"Ex-Menino driver gets new job, stirring dispute" by Maria Cramer, Globe Staff / January 29, 2011
A former driver for Mayor Thomas M. Menino has been promoted to deputy superintendent, marking the second time in five years that an officer who worked on the mayor’s security detail was elevated to the police department’s command staff....
But the appointment angered the organization representing the department’s minority officers, who for years have been calling for more women and minorities to be given supervisory roles. For more than a decade, Sergeant Detective Steven Whitman, 44, who is white, drove Menino, supervised other drivers, and handled security for other dignitaries before becoming head of security at City Hall in 2009....
Unlike the newspaper, I see everything in shades of gray these days, readers. Sorry I'm not into the agenda-pushing divisiveness today.
--moree--"
"Menino ex-aide gets probation, not prison, in drug case; Forbes apologizes for his conduct" by Alikah Johnson, Globe Staff / January 19, 2011
The tense hand-wringing in federal court yesterday gave way to triumphant pats of joy when a former aide to Mayor Thomas M. Menino was sentenced to probation instead of prison for selling OxyContin and cocaine....
The US Drug Enforcement Administration began investigating John M. Forbes, 31, who served as Menino’s liaison to East Boston until his December 2009 arrest, around June 2008, according to court documents. He sold a government informant 125 OxyContin tablets in August 2009 and was arrested while trying to sell 10 ounces of cocaine to the informant, records show....
Related: Mayor Menino's Aide Needs Help
Looks like he got some:
More than 80 people wrote letters of support, including Robert E. Travaglini, former Senate president; Councilor Salvatore LaMattina; community leaders; and his former high school principal. Two of his drug counselors spoke on his behalf during yesterday’s sentencing hearing....
Would they be writing letters of character reference for you, dear reader?
--more--"
