Upon returning to work from a five-day unpaid suspension, Lt. Alan Borowski was stripped of his previous job directly supervising the detective bureau. His is presently the day supervisor of the patrol division and retains his rank of lieutenant.
NORTHAMPTON -- A high-ranking Northampton police officer found to have violated department policies has filed a grievance after he was placed on unpaid leave for five days.
Lt. Alan Borowski came under scrutiny last year after he improperly accessed the police department's public drug drop off box, officials said previously. Borowski, who had been in charge of the detective bureau, was placed on paid leave during the investigation. After its conclusion he was docked five days pay and reassigned as day shift supervisor.
Borowski's attorney, Thomas Kokonowski, confirmed the grievance but declined to comment further. "I will have plenty to say after the grievance process is resolved," he said Thursday.
Meanwhile, recently released internal affairs investigation documents show Borowski violated other department policies by, among other things, calling in sick to take his girlfriend for a boat ride and driving her to dinner in his cruiser.
Chief Jody Kasper previously refused to release the documents, saying they were exempt from public records laws and citing "negative consequences to the successful operations of our police department and ultimately our ability to serve the public."
The state's Supervisor of Public Records, Rebecca S. Murray, recently ordered the chief to release the reports.
One internal affairs investigation was headed by Northampton Police Capt. Dorothy Clayton, who found that Borowski provided false records and disparaged a commanding officer in front of other staff.
Borowski's negative "comments revolved around the supervisor not being competent ... as well as having poor decision making skills. ... Borowski was encouraging people to write negative comments about this supervisor on the department climate survey," the Clayton report said.
It does not specify who Borowski was speaking about, but the lieutenant has only three superior officers: Clayton, Kasper and Capt. John Cartledge.
"Several employees relayed that Borowski would drive his girlfriend to dinner in his cruiser, while off duty. When interviewed, Borowski stated one time he drove his girlfriend to dinner in his cruiser while off duty," the Clayton report said.
"It was reported that Borowski had gone out on his boat after calling in sick and that a picture was taken showing his truck parked at the Oxbow and his boat slip being empty," the report said. Borowski said "he did go out on his boat one time while on a sick day when his girlfriend got out of work at 3 p.m."
Staff accused Borowski of ill-treatment, of losing his temper and raising his voice. Borowski said he did not recall raising his voice.
"During interviews conducted with past and present employees several instances were reported where Lt. Borowski lost his temper and made inappropriate comments and interactions that caused undue stress to affected department members," the report said.
Through a spokesperson, Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz declined to comment on the report's findings.
Clayton's investigation was in addition to one conducted by an outside firm. It began after the police department received an anonymous letter in August.
"Since you don't have a freaking clue about what actually goes on inside these 4 walls, here is a hint for you," the letter said, according to the newly released documents. "Check the camera that eyes the drug drop box around the time that the overdose occurred" involving someone whose name is redacted.
The drug box investigation was conducted by a private firme, APD Management Inc., of Tewskbury, and focused on the drug box matter. APD is owned by former Tewskbury Police Chief Alfred P. Donovan. Donovan was paid $3,130.
Kasper in November provided a written summary of the APD report's findings.
Some of the APD documents themselves, which were also released recently, show Borowski removed narcotics that had been given to him by a friend or acquaintance, who had gotten them from another friend or acquaintance who at the time was being investigated by the regional drug task force. Their names were redacted.
Borowski placed 11 oxycodone pills in the drop box, the documents show, then removed and placed them in the department's evidence room with a note saying they were to be destroyed.
The report says Borowski failed to fill out a written log that would have shown he removed the pills, and that he failed to inform his superiors about the drug investigation.
Borowski's actions "may have provided the appearance of preferential treatment," the Donovan report said.
"Furthermore, had criminal proceedings resulted from the investigation a credible challenge to the chain of custody of the Oxycodone pills may have been presented which could have prevented their admission as evidence," the report said.
According to city records, Borowski was Northampton's second highest paid employee for the fiscal year that ended June 30, at $138,686.90.
Clayton report on Lt. Alan Borowski by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd
APD report on Lt. Alan Borowski by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd