Westboro Police Chief Found in Cruiser with Open Vodka Bottle, Body Cam Reveals
Body camera footage shows Westboro Police Chief Todd Minardi visibly disoriented in an unmarked town cruiser with an open bottle of Tito's vodka. Minardi has been placed on administrative leave and cited for an open container violation.
Westboro Chief Caught with Vodka in Town Vehicle, Footage Confirms
Body camera footage from two Shrewsbury officers, reviewed by bostonherald.com, shows Westboro Police Chief Todd Minardi slumped in an unmarked town-issued Ford Explorer with an open bottle of Tito's vodka on his lap. The officers had responded to a well-being call about a red-faced man sitting alone in a parked car.
"What's going on?" one officer asks on the footage as he opens the driver's door. The officers quickly identified the occupant as Minardi and immediately asked whether he was armed. "Is there a firearm on you right now?" — a question Minardi did not answer directly, instead repeating "I'm good" while failing to place his hands on the steering wheel.
A superior officer arrived shortly after and confirmed Minardi was on a full day off, carried no weapon and had no police radio with him. The vehicle bore so-called ghost plates and was assigned to the chief by the town of Westboro.
As additional senior officers gathered at the scene, Minardi was helped out of the cruiser. At one point he was asked how many quarters make up a dollar. He answered: "Twenty-five."
"That's way off. There might be something more going on," a superior officer remarked, urging the chief to accept an ambulance transfer to UMass Medical. A medic on scene added: "We can't leave you stranded in the parking lot."
According to the police report, the keys were not in the ignition. Minardi has consequently not been charged with drunk driving. He does face one citation for possession of an open alcohol container, which carries a $505 fine.
Westboro officials have issued no public statement since the incident emerged last week. Minardi, who earns an annual salary of $215,545, has been placed on administrative leave pending further proceedings.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)