US: Massachusetts Cop Fired For Allegedly Using Criminal Database To Stalk, Harass Women

A cop in Massachusetts, US, has been fired after he was caught using a criminal justice database to stalk and harass women.

An investigation found that Brennan Polidoro improperly surveilled women he had dated or wanted to date, as well as current romantic partners, while employed as an officer with the Lanesborough Police Department, AP reported.

The Berkshire Eagle

He was fired this spring after former Lanesborough Police Chief Timothy Sorrell became aware of the potential misconduct that he viewed as stalking and harassment.

According to The Berkshire Eagle, Sorrell produced a 58-page report covering actions by Polidoro from July 7, 2020, to Feb. 20, 2021. Despite months of work before his retirement, Sorrell is not sure that he fully mapped the extent of Polidoro¡¯s misuse of resources.

The Berkshire Eagle

"Once we found out there was an issue, we dealt with it," Sorrell said about the situation. "If he's a dirty cop, he's going down. It's all about the public trust. I did the best for my agency and recommended to the Select Board that he be terminated¡ªand he was terminated."

He was ultimately found "to have engaged in conduct unbecoming an officer and breaking departmental rules" by a Select Board. Police are barred from using criminal justice databases to obtain any information that they do not need to perform their law enforcement duties.

Representational image/iStock

Polidoro had been with the Lanesborough police full-time for five years and was the department's only fully-trained drug recognition officer, Newsweek reported.

Polidoro has reportedly filed an appeal regarding his firing.