The Marblehead Select Board announced Feb. 26 it will not appeal an arbitrator’s ruling ordering the reinstatement of police officer Christopher Gallo, who was terminated last year.
The decision came after board members emerged from an executive session that began around 6:30 p.m. and concluded around 7:15 p.m.
“After careful consideration, we have decided not to pursue an appeal in the matter of Officer Gallo,” said Select Board Chair Erin Noonan during the public meeting that followed.
An arbitrator ruled Feb. 12 that the town must reinstate Gallo with full back pay and benefits after determining that officials failed to properly investigate anonymous allegations of time fraud against him and did not authenticate photographic evidence they knew could have been manipulated.
The ruling requires the town to remove all references to disciplinary actions from this case from Gallo’s record and restore his seniority rights.
“The Select Board would like to express its unwavering support for Police Chief Dennis King in the disciplinary action taken in this matter,” Noonan said. “We stand behind the chief’s decision to uphold the integrity of our police force and to maintain the highest standards of conduct among our officers.”
Gallo received approximately $172,000 in salary payments while on paid administrative leave from June 2021 through February 2024. The arbitrator’s decision requires additional compensation for lost overtime and detail work opportunities during that period. Town Administrator Thatcher Kezer said they don’t know the dollar amount, but that “everybody is crunching the numbers.”
“While we may not agree with the outcome, we respect the process and the arbitrator’s ruling and we are committed to moving forward in the best interest of all parties involved,” Noonan added.
The arbitrator’s ruling is legally binding and can only be appealed in court on narrow grounds, such as proof of fraud or corruption by the arbitrator.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Albert Jordan expressed concerns about the financial impact of the case.
“We can’t keep spending millions of dollars,” Jordan said. “We’ve got to control this situation.”
Jordan suggested the town should consider removing the police department from Massachusetts Civil Service, similar to what happened in nearby Swampscott.
“We still can get good candidates. There’s a lot of people that want to apply for these jobs — well-paid jobs,” he said.
While it’s unclear if Gallo will return to the force, attorney Gary Nolan, who represents Gallo, told the Marblehead Current that his client was eager to return to work.
“The parties have been in touch to discuss next steps. We look forward to working with the town to get an agreement on the back pay due to officer Gallo,” Nolan said. “Chris looks forward to getting back to work as soon as possible.”
