"State trooper under review kills himself" by Martin Finucane | Globe Staff, July 30, 2013
A state trooper who had been relieved of duty because he was being investigated in a possible crime committed suicide Monday afternoon at a hotel in Devens, State Police said.
The trooper had allegedly committed a crime early Sunday while on duty, and an investigation was initiated. He was relieved of duty, State Police said in a statement.
Details on the alleged crime were not released.
On Monday, the trooper told two people he intended to harm himself. Those people contacted State Police, who searched and found him dead of self-inflicted wounds in Devens.
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"State Police quiet about probe, trooper suicide" by David Abel | Globe Staff, August 01, 2013
State Police refused to answer questions Wednesday about the nature of an alleged crime Sunday by a trooper who was relieved of his duties and then committed suicide the next day.
They also refused to release the trooper’s name, although other state officials and an online obituary identify him as Gregory J. Jasinskas, 40, a former Marine and National Guard member from West Bridgewater.
State Police officials said Tuesday that the trooper took his life Monday afternoon at the Hilton Garden Inn in Devens.
They said he was being investigated for an alleged “criminal act” that occurred early Sunday while he was on duty. He was stripped of his service firearm and relieved of duty, pending the investigation.
He later told two people that he intended to harm himself before police found him dead of a self inflicted wound.
“I am not commenting further,” said David Procopio, a spokesman for the State Police.
James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, said he understands why police are reluctant to speak now about the case, but he said there is a public interest in learning the details of the alleged crime.
“Ordinarily, you would want them to release information about the actions of public employees,” he said. “In the short term, they certainly should respect the grieving family.” Fox added: “But eventually there’s a public interest in having the nature of the alleged transgressions released.”
Jaskinskas, who was married, had worked for the State Police since June 2005. He has served in the National Guard for 20 years and served three tours of duty overseas.
“You couldn’t find a better man,” said Shannon-Lee Douglass, an administrative assistant at the State Police who has known him since he began working as a trooper. “He was a hero who protected our freedoms.”
She declined to comment on the alleged crimes and whether he experienced any trauma as a result of his service overseas.
A funeral will be held for Jasinskas Friday morning at St. Bridget Church in Abington.
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