Marblehead Police Officers Kept Silent on Swastika “I Think It Would Have Been Very Ben- by Ethan M
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AUGUST 12, 2021 – 4 ELUL 5781 JEWISHVOL 45, NO 27 JOURNALJEWISHJOURNAL.ORG Marblehead police officers kept silent on swastika “I think it would have been very ben- By Ethan M. Forman eficial both for the community, for the JOURNAL STAFF police force, as well as for the chief to take accountability, basically, and be here MARBLEHEAD – At least nine tonight to answer our questions instead Marblehead police officers and supervi- of having Chief King answer the ques- sors – or about one-third of the town’s tions of something that he just does not department – were aware that a fellow know,” Magen said. officer scratched a swastika on another “One of the main points that I was a officer’s car and failed to report the inci- little disappointed that wasn’t mentioned dent, according to an independent report a lot in the report, was the atmosphere released Aug. 4. we have in our town for swastikas,” said Members of the department stayed Magen. “We did have a police officer who silent for almost 18 months, violating a felt that it was OK for him to do that kind department rule requiring them to report Marblehead Police Officer Timothy Former Police Chief Robert Picariello did of action, [which] I think says a lot about violations by other officers, until word of Tufts resigned after allegedly scrawl- not learn about the incident until almost where we are, and it’s very surprising to the incident reached former police chief ing a swastika into a fellow officer’s 18 months after the incident. He retired me because I love Marblehead and I’ve Robert Picariello, who retired in July. personal car. last month. never felt anybody discriminate against The 59-page report – which took more Dimare did not want to press charges, in the department after Picariello went me.” than six months to complete – was com- a practice consistent with the way the public with the accusation on Dec. 16, Liz Weinstein does not know why Tufts piled by Winthrop Police Chief/Interim department handles civilian complaints. 2020. chose to scratch a swastika on Officer Town Manager Terence Delehanty, who is The report said Dimare told former Laurie Barham, who is Jewish, ques- Dimare’s car, “but to that end, Officer also an attorney and was hired to inves- Chief Picariello “that he ‘just wanted the tioned why Picariello did not learn about Dimare made it his choice to not report tigate as principal of Law Enforcement whole thing to be over with.’” the incident until more than a year after it that and potentially put the communi- Application Development Strategies. The report also stated “Tufts’ conduct happened. “Was he out of touch? Was he ty at risk.” She said she was dismayed The report includes interviews con- on this occasion was highly unprofes- somebody who could not be approached? Dimare is still a police officer in town. ducted over Zoom with 21 members sional and clearly related to religion.” I just find that the two options are a little King, the new chief, said he respected of the department. One of those inter- Tufts did not respond to multiple disturbing,” she said. her analysis, “but that isn’t mine.” King viewed, Office Andrew Dimare, owned requests from Delehanty to be inter- The report concluded that the first time said Dimare “has shown only exemplary the car that was etched with the swastika, viewed. Captain Matthew Freeman or Picariello actions.” allegedly by Timothy Tufts, on July 1, 2019. The report also found that department heard about the swastika incident was Weinstein asked about the depart- Tufts was later placed on administrative policies and procedures on reporting the Nov. 13, 2020. ment’s policy for officers to report poten- leave before he resigned in December incident were not followed “to various Helaine Hazlett, cochair of tially dangerous situations, and King said 2020. degrees.” Marblehead’s Task Force Against reporting through the chain of command The report found that “Tufts allegedly Marblehead Selectmen held a Zoom Discrimination, thanked Delehanty “for is something they are going to work on. committed the crime of felony vandal- meeting on Aug. 5 with Delehanty and the his excellent work. It was very much in Delehanty’s report singled out nine ism,” in the incident, but not a hate crime department’s new police chief, Dennis depth. I trust all that was said.” officers and supervisors who – to varying under state law, since neither Tufts nor King, who said he plans an administrative Resident Yael Magen, who is Jewish, degrees – appeared to have violated a rule Dimare are Jewish. The report also stat- review of the incident and the aftermath. said she was disappointed the report was requiring them to report violations com- ed that Tufts did not receive preferential The incident has raised concerns