Council voices support for police chief

BARRINGTON—The Barrington Town Council said during a rare Monday meeting that it supports the town’s police chief and its department in their efforts to battle underage drinking.

Judge Daniel Procaccini criticized the Barrington Police Department for not doing enough to curb underage drinking, following the sentencing of Ryan Greenberg.

Greenberg was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for unintentionally killing his friend, Patrick Murphy. In 2007, Greenberg was piloting a boat that struck Murphy, who was kneeboarding on the Barrington River.

Members of the council said they wanted to go on record with their reaction to the judge’s comments.

Related Link: NBC 10 Town Meeting: Teen Drinking

With Barrington Police Chief John LaCross at the meeting, councilors expressed support for the department, saying the chief has been very active in the town’s substance abuse task force.

“As a council, we are angered and offended by the judge’s inappropriate and uninformed accusations,“ said council member Kate Weymouth. “We solidly support Chief John LaCross and the Barrington Police Department in their effort to battle underage drinking and it’s too often tragic consequences.“

“Are we problem free? No. Are we blessed with good employees? Yes. I can wholeheartedly say we are, employees that care,“ said Town Manager Peter DeAngelis.

DeAngelis said he tried to contact Procaccini and invite him to the town to get a firsthand look at the work they were doing.

In a statement last week after the sentencing, the judge said it would be inappropriate for him to expand upon the remarks he made in open court.

A spokesman for Procaccini said he had no comment on the council’s remarks.