Although Cook's job status was not discussed by the court, it appears he will remain a police officer.
Springfield Police Patrolman Derek V. Cook pleaded guilty in Hampden District Court on Thursday to assaulting two police supervisors in a station house fight.
SPRINGFIELD – City Police Officer Derek V. Cook on Thursday pleaded guilty in District Court to assaulting two police supervisors in a station house fight.
Cook was fined a total of $675 for the two crimes of assault and battery on a police officer, admitting he assaulted Lt. Robert Moynihan and Sgt. Dennis M. O’Connor, who is now retired..
There was an agreement between the parties that the one felony charge, wiretapping, would be continued without a finding for six months, so there was no guilty plea or finding on that charge.
Although Cook's continued job status was not discussed by the court, it appears from Cook's statement as well as the victim impact statement by O'Connor that Cook will remain a police officer.
Police Commissioner William J. Fitchet had previously said once the court case was resolved the department will decide what internal action to take.
The charge against Cook of threat to commit a crime was dropped.
Robert Moynihan
Dennis O'ConnorThe station house fight happened in February 2008, but the case dragged on unresolved during the administration of former Hampden District Attorney William M. Bennett.
When Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni discovered earlier this year the case was still active, he vowed to get it back on track and done with.
Cook in May filed requests in District Court seeking assault and battery charges against Moynihan and O’Connor, saying it was he who was the victim in the station house incident.
That request has been dropped, Charles Groce, Cook's lawyer, said.
Mastroianni brought the felony wire tapping charge against Cook in April of this year, more than three years after the incident.
The added charge accused the 18-year patrolman of illegally recording the altercation and the events which followed on a cell phone. Investigators had been aware of the recording, but no charge was brought until Mastroianni initiated a review of the case.
Cook has been assigned to the records division since the incident. He also served a five-day suspension in the immediate aftermath.
Assistant District Attorney Donna S. Donato recited what happened, and also read victim impact statements from Moynihan and O'Connor, who were in the courtroom.
She said Cook, on Feb. 2, 2008, reported for roll call and was asked by Moynihan to see him afterwards. A conversation between the two escalated to the point of Cook striking Moynihan, knocking him down. While Moynihan was unconscious on the floor O'Connor restrained Cook.
Cook broke O'Connor's grip and flung him onto a desk, causing a broken tailbone.
Moynihan, a police officer for more than 35 years, encountered his own troubles in October 2009 when he was charged in District Court in an unrelated domestic assault case; the lieutenant denied that charge. That case is pending.
He has also remained on duty.