Bourne to be wild: What is going on in Bourne, Massachussetts? Fire department has lots of issues.
Read Friday’s article from the Cape Cod Times
There’s something happening here. What it is ain’t exactly clear. Every time I look, the 48-member Bourne Fire Department in Massachusetts is in the news.
Earlier we told you about Deputy Chief Paul Weeks, charged with rape, who has been allowed back to full duty while the charges are adjudicated. Yesterday, firefighters were called to the Bourne Police Department to be questioned about an investigation that apparently involves Weeks’ wife, Lt. Kelli Weeks.
That mysterious probe has been going on for a while. We say mysterious, because no one is saying anything publicly about details of the investigation. The Cape Cod Times has been trying unsuccessfully since August to find out some specifics. The state is now reviewing the paper’s appeal to the town’s refusal to supply records. Union officials have urged that the documents be released and have expressed no confidence in Lt. Weeks and Town Administrator Thomas Guerino.
On Wednesday, police were called to the Main Street station to handle a domestic dispute. A female firefighter said she was receiving harassing text messages and phone calls from her ex-husband.
Also, a firefighter is not working because of job related stress after being twice accused by Guerino as being a source for news stories.
And yes, the Bourne Fire Department’s Sagamore Beach station is embroiled in that controversy you may have read about where the weekly veterinary clinic is held in the building.
Here are excerpts from today’s Cape Cod Time article by Matthew Burke:
Bourne police Chief Earl Baldwin confirmed the interviews were taking place.
“They are being interviewed,” Baldwin said. “But this is not in regard to the criminal investigation (into Weeks). This is not a criminal matter. The interviews really don’t have anything to do with the police department other than we’re the ones doing them.”
Baldwin said more information may be available next week.As the controversies have played out, union officials have called for town officials to release information regarding the investigation into Kelli Weeks to the public. Both Guerino and
In a memo from Guerino to (Acting Fire Chief Danel) Doucette, obtained by the Times yesterday, and dated Thursday, Guerino said questionable factual reports have shown up in local papers, a contention that union officials have disputed.
Doucette have threatened to fire anyone caught talking to the press, which has caused tension at the department. At least one firefighter is not working because of job-related stress.
Clearly there are a lot of unanswered questions in Bourne.
Above is a video of the Bourne Fire Department in less turbulent times. The department received some good press for rescuing a cat at a house fire on April 15 of this year. Maybe crossing paths with the cat was bad luck. Click here, here and here for more Bourne Fire Department videos.