Milford officer fired by Hopkinton police re-certified by POST Commission

A Milford police officer who was fired for failing to report rape allegations against the former assistant chief of the Hopkinton Police Department has been reinstated by a state police oversight commissioner, less than a month after the commission voted to suspend his license.

In August, former Hopkinton Police Sergeant Timothy Brennan was disbarred by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission (POST) for failing to report rape allegations against former Deputy Police Chief John “Jay” Porter, who was charged with child rape in the spring of 2023.

Brennan admitted that he learned about some of the allegations against Porter, dating back to 2004, in 2017, but never reported them to authorities because the victim told him she would deny the allegations in that case.

With Brennan's encouragement, the victim eventually reported the allegations to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office in August 2022, but after an emotional public hearing and several hours of careful decision-making, the Hopkinton Select Board voted last spring to fire Brennan for his inaction in the case.

In July, Brennan was hired by the Milford Police Department as an officer—a far lower rank than his previous position—but the POST Commission revoked his license less than a month later.

• Read more: Former Sergeant Timothy Brennan's certification suspended after reinstatement as Milford officer

POST Commissioner Marsha Kazarosian's Sept. 6 decision to re-authorize Brennan may be his greatest satisfaction yet. While Kazarosian declined to comment on whether the former sergeant made the right decision in not reporting the allegations – which his critics say allowed Porter to remain in a position of power for years – she expressed understanding for Brennan's desire to honor the victim's wishes and felt Hopkinton police policies did not provide him with sufficient guidance in the situation.

“Brennan may not have properly chosen to remain silent, even at the behest of the victim and even in the face of her protestations that she would claim he was lying and that both he and she feared for her safety. I make no findings or conclusions in that regard,” she wrote. “However, those decisions, made years ago, have no impact on the health, safety or welfare of the public at this time, so a suspension of his license pending other proceedings would be justified or warranted.”

Milford police confirmed Monday that Brennan was back on duty. Police Chief Robert Tusino said he was “delighted” with the commissioner's decision and reiterated his support for the former sergeant, who has otherwise had an unblemished career with the police.

“It was about victims' rights and victim advocacy and breaking down the barrier of 'can you trust the police?'” he said. “… He not only protected the victim, but he also protected a criminal case.”

This is a breaking news story and will be updated with further information.