<p>Mark Santon, a Tisbury police officer with more than 25 years of experience on the force, was fired Friday following a disciplinary hearing.</p>
Mark Santon, a Tisbury police officer with more than 25 years of experience on the force, was fired by the town selectmen Friday following a disciplinary hearing.
Held behind closed doors, the hearing lasted approximately two and a half hours and was attended by the selectmen, town administrator John (Jay) Grande and police chief Daniel Hanavan.
Speaking to the Gazette Monday, selectman Tristan Israel confirmed the dismissal, although town leaders are being tight-lipped about the reasons.
“I really can’t say much about the proceedings at this point,” Mr. Israel said. “Obviously it’s a sad situation, for the town, for everyone involved.”
Mr. Santon has had a troubled track record on the force in the past year.
In May he was the subject of another disciplinary hearing stemming from an incident when a prisoner in his custody tried to commit suicide.
He was placed on paid administrative leave while the town investigated the incident. An independent investigator hired by the town concluded in a lengthy report that Mr. Santon violated multiple police department policies and procedures. The report found serious breaches of duty, including lying to investigators about the incident.
Mr. Santon returned to work for the department on June 1, and had been working a regular shift.
Comments
"What goes around comes
Frank Malowski Florida"What goes around comes around". After a decade I feel I have gotten my justice. I don't agree with the above statement that "Mr. Santon has had a troubled track record on the force in the past year." His bad performance has been much longer than the past year if you could see his whole file, and that's what I think the selectmen are not telling the public.
Mr. Santon and the female D.A. (who is also in trouble) ruined my dream of retiring and living out my days on Martha's Vineyard with my son and grandchildren. I was a Deputy Fire Chief for the New York fire dept. and have never been in trouble in my life, not even a speeding ticket. When Mr. Santon gave the orders to arrest me for not "knowing" that Ma. has a pistol permit renewal policy (New York and most states don't) he treated me like a criminal. He didn't even follow the basic procedures in his conduct. I know, I have a B.A. in Criminal Law. I was handcuffed hands and feet and put in jail; my crimes of "Dangerous Weapon and Drugs" was put in the paper. I carried one painkiller with me because I had just had a back operation, the pill was prescribed. I should have just gotten an appearance ticket showing that I updated my permit. So now I have a record and don't believe the D.A. when they say you won't have a record when the charges are dropped.
I did not deserve to have my family embarrassed and have to leave the Island. I use to save lives not ruin them
Frank Malowski DC
our police need more training
nancy edgartownour police need more training and more support.
they face life and death situations every day and see the very worst humanity can deliver.
the police are people just like the rest of us. I do not know what this officer did or didn't do.
I hope he was treated fairly and given the same support the rest of us would hope for.
Well said Nancy. Sometimes
Kate Manchester, CTWell said Nancy. Sometimes the stress is just too much for all of us. I too hope he was treated fairly and can get back on his feet doing something else that he may be more suited for.
What satisfaction do people
why comment martha's vineyardWhat satisfaction do people get for making generic comments about police after a very detailed well written article concerning the termination of an officer which they describe as being in trouble for the past year (then they attach a link to other articles concerning him).
So why add "hope he was treated fair" ? Are people that lonely that they must see themselves comment on every single thing that they read? Sure, question it but first examine the circumstances and the documented truth of the allegations. With this officer it has been documented quite often in the last year in both papers that he's been doing "things".
Police are NOT just like the rest of us. They're held to a much hirer standard, scrutinized MUCH more than us and they have MORE stress than most of us do. If you do not know what this officer did, then why comment? It's easy to educate yourself on these topics.
Police should be held to a
deshandra brown EdgPolice should be held to a higher standard. They have the ability to take your freedom away if you break the law.(or if they choose to abuse that power) As such, any police officer abusing that power or lying under oath needs to feel the force of the law. Same goes for those in the state crime lab who make false statements that result in convictions of innocent people. If you don't want that responsibility, don't accept the job in law enforcement (with the excellent pay, benefits, and retirement) The majority of police officers do the right thing, but once in a while you get a 'bad apple' that tarnishes the reputation of the law enforcement community.
Regarding the unfortunate
James OBRegarding the unfortunate incident in which the young woman attempted to hang herself in the back of the cruiser while at the jail, the officer did nothing wrong and followed an unwritten procedure as all other officers had done for years. Officers are not allowed to bring prisoners into the booking room until their weapon is secured. Why did it take the Sheriff's Office almost six months to actually put a policy in place where a Deputy watches the prisoner until the officer secures his weapon?
It's a small town story we
Charles Lawton NYC/OBIt's a small town story we all see over and over again. Leaders of a small town cover for a bad or incompetent apple. Eventually that bad apple taints everyone. Sad. The officer in question should have been dealt with way before this. I hope the leaders have learned a lesson.
Another sign that a single
Ben Vineyard HavenAnother sign that a single professional police force for the entire island might provide higher quality and lower cost service. Such a scenario might attract a more experienced person to take a job as chief, in charge of a larger force, and share her/his expertise with everyone.
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