The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office is investigating why a key was found hidden outside the door of the Framingham Police Department's evidence room.
Ken Ferguson, Chief of Police, said his office first notified the Middlesex District Attorney's Office upon the discovery.
Ferguson said it appeared that only two evidence officers who were authorized to access the evidence room, knew of the key.
"All information suggests that this key was hidden as a back-up means, and convenience measure, for these two authorized evidence officers to access the outer door, if they had locked themselves out of their office," Ferguson said in an emailed statement.
The police chief said corrective and disciplinary action would be taken with anyone who did not maintain "the security and integrity of the department's evidence room."
He went on to say that in September 2015, new security and access control measures were implemented, which included having the exterior evidence room door lock changed. Ferguson said there is also a security camera pointed at the evidence room door.
Ferguson did not name the two officers but a statement Saturday from the Middlesex District Attorney does:
Massachusetts
The latest news from around the state
"While the investigation by the Office of the Attorney General into whether Framingham Police Officer (Alan) Dubeshter, who served as the evidence officer, took money from the evidence room remains open, our office has sent notices of discovery to all attorneys who represent defendants in cases in which Officer Alan Dubesther was a witness. We have thus proactively notified all defendants who may potentially be impacted to ensure their right to a fair trial.
The matter remains under investigation by the Attorney General's Office.
