"Boston Police commissioner’s son gets free ride" by Maria Cramer | Globe Staff, February 08, 2013
The 22-year-old son of Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis was about to drive home from the TD Garden Monday night when a patrolman stopped him, concerned he might have had too much to drink to be behind the wheel, according to a report.
Philip Davis was not arrested, but the case remains under investigation and police have notified senior Suffolk prosecutors about the incident.
Davis had just left the Garden with his girlfriend and had gone into a parking garage heading to his truck, when a passerby saw him.
The witness alerted an officer who was just finishing his shift that Davis appeared to be under the influence of alcohol and had just gotten into a blue pickup truck, according to a report written by Superintendent in Chief Daniel Linskey.
The officer waited outside the garage until he saw the truck leaving.
The officer stopped him, began talking to Davis, and determined that Davis had been drinking, but was unsure if he was impaired.
Davis, the report stated, told the officer that his father is the commissioner and said “something to the effect that he wouldn’t want to upset the officer or his father,” according to the report.
“ ‘If you’re concerned, I can just park the car and get home another way,’ ” Davis allegedly said.
The officer, who also noted that it had been snowing that night, agreed that was the best solution. He then offered Davis and his girlfriend a ride home, but said he needed to clear it first with his duty supervisor.
“After completing his paperwork and tour of duty, officer drove them to their home,” Linskey wrote.
The officer followed proper procedure, said police spokeswoman, Cheryl Fiandaca. Officers are not obligated to administer a breathalyzer test, she said.
“In these types of stops, officers have complete discretion, based on their observations, to determine what, if any further steps should be taken,” Fiandaca said.
Linskey wrote the report after the commissioner directed him Tuesday to conduct an investigation into what happened.
“Commissioner Davis informed me that he was removing himself of any involvement in this investigation,” Linskey wrote.
The commissioner told Linskey he should seek guidance from the city’s corporation counsel if he needed it. Linskey notified Suffolk District Attorney Daniel Conley’s office about the incident, according to the report.
Commissioner Davis declined to comment through Fiandaca.
“All appropriate protocol has been followed,” Fiandaca said. “The department is investigating the incident and plans to turn over reports to the Suffolk County district attorney’s office.”
Jake Wark, a spokesman for Conley, confirmed that Linskey called Conley’s top prosecutor, First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Haggan.
He said it is too early to determine whether any charges would be filed.
“We haven’t seen the reports, so we’re not prepared to comment on that,” Wark said.
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Related:
Aid to commissioner’s son by police officer is debated
Boston police commissioner’s son benefits from special treatment
UPDATES:
"Police chief son arrested in N.H.; Drunken driving charge for Davis" by Peter Schworm and Travis Andersen | Globe Staff, February 18, 2013
Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said Monday that his son, who had been driven home earlier this month by a Boston police officer amid suspicion he was impaired, was arrested over the weekend in New Hampshire on charges of operating under the influence.
In a statement, Davis said his 22-year-old son, Philip, had decided to seek treatment for substance abuse after his arrest Friday night in Plymouth, N.H.
“Like many families that struggle with substance abuse, we are reaching out to experts to get Philip the help he needs,” the commissioner said in a statement. “Jane and I love our son very much and are relieved that he has decided to seek treatment. This sudden and public challenge is the most difficult issue we have dealt with as a family, but we pray that Philip will persevere and overcome this setback. We are thankful that no one has been hurt in this situation.”
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New Hampshire State Police said in a statement that troopers stopped the vehicle Davis was driving at about 3 a.m. Sunday on High Street. Davis had five passengers with him, the statement said.
He was charged with driving while intoxicated, and all of the passengers were charged with being minors in possession of alcohol, State Police said.
The passengers were identified as Cathryn McCarthy, 20; Annie McCarthy, 18; and Meghan McCarthy, 18, all of Hudson, N.H., as well as Jordan McCarthy, 17; and Sheehan McCarthy, 20; both of Lowell.
Davis and his passengers could not immediately be reached for comment.
They are all scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 28 in Plymouth District Court, State Police said.
The announcement sharpened scrutiny of the department’s handling of the Feb. 4 event, when a Boston patrolman stopped Philip Davis as he was about to drive home from the TD Garden.
A passerby had told the officer that Davis appeared to be drunk as he got into his car, according to police.
The officer stopped Davis and determined he had been drinking, but was uncertain whether he was impaired.
The officer then gave Davis and his girlfriend a ride home.
The officer’s decision not to arrest Davis or administer sobriety tests has raised questions about whether he received preferential treatment....
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Don't worry, dad; judging by the hits no one gives a shit.
