Amidst a time of internal conflict for the Westwood Police Department (WPD), Chief Jeffrey Silva is leaving for a new position, and the Town of Westwood has announced that it is launching the search for a new chief of police. Town officials are requesting community feedback through April 6 on what should be the priorities, qualities, and experience of the next chief.
The community survey is available on the town's website.
Westwood Police Chief Jeffrey Silva will be departing in early May to take the job of chief of the Suffolk University Police Department. According to an announcement by the university, he will begin his new position on May 11.
The job opening comes while there is a serious “schism” that some say has developed among members of WPD. According to statements made during a Tuesday, March 24 hearing regarding the attempted termination of a WPD officer, there is a divide between (1) members of the department who began employment with WPD by passing a civil service exam, and (2) those whose employment with the department began under state legislative reforms to the hiring process.
During Chief Silva's tenure, those civil service reforms have provided an alternative path to hiring, and can result in civil service exam requirements being bypassed.
Officer Dominic Abbatangelo is a civil service hire whom the town seeks to terminate. He is accused of failing to respond to a call from Sergeant Christopher Elcock for relief from a disabled motor vehicle (DMV) case; grabbing at the uniform of Lieutenant Michael DiLalla following a meeting to discuss the incident; and repeatedly and loudly shouting expletives numerous times at both Sgt. Elcock and Lt. DiLalla on February 12, 2025. The town also alleges that Officer Abbatangelo failed to timely respond to a shoplifting report. As of now, it has been about one year that Officer Abbatangelo has been placed on leave from WPD.
At the hearing for Officer Abbatangelo on March 24, the Champagne Meeting room at the Carby Street municipal building was packed with around 50 attendees, many of them supporters of Officer Abbatangelo.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. The hearing officer and Westwood Police Chief Jeffrey Silva sit across from one another at the March 24, 2026 hearing.It was the Town of Westwood's opportunity to put on its case, and the town presented three witnesses: Michael O'Toole, a civilian and financial analyst who witnessed the interactions surrounding the February 12, 2025 meeting; Bolton Police Chief Donald Murphy, who was a WPD patrol lieutenant on February 12 and has recently left WPD for his new position; and Lieutenant Joe Rached, who was a sergeant with WPD on February 12, 2025, and who has been recently promoted to his new position.
In presenting its case, the Town of Westwood appears to be developing a narrative to show failure by Officer Abbatangelo to meet performance standards. It appears to also be developing a case that could include allegations of subordination, unacceptable conduct, and potentially even assault.
The town's witnesses described hearing Officer Abbantangelo repeatedly calling Sgt. Elcok a "rat f - - k" upon finding him in the police chief's meeting room. Lt. Murphy described the choice of meeting location as affording more privacy than other meeting rooms, in consideration of potential outbursts that he said might be expected from Officer Abbantangelo based on the past. The town's witnesses also described that Officer Abbatangelo was led out of the room by Lt. Dilalla, who intervened upon hearing the expletives. Video of a hallway in the police department shows Lt. DiLalla leaving the chief's conference room with Officer Abbatangelo. As Officer Abbatangelo walks away, Lt. DiLalla turns to enter his own office, but is called into then-Lt. Murphy's office with a "come" gesture by Officer Abbatangelo.
Then-Lt. Murphy also returned to his own office, and described the conversational tone being normal between Officer Abbatangelo and Lt. DiLalla, but that it later turned. According to Chief Murphy, Officer Abbantangelo asked Lt, DiLalla, "Who fostered this?"
Lt. DiLalla had a surprised look, said Chief Murphy, and Officer Abbatangelo proceeded to call Lt. DiLalla a "rat f - - k," to which Lt. DiLalla responded in kind. Chief Murphy testified that Officer Abbatangelo grabbed Lt. DiLalla by the upper part of the lieutenant's shirt, and Lt. DiLalla similarly responded, resulting in Chief Murphy having to separate the two.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Bolton Police Chief Donald Murphy (standing) explains the events of February 12, 2025, as viewed on videotape, during the termination hearing for Officer Dominic Abatangelo on March 24, 2026.Chief Murphy testified that his main concern was keeping his eyes on the firearms. He knew the danger in a room where the parties were arguing with firearms present. He had his eyes focused on Officer Abbatangelo’s arm, but observed it was not retrieving his firearm, which stayed in its holster.
