Twice-fired and reinstated Springfield patrolman promoted to sergeant

SPRINGFIELD — After a six-month suspension and two firings that were overturned by arbitrators, former patrolman Anthony Bedinelli has been promoted to sergeant, police confirmed Monday.

Twice-fired and reinstated Springfield Police Officer Anthony Bedinelli has been promoted to sergeant. (The Republican, File)

Bedinelli, previously passed over for a promotion because of his troubled work history, was among six patrolmen promoted on Sept. 7. He did not respond to a request for comment on Monday.

Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers said Bedinelli has spent the last several months training young officers to make good decisions.

"He has jumped to the opportunity to make himself a better officer and make better officers out of our new people," Akers said, noting that Bedinelli's two previous firing were negated. "If they say I can't hold it against him, then I certainly can't hold it against him."

Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers speaks during a press conference last year to announce new walking patrols in Indian Orchard. Mayor Domenic Sarno is on the left. (Don Treeger / The Republican, File)The Republican

And the superintendent added that Bedinelli's most serious transgressions were decades ago. Akers said he believes the officer deserves redemption.

"He's been an exemplary officer for many years now. I think he's grown, and I think it's time to give him a chance," Akers said.

But the woman who was mauled as a child by Bedinelli's two pet Rottweilers disagrees.

Stacie Gumlaw still bears deep scars and struggles with anxiety over the near-fatal attack that occurred outside her home on Feb. 28, 1997.

She was 8 years old when it happened and was sewn back together with hundreds of stitches, Gumlaw said. She came out publicly to fight Bedinelli's attempt at a promotion in 2018.

Though her physical wounds have healed, that Bedinelli remains on the force, never mind receiving a promotion, still stings.

In a recent email to The Republican — with a subject line of "Bedinelli gets away with everything" — Gumlaw said that for years she lived next door to Bedinelli, and he never apologized.

"I have confronted him in person, and he still refused to say he was sorry," Gumlaw said, referring to the sergeant as "evil."

Bedinelli was a dispatcher at the time of the attack. When he heard calls over the police radio about the dog attack, he abandoned his post and rushed home, interfering with the police response, an internal investigation found.

He was suspended for six months for a series of transgressions related to the incident, including neglect of duty and "conduct injurious to the public peace or welfare."

In 2007, Bedinelli was fired by then-Police Commissioner Edward Flynn for his role in a 2 a.m. off-duty brawl the night after Christmas inside the Ale House , a Worthington Street bar not far from the police station.

Two women reported that Bedinelli attacked them while they were arguing with the bartender.

He appealed the decision and won an arbitration case. He was reinstated in 2009 and collected $65,000 in back pay.

Bedinelli was fired a second time by former Police Commissioner John Barbieri in March 2018, following two separate internal investigations into his conduct while on duty and off — including one that involved a domestic violence complaint. Limited details were available about that incident.

That ouster also was overturned, even though Akers' predecessor, former Commissioner Cheryl C. Clapprood, said Bedinelli had demonstrated a longstanding " blatant disregard " for the citizens of Springfield.

Given the gravity of the dog mauling and interference in the investigation, Akers said, "If he did that today, my attitude would be totally different."

"If you read the details of that incident, it's sickening," Akers said. "My heart goes out to that young woman and her family."

Read the original article on MassLive .