This is FU

We have filed a request for LETF fund expenditure in 2022, when we get the data, we’ll post it.

This, “Law Enforcement Trust Fund” is essentially money earned through forfeited cash and possessions once owned by criminals. The police can do what they want to do with this money with little to no oversight from the City Council. This is a point of contention for the city council. A couple years ago, our reporting illustrated why the police NEED oversight.

In 2020, outgoing police chief Trask – used tens of thousands of dollars – for gifts to his buds.

THE FOLLOWING IS OUR POST FROM SEPTEMBER 2020: “WAS NEARLY $120,000 IN VEHICLES PURCHASED BY OUTGOING CHIEF FOR HIS DEPUTIES AS A GOING AWAY GIFT?“

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On June 9, 2020, now former Chief Trask submitted a letter to the Mayor announcing his retirement after two years as the Framingham Police Chief. His last day was June 26th. He was vested in the city’s pension, and will be pocketing just shy of $140,000 annually.

In the weeks leading up to his departure, we learned that Trask had purchased brand new unmarked police vehicles for each of his Deputy Chiefs. This was his going away gift to each of them.

Approximately a month ago we submitted a FOIA request to obtain the information on the purchase of these vehicles. Our request read, “We are requesting a list of vehicles assigned to each of these officers (Branodlini, Slattery, Baker, Periera), the date obtained as evidenced by a receipt, and make/model/year details.” Our request was denied on the basis that descriptions of the unmarked vehicles could prejudice the effectiveness of law enforcement activities.

So we asked again, requesting any receipts for purchases over $500 out of the super secret LETF fund between May 1, 2020 through the end of August. This time we asked them in the case of vehicles purchased to redact the model (not the make) registration numbers, vin numbers and the color.

It worked and we now have evidence of fiscal irresponsibility by the Framingham Police Department, during the COVID crisis when all departments were asked to make cuts and tighten their belts. Purchases through the LETF are only allowed for specific items, and purchases out of this fund are done without City Council or Mayoral or executive oversight.

The two vehicles purchased on April 27th, were ordered on March 9th. Based on the info we recieved from our Freedom of Information Act request, we were able to determine these were both unmarked 2020 Ford vehicles.

Through research we were able to determine the the model, color and options. Both cars were Ford Explorer XLT 4WD. One is painted “Magnetic Metallic” and the other “Agate Black”. Both vehicles were decked out with the Co-Piolot360 Assist+ system which includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering, and speed sign recognition, they both also include an evasive steering assist system, a voice activated navigation system with pinch to zoom capability, and also 5 years of Sirius satellite radio included. Both vehicles also include the Comfort Package, which includes first and second row heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a windshield wiper de-icing feature, and a twin panel moonroof. Both vehicles also have an equipment upgrade, including 8-Way Power Passenger Seats, ActiveX Seating Material, LED Fog Lamps with Skid Plate Elements, and a Remote Start System. All in, each vehicle costed about $41,000.

These two Ford’s weren’t purchased with the average patrol officer in mind. These were special vehicles for special people.

The next vehicle is a mystery to us. It was ordered from a Ford dealership on May 11th and delivered on June 22nd. It was purchased with a trade-in with or without a cash payment of $17,701. It is a 2018 vehicle, make and model and features unknown. It was finished with 35% eyebrow tint in front and 20% in the rear. We have suspicions that this vehicle may be a 2018 Ford EcoSport SE 4WD SUV, but don’t quote us on that.

The last vehicle was ordered on May 16th and delivered on June 26th, the day Trask retired. This was purchased for just over $19,000. This vehicle is also somewhat a mystery to us. We believe this vehicle is possibly a 2015 Lincoln MKS, but once again, we don’t know.

The rumor was that each deputy chief at the time of Chief Trask’s retirement each was handed keys to a new vehicle as a going away gift from the outgoing Chief. We also know that not one vehicle was ordered or received since the date Trask retired. Four vehicles were ordered, and there were four Deputy Chiefs in the inner circle.

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The question that we hope to soon answer… Is Chief Lester Baker spending these funds wisely or wasting good money on shit that does nothing to benefit the people of Framingham.