Based on opening statements and cross examination of witnesses by Attorney Alan Shapiro of the Massachusetts Coalition of Police on behalf of Officer Abbatangelo, the town may have deprived Officer Abbatangelo of due process, according to Attorney Shaprio. Under department policies and procedures, an “internal investigation” is a specific process that is accompanied by certain employee protections, but an “internal investigation” was not launched; rather, Officer Abbatangelo’s superiors undertook an unusual process to issue a reprimand, according to Mr. Shapiro.
In his opening statement, Mr. Shapiro alleged that favoritism has played a part in promotions within WPD. Those who “curry favor” with Chief Silva get promoted, he said. Mr. Shapiro, however, acknowledged that this would not be a unique dynamic to Westwood.
Mr. Shapiro’s cross examination also suggested the dynamics of a set-up, or power play, by Sgt. Elcock and then-Lt. Murphy. They are depicted to have sprung a disciplinary meeting upon Officer Abbatangelo without warning, and in the unusual location of the police chief’s meeting room.
Mr. Shapiro noted that the chief’s upstairs conference room was a location that Officer Abbatangelo had never been in before. Chief Murphy testified that Officer Abbatangelo was not told the subject of the conversation that both he and Sgt. Elcock planned to have with Officer Abbantangelo there, with Lt. DiLalla’s knowledge. According to Chief Murphy, it was intended to be a constructive conversation about Officer Abbatangelo's failure to respond to Sgt. Elcock’s call for relief and the officer’s delayed response to a shoplifting report.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Officer Dominic Abbatangelo has turned to view video footage showing the disabled motor vehicle call to which he is alleged to have failed to respond as relief for Sergeant Christopher Elcock.Chief Murphy illustrated Officer Abbatangelo’s physical reaction upon seeing Sgt. Elcock already present in the meeting room as one of slightly raising his two hands and arms – a reaction that a viewer might interpret as surprise or frustration. Mr. Shapiro elicited the fact that Officer Abbatangelo still retained bad feelings for Sergeant Elcock from an apparent disagreement a few months prior.
Chief Murphy testified to his knowledge about that incident. On September 2024, at roll call, Officer Abbatangelo and Sergeant Elcock had a disagreement, and Sergeant Elcock allegedly took off his gun belt. Doing so is a sign of getting ready to engage in a physical fight, suggested Mr. Shapiro on cross-examination of Chief Murphy.
Mr. Shapiro also seemed to try to get Chief Murphy to admit that Sgt. Elcock should have been reprimanded for taking off his gun belt as a safety risk. This may have been to pursue the theme of a schism existing within the department where some - like Officer Abbatangelo - suffer disciplinary action and punishment, while others who are favored by their superiors do not.
Officer Abbatangelo should have had the opportunity to resolve any performance or conduct issues with his direct supervisor, said Mr. Shapiro. That would have been Sgt. Kevin McDonald, not Sgt. Elcock. Subjecting Officer Abbatangelo to a surprise disciplinary meeting in the police chief’s meeting room, where he was confronted by Sgt. Elcock, was an unusual and inappropriate tactic by his superiors, suggested Mr. Shapiro.
There will be a total of about ten more witnesses to testify in the coming days from both sides. The Town of Westwood will continue to present witnesses to develop its case on a second day of hearing, scheduled for Friday, April 3. A third day of hearings is scheduled for Thursday, April 23. Following the town’s presentation, Officer Abbatangelo will have the opportunity to present evidence for his case.
Photo by Westwood Minute/Darlene Wong Cancell. Bolton Police Chief Donald Murphy provided direct testimony regarding the events of February 12, 2025, when he was a lieutenant with the Westwood Police Department.
Moderate rain, with a high of 66 and low of 43 degrees. Patchy rain nearby during the morning, thundery outbreaks in nearby in the afternoon, mist in the evening, clear overnight.
To whom is the proposed Feasibility and Schematic Design Services of $325,000 to be awarded to? Has the Town put out a Request for Proposals for this? Or are we giving more money to Dore + Whittier to get it right
It will go out to bid. Attached is the request for qualifications bid for OPM (Owner's Project Manager), which went out on 3/18.
Thank you!
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