On Monday, a final pre-hearing was held by the Peace Officers Training (POST) Commission. The hearing was heard – as Friday’s final hearing will be – by hearing officer Judith Cowin, a retired Supreme Judicial Court justice.
Monday’s hearing was brief, with Cowin, POST Commission lawyer Shuan Martinez and Rossi’s lawyer, Leah Barrault discussing witnesses appearing in person or via zoom. Friday’s hearing will be in person in Boston.
More: Ashland’s police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave, town manager says
The POST Commission has not said specifically why Rossi is in front of them other than that it is connected to the James Quilty case. Quilty is a former Natick Police sergeant who was convicted of sexually assaulting a former female dispatcher.
That dispatcher has filed a civil suit in Norfolk Superior Court and Rossi, who was a lieutenant in Natick at the time, is named as a defendant. The dispatcher alleges in her lawsuit that Rossi aided and abetted Quilty by urging the dispatcher to not make a formal complaint against. Rossi has denied the allegations.
More: Victim of ex-Natick police sergeant’s assault has filed suit against him, town
What we don’t know about the upcoming hearing
The MetroWest Daily News has filed a public records request with the POST Commission to obtain the complaint filed against Rossi. The request was filed on Feb. 14.
The POST Commission responded within the 10 days required by law, on Feb. 27, and requested additional time. They still have not completed their review of the request.
What is the POST Commission’s role in Massachusetts
According to the POST Commission, the purpose of an adjudicatory hearing is to suspend an officer or revoke their certification to work as an officer and to order retraining. An officer can appeal any ruling.
What is Cara Rossi’s job now
Rossi was hired as the Ashland police chief in May of 2022 and officially started in July of that year. Previously, she was an officer in Natick, reaching the rank of lieutenant.
Ashland Town Manager Michael Herbert placed Rossi on paid administrative leave in January. He has not disclosed the reason.
Rossi signed a contract extension last September that gave her a $15,500 raise. The new contract, obtained by the Daily News through a public records request, extended by a year a pact that was originally set to end in 2025, and raised her annual salary by 9.5%, from $162,500 to $178,000. Rossi and Town Manager Michael Herbert signed the contract, which was effective retroactive to July 1, 2023, on Sept. 25.
Read more about the contract: Ashland’s police chief received a contract extension months before being placed on leave
Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Massachusetts POST Commission to hold hearing on Ashland police chief