A Massachusetts police officer says he was retaliated against and demoted from a regional drug task force, after he came forward with allegations two Dracut police officers were doing drugs with a criminal informant and using that informant's apartment to sleep with prostitutes.
Joseph Jakuttis filed the lawsuit earlier this month, naming the Town of Dracut and several officers as defendants.
Jakuttis alleges he was also demoted from detective to patrolman after he told his superiors about the criminal informant's allegations.
"All he did was what any citizen would do, and that is reveal that information. It is a public safety issue we believe and he didn't do anything, he just brought the information forward," Laurence Sweeney, Jakkuttis' lawyer, said Wednesday.
The 88-page lawsuit details the allegations against members of several federal, state, and local police agencies.
The Town Manager for Dracut declined a request for an interview.
"We do not comment on pending litigation but we take this matter very seriously," James Duggan said in a statement.
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"We are familiar with the suit but generally do not comment on pending litigation," David Procopio with the State Police said.
"It is deep enough that if these allegations, if they are shown as true, they are certainly enough that people can't turn a blind eye to that," Sweeney said.
Sweeney declined a request to talk with Jakutttis.
"His job, his livelihood is effected, financial issues involved, certainly a lot of distress over being harassed and intimidated," Sweeney added.
Dracut's Interim Police Chief released a statement Wednesday night:
"Although the department takes all allegations against the agency and its personnel seriously, I cannot comment on pending litigation at this time," Neil Ouellette said.
