter it,” said Picariello. “Today, there is no room for excuses of ignorance.”
Guthrie Scrimgeour can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @g_scrimgeour.
