Sergeant Weymouth. Michael Chesna’s widow speaks out against police reform bills

The widow of the killed Weymouth police sergeant. Michael Chesna speaks out against police reform bills backed by state lawmakers this month and criticism of law enforcement officers across the country in recent months.

In a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday, Cindy Chesna highlighted the contrast in public attitudes towards the police in recent months, as the country recovered from the death of George Floyd, and immediately after the death of her husband in the fulfilling his duty two years ago. this month.

“When Mike was assassinated there were no protests (peaceful or otherwise), there were no riots or looting,” Chesna wrote. Certainly, there were no public protests by politicians over the reform of a broken justice system that allows repeat criminals on the street. Instead, they all came together and prayed, we prayed to find the strength to face each day with the knowledge of what we lost. “

Michael Chesna, 42, died when Emanuel Lopes allegedly took Chesna’s gun and shot him in the head and chest after Lopes left the scene of a car crash in Weymouth on July 15, 2018.

Lopes, who according to authorities also killed Vera Adams, 77, faces two murder charges.

The late Chesna, a father of two young children in Hanover, was a six-year veteran of the department.

His widow says his death elicited a great deal of support from politicians, first responders and people from all over. Tapes, signs and other displays supporting the police covered local towns, including the “thin blue line” American flag.

“Two years later, I am witnessing the complete opposite of many of the people who looked Mike Wake straight in the eye and promised to always be there for me, offering everything they could do,” Chesna wrote.

Now, the same politicians are “showing the greatest disrespect to our officers” with the pending police reform measures at the State House, one that was approved by the Senate earlier this month, and a House version that It was approved late Friday, and the decision to remove the “thin blue line” flags from fire trucks in Hingham following a citizen complaint, Chesna wrote. The flags have been on display since her husband’s death.

“I take each of these actions as a personal attack on everything Mike stood for as a police officer and army veteran awarded two combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Chesna wrote. “My children are growing up in a world where the police are vilified. Her father was not a villain, he was a hero who made the ultimate sacrifice. Your memory should never be tarnished by anyone.

In a 30-7 vote, the Senate passed its own reform legislation on July 14, which would limit the “qualified immunity” that protects officers from civil lawsuits, requires that police officers be licensed and control the use of choke and tear gas.

The House of Representatives police reform bill passed a 93-66 vote after three days of debate. The legislation would create a certification system for police officers, curb the use of arrest warrants, and prohibit bottlenecks.

While Chesna did not name a particular politician, two-thirds of the Weymouth State House delegation did not vote on the bills. Democratic State Representative James Murphy voted against the House proposal, while State Senator Patrick O’Connor, a Republican, voted present when the Senate passed his bill.

Here is Mass. House’s 93-66 list of the police liability bill.

Votes against included 34 Democrats, 31 Republicans and 1 unregistered #mapoli pic.twitter.com/npaZrnzxpd

– Matt Stout (@MattPStout) July 25, 2020

However, Quincy’s Democratic representative and House of Representatives majority leader Ronald Mariano backed the bill, a move he believes is consistent with honoring those who serve in the police, he said Monday.

“Like anyone familiar with the story of the sergeant’s death. Michael Chesna knows it was an indescribable tragedy that his family and community will never forget. His legacy honors every good cop we have, “Mariano, who represents five venues in Weymouth, told Boston.com in a statement in response to Chesna’s post.” The George Floyd suffocation that we all witnessed on video, too It was an indescribable tragedy. Like the unnecessary deaths of Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and many others. The legacy of these incidents dishonors good policemen everywhere.

“I have never met a law enforcement officer who does not say they agree that we need to get rid of ‘bad apples’ in law enforcement,” he added.

Mariano said the deaths of Floyd, Taylor, and Brooks, along with a recently released report by the Justice Department that found that the Springfield Police Narcotics Office has a pattern of unconstitutional and excessive use of force, made clear that local police need more and updated training “to deal safely with the stress of today’s society.”

“We should all join these law enforcement officers to demand the highest standards for our police and do everything possible to prevent the tragic loss of life for both the police and civilians,” said Mariano. “I see that the House’s action on police reform is absolutely consistent with everyone’s shared goal of honoring those who serve selflessly in law enforcement.”

Chesna, in her position, also denounced officers who abuse their authority, writing that they should be removed from force and “criminally punished.”

“These bad apples are the exception rather than the rule,” he wrote. “I do not condone violence and I agree that every person, no matter what their job is, must be held accountable for their actions.”

But, he added, lawmakers should also be scrutinized.

“I also feel that those who give false promises of unwavering support must be held accountable in November,” Chesna wrote.

His post garnered strong support and reception on Facebook, receiving more than 12,000 largely positive reactions and 13,000 actions on Monday night.

Chesna urged readers to respect each other and be kind.

“I could no longer be silent,” he wrote. “This is personal to me and I will always defend my husband. His memory will not be desecrated along with any officer who has paid the maximum sacrifice. “

Read Cindy Chesna’s full post:

Read the full statement by State Representative Ronald Mariano:

“Like anyone familiar with the story of the sergeant’s death. Michael Chesna knows it was an indescribable tragedy that his family and community will never forget. His legacy honors all the good cops we have. The suffocation of George Floyd that we all witnessed on video was also an indescribable tragedy. Like the unnecessary deaths of Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and many others. The legacy of these incidents dishonors good policemen everywhere.

“I have never met a law enforcement officer who does not say they agree that we need to get rid of ‘bad apples’ in law enforcement. These recent tragedies across the country, along with the recent Justice Department report detailing abusive practices here in Springfield, MA, made it clear to me and many others that our local police need additional and up-to-date training to deal safely. with the stress of today’s society. .

“We should all join these law enforcement officers to demand the highest standards for our police, and do everything possible to prevent the tragic loss of life for both the police and civilians.” I see that the House’s action on police reform is absolutely consistent with everyone’s shared goal of honoring those who serve selflessly in law enforcement. ”

Associated Press material was used in this report.