Boston

Police Sergeant Allegedly Flew Armed on 28 Flights While Off Duty

A Boston Police sergeant will be charged Wednesday with multiple abuses of power, including repeatedly making false statements enabling him to fly armed while off-duty on dozens on flights.

Bruce E. Smith, 53, of Randolph, allegedly claimed to have obtained supervisor approval for personal flights out of Logan Airport, allowing him to carry his firearm and evade security screening. Smith is a 27 year veteran of the Boston Police Department.

On at least two of those flights, Smith was accompanied by Leroy Ross, a mobile HIV clinic director from Randolph with a criminal record. Smith falsely claimed that Ross was a "dignitary" under Smith's official police escort. When the TSA questioned security personal as to what type of dignitary Ross was, Smith replied, "I am not at liberty to divulge that information."

According to the complaint filed against Smith, he also allegedly requested and received overtime pay for an intelligence meeting in Boston that he did not attend because he was on personal travel in North Carolina.

Commissioner Evans said in a statement, "I hold my officers to the highest standards and expect that they conduct themselves in a truthful and professional manner both on and off duty," said Commissioner Evans. "As law enforcement professionals, we have an obligation and a responsibility to enforce and obey laws, not exploit them for personal convenience."

Smith has been placed on administrative leave with pay effective today, June 28 2017. He faces a sentence of no longer than 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

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