STUPID AND CALLOUS COMPENSATION POLICY IN BOSTON

They are trying to ignore the corruption of their police and justice system

The city of Boston has spent at least $250,000 fighting a lawsuit filed by a man who the courts determined was wrongly convicted of murder. NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that after 15 years in prison, Shawn Drumgold said the city owes him.

Drumgold may be free, but he's living under a cloud. The Boston man was convicted and served 15 years for a 1988 murder. Darlene Tiffany Moore, who was sitting on a mailbox, was shot during a gang battle. "Patience is perseverance -- so I try to take that on," Drumgold said. Three years ago, patience paid off. Drumgold was released after the district attorney's office agreed the case should be overturned. Critics said the police pressured some witnesses to implicate Drumgold and kept others from coming forward.

Drumgold is suing the city, which has not offered a settlement. "They can't wrap their minds around the concept that their police officers engaged in egregious misconduct and Shawn didn't do it," said attorney Rosemary Scapicchio.

Laid off from his construction job, Drumgold moved his family from one apartment to a less expensive one, but the family eventually became homeless. "Then it was to the shelter. It was devastating for me and it sent me into a depression. That is one of the hardest things that I have had to deal with since I've been home," Drumgold said.

On Friday, the mayor's office said they'd like a quick resolution, but they don't set court dates. "They think they can prove that he did do this crime, which is just so outrageous in light of the fact that the district attorney's office dismissed the complaint against him and agreed there wasn't any evidence," said Scapicchio. "I need to be exonerated and I do need to be compensated. That is the issue here. Someone has to take the responsibility so it doesn't happen to somebody else," Drumgold said.

Report here

Some background from 2003:

The mild-mannered Drumgold said he's not bitter or angry about his 15-year sentence that ended after a judge vacated his conviction last week. The judge ruled Drumgold did not receive a fair trial for the 1988 murder of Darlene Tiffany Moore, a 12-year-old caught in gang crossfire. "I'm innocent, still innocent," said Drumgold.

Although Drumgold said he is not looking for an apology, his lawyer is. Defense attorney Rosemary Scapicchio is incensed that the district attorney will not apologize or exonerate her client.

"There are police officers out there who intimidated, coerced and fed witnesses into wrongfully implicating Shawn. Not a thing will happen to them unless there is an investigation in this case," said Scapicchio.

"I believe things should have been done, but there's no malfeasance, no malice. Things should been done," Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel Conley said on Thursday.

Scapicchio and others are calling on the governor to appoint a commission to investigate the case and other wrongful convictions. "How does a man spend 15 years in jail for a crime he did not commit? Everyone wants say 'So What?' The DA is accountable, the police are accountable," said Scapicchio.

In the meantime, Drumgold plans to move on and adjust to a new life with his wife and 15-year-old daughter, and adjust to the many changes around him.



(And don't forget your ration of Wicked Thoughts for today)