from not published before Picariello’s retire- mitted by other officers. treatment for not being charged because residents about antisemitism and racism ment last month. continued on page 16 SUSPECT IN ATTACK ON RABBI ORDERED HELD UNTIL AUG. 26 By Ethan M. Forman standing information.” that would bear on a claim of police. Police say Awad pointed JOURNAL STAFF The motion by Bassil, a mem- antisemitism.” a gun at police just before he was ber of Awad’s defense team, Awad, a college student from arrested. BRIGHTON – A dangerous- states Awad would be better Egypt, is facing nine charges in Awad was initially arraigned ness hearing for Khaled A. Awad, served by a private evaluation connection with the attack on the on July 2 on charges of assault the suspect in the July 1 stab- regarding criminal responsibil- rabbi in broad daylight outside to murder, assault and battery bing of Rabbi Shlomo Noginski, ity “that could take place over a the Shaloh House on Chestnut with a dangerous weapon caus- was again postponed on July 28 period of time and with better Hill Avenue around 1 p.m. on ing serious bodily injury, assault after his attorney asked that he information.” July 1. Noginski, who grew up and battery with a dangerous be evaluated at Bridgewater State The court document also in the former Soviet Union and weapon, two counts of assault Hospital for his competency to states that Awad “was fully coop- later in Israel, suffered eight stab with a dangerous weapon, carry- stand trial, according to court erative but presented as very wounds in the attack and was ing a gun and a knife on school documents. sick. He did not appear to have released from the hospital after grounds, and attempt to commit Awad, 24, was ordered to the capacity to assist in his own a brief stay. a robbery. One of the assault and remain at Bridgewater until Aug. defense.” Police say Awad approached battery charges relates to the sus- AP Photo/Elise Amendola, Pool 26, when another hearing is Judge David T. Donnelly Khaled A. Awad, 24, is charged Noginski outside of Shaloh pect allegedly kicking a Boston scheduled. agreed and allowed Awad to be with stabbing Rabbi Shlomo House’s summer camp, pointed a police officer in the stomach “In support thereof,” Boston sent to Bridgewater for evalua- Noginski in Brighton on July 1. gun at the rabbi, and demanded while being taken into custody. attorney Janice Bassil, an expert tion. that he get in the camp’s van. On July 8, Awad was arraigned also was postponed. in mental health defenses, wrote, The state reserved its right to The rabbi then fled across the on two additional hate crimes In a separate motion seeking “counsel states that she met with argue for dangerousness, wheth- street to a park, where he was charges: a civil rights violation money to hire a medical expert the defendant on July 27, 2021 er or not Awad could be released stabbed repeatedly and then with injury, and assault and Bassil said Awad “has no history and he appeared to have diffi- on bail, and other conditions. A chased through Brighton Square battery to intimidate causing of political or religious ideology culty communicating and under- July 29 hearing on those matters before Awad was surrounded by continued on page 16 APPLY FOR A GREAT MORTGAGE IN LESS TIME THAN IT TAKES TO READ THE PAPER. Use your smart phone to apply for a great mortgage in just 15 minutes. Apply now at MetroCU.org. Chelsea | Boston | Burlington | Framingham | Lawrence | Lynn | Melrose Newton | Peabody | Salem | Tewksbury | MetroCU.org | 877.MY.METRO NMLS# 198524 The Jewish Journal is a nonprofit newspaper supported by generous readers, committed advertisers and charitable organizations. Email [email protected]. 2 THE JEWISH JOURNAL – JEWISHJOURNAL.ORG – AUGUST 12, 2021 Antisemitism appears in Dighton-Rehoboth school official’s TikTok and in Lynnfield Park cine mandates, was interviewed ate a teachable moment for all,” tika, the name “Hitler,” and an by WJAR’s Katie Davis about said a statement from Anthony obscene image, the statement how this and her other social Azar, superintendent of the said. media posts could be viewed as school district southwest of “Police were immediately offensive. Taunton. notified of the incident and “Well, my TikTok, it’s out “It must be made clear,” the documented the scene. After there, you know, it’s being seen,” statement read, “that the com- the scene was documented she told Davis. “But, that’s my ments within the social media by police, the Department of private social page, people look posts do not reflect the values Public Works painted over the at it, they look at it.” and beliefs of the Dighton- offensive images,” the state- When asked if she could see Rehoboth Regional School ment said, urging those with how comparing vaccine certifi- District.” information to call Lynnfield cates to the Holocaust could be About 315 people have signed police at 781-334-3131.