Springfield police commissioner resigns

Republican, The (Springfield, MA) (Published as Sunday Republican (Springfield, MA)) - March 23, 2003

Author/Byline: STEPHANIE BARRY, STAFF, Sunday Republican (Springfield)

Edition: ALL
Section: News
Page: A01
SPRINGFIELD - Police Commission Chairman Gerald A. Phillips - who spent most of Friday behind bars - resigned yesterday from the
commission and will take an undefined leave of absence from his $111,000 position as the head of a city-run job training center.
FBI agents arrested Phillips at the Massachusetts Career Development Institute Friday shortly after he arrived at work for allegedly
intimidating a 19-year-old female witness against him in a long-running public corruption probe.
A little more than 24 hours after Phillips faced a hail of sordid sexual accusations by federal investigators in a detention hearing, his
lawyer sent a brief e-mail to the Sunday Republican that included news of his resignation from the commission.
"(Phillips) will continue to do what he feels is best for the City of Springfield and with that as his motive he regretfully submits his
resignation from the Springfield Police Commission. He has also requested and received permission to take administrative leave from his
duties as executive director of MCDI," wrote Phillips' lawyer David P. Hoose of Springfield.
Although the letter did not specify the longevity of the leave or whether it would be an unpaid allowance, City Solicitor Peter P. Fenton
said Phillips will be paid for any vacation or personal time he is entitled to and city officials would "re-evaluate" Phillips' employment with
the city when that expires.
"We'll have to make further decisions at a later date," Fenton said. He was not sure how much vacation and personal time Phillips has
earned. Nor did Fenton have a firm idea of the length of Phillips' leave.
Phillips, a former School Committee member and state bingo inspector, was appointed to the commission in 1996 by close friend and
political ally Michael J. Albano, who also hired him a year later to run MCDI. The agency is a training ground for the disadvantaged,
including hundreds of young welfare mothers.
In the e-mail, Hoose said neither he nor Phillips would comment further on the resignation. Hoose also maintained Phillips' innocence in
the note and predicted that his client will eventually be cleared.
The woman he is accused of intimidating in a grocery store almost two weeks ago was 16 when she dropped out of high school in 2000
and began working as a receptionist just a few feet from Phillips' desk at MCDI. A criminal complaint unsealed Friday states that - minutes
after offering to buy a plane ticket for the teen-ager using agency funds - Phillips asked "Witness F" to take off her shirt while in his office,
fondled her and masturbated in front of her.
The witness told agents Phillips allegedly sexually harassed her for months at work until she transferred to another department within the
agency, then quit in 2001. Records indicate she received a grand jury subpoena earlier this month and called Phillips, asking him to meet
her at the Belmont Avenue Food Mart. She told agents that she showed him the subpoena and asked her former boss what to do, and he
responded that she should lie.
When she refused, he allegedly said: "If you don't keep your (expletive) big mouth shut, you'll never be seen again."
The meeting was recorded by the store's surveillance camera, which reportedly shows the woman revealing a white sheet of paper and
Phillips gesturing excitedly before stalking away to the checkout counter.
Hoose has denied the accusation, suggesting in court Friday that the woman is an emotionally unstable person who tried to extort money
from Phillips.
FBI agent Susan E. Kossler also testified Friday that she interviewed another woman - a mother of four who met Phillips when she was
homeless and sought his help in finding housing. Kossler took the witness stand to bolster a federal prosecutor's bid to convince a judge
to keep Phillips behind bars.
The woman told Kossler that she began having sex with Phillips about a month after he got her a Liberty Street apartment with the help of
his brother, a landlord.
"The sex was brutal and savage," Kossler said the woman told her during the interview. The woman also told the agent Phillips allegedly
bit and struck her during sex, but would also take her son to day care many mornings.

The agent also testified that the woman, a 26-year-old Latina, showed her a birthday card Phillips gave her that contained $150 when she
received it and was signed: Love, Gringo.
Phillips was released Friday on $50,000 unsecured bond without being indicted on the charge. He is scheduled to be back in court April
11.
Albano, whom Phillips befriended more than 20 years ago, has remained mute about the entire incident and did not return calls for
comment on his resignation last night.
"Mike Albano clearly understands the seriousness of this thing. He's also saddened by the accusations against his friend," Fenton said.
Phillips ran the job-training center - which also houses an alternative high school - largely without incident until state police came to
question at least six employees nearly three years ago about their connection to an illegal gambling ring in Springfield. All six were
suspended or fired over the incident and three have since been indicted on criminal charges.
The federal corruption probe was spawned by that state investigation, and has focused microscopic scrutiny on City Hall and the
Springfield Housing Authority, among other public agencies.
But Hoose defended Phillips' track record as a public servant.
"Despite the allegations, Mr. Phillips remains a man who has a spotless record and has helped numerous people as an elected and
appointed official in city government for more than 15 years and as Executive Director of MCDI," he wrote.
Stephanie Barry can be reached at sbarry@union-news.com
Caption: (Page A21) Gerald A. Phillips
Index terms: FEDERAL; INVESTIGATION; POLICE; RESIGNATION
Record: MERLIN_2212325
Copyright: Copyright, 2003, The Republican Company, Springfield, MA. All Rights Reserved. Used by NewsBank with Permission.