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The Massachusetts Office of Attorney General in Boston announced today that former Medfield Parks and Recreation Director Kevin Ryder, age 49, has been indicted on charges of larceny, accepting illegal gratuities, and use of an official position to secure unwarranted privilege.
The Town of Medfield cooperated with the office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. The office investigated Mr. Ryder after the town complained that, over a period of years, Mr. Ryder appeared to have failed to turn over cash collected by his department.
The Attorney General's investigation found evidence that Mr. Ryder stole over $100,000 from the Town of Medfield, much of which was cash from entrance fees and concessions at the town's Hinkley Swim Pond. Additionally, other evidence appeared to show that Mr. Ryder used the town's Amazon account for thousands of dollars worth of personal purchases that he resold on eBay, kept proceeds from selling town equipment for himself, and received a 50 percent "kickback" of $16,000 from a local gym which hosted a town-sponsored exercise program funded by Mr. Ryder's department.
Mr. Ryder was employed with the Town of Medfield from 2014 until August 2022.
Sunny, with a high of 77 and low of 65 degrees. Sunny for the morning, light drizzle for the afternoon, patchy rain nearby during the evening, clear overnight.
We used to spray our lawn with a company that said they used non-toxic chemicals. The loss of bees, frogs, pollinators and birds in our garden was dramatic.
Great topic! I'd love to see more from the environmental action committee on encouraging less use of pesticides/weed killers/fertilizers in town.
what a great way to encourage people to plant native, it gives me so much pleasure to see who is visiting my plants.
Good (majority) call by the Select Board. Appropriate time to bring in outside, impartial, leadership to the Department.