A Boston police officer, Jennifer de los Santos, has had her law enforcement certification suspended and is now facing an assault and battery charge. The suspension was issued by the state Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission on June 12, temporarily prohibiting her from working as a police officer. As part of the suspension, de los Santos was required to surrender her uniform, badge, and any police-issued firearms.
De los Santos was arraigned in the Dorchester division of Boston Municipal Court on June 3, where she pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, according to court records. She was released on personal recognizance.
The incident leading to the charges occurred on June 1, when de los Santos allegedly closed a door on her daughter during an argument. The daughter reported that she had tried to follow de los Santos into a bedroom, and the door struck her multiple times. Distressed, the daughter sought help at a nearby fire station on Washington Street.
De los Santos claimed that she did not intentionally strike her daughter with the door. She stated that she was attempting to prevent her daughter from forcing her way into the room. The Boston police have not provided any comment on the matter.
The state Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission certifies officers throughout Massachusetts and maintains records of police misconduct complaints. In cases where an officer is charged with a felony, the commission is obligated to suspend their certification.
1 Response
I recently came across a similar case in my city where a police officer was involved in a controversial incident. Officer Smith, a long-serving member of the local police force, was accused of using excessive force during an arrest.
The incident occurred when Officer Smith responded to a call about a disturbance at a local bar. Upon arriving at the scene, he encountered an intoxicated individual who was causing a disturbance. Witnesses claimed that Officer Smith immediately escalated the situation by using unnecessary force, including punching and kicking the individual.