The commandant and a second instructor at the Massachusetts State Police Academy have been transferred as a result of an expanding internal investigation into allegations of recruit abuse at the academy, the Boston Globe reports. Lieutenant Richard Lane, who commands the New Braintree academy, and Trooper Paul Weinshenk, an instructor, were reassigned late Friday pending completion of an investigation by the State Police Internal Affairs Unit.
The department said the 174 recruits currently training at the academy would be interviewed. ”Our intention is that each cadet will be interviewed and if there are allegations made against any employee, we will err on the side of caution and remove that person pending completion of the investigation,” said a spokesperson. The investigation reportedly began after an instructor was accused of forcing recruits to put their heads in toilets while they were cleaning a bathroom.
Link: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/09/20/state_police_remove