Rizzo, mayor spar over lawsuits, settlements and disciplinary action

  The City Council held an executive session – a closed-door meeting to the press and public – to discuss various items regarding the Revere Police Department. The executive session was called in response to Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo’s request for information about lawsuits, settlements and disciplinary actions involving members of the department. City Solicitor Paul Capizzi said such a discussion needed to be held in an executive session because it may include talk about police officers’ character.

  Rizzo voted against moving to executive session and said the information he was looking for was not on the executive session agenda, which called for a discussion of Police Chief David Callahan’s competency. “We’re trying to get an understanding of where we’re going with public safety in the city,” said Rizzo, who objected to keeping information about lawsuits and settlements from the public.

  “Do our taxpayers not need to know? It seems very unfair to me that we would withhold this information,” said Rizzo.

  Mayor Brian Arrigo then told the council there have been six settlements since 2017. “Five of the six were related to incidents that occurred under former Police Chief Joseph Cafarelli. The most expensive settlement, $175,000, was due to the harassment that took place under Chief Cafarelli. Fortunately, we had insurance that covered that $175,000 settlement, not taxpayer money. One was made for no money, one for $500,” explained Arrigo.

  He also said one case involved Police Chief Cafarelli and a complaint against current Police Chief David Callahan. Arrigo said he would be happy to go into greater detail, but he also wanted to make it clear that all was well with the police department and the city. “I’m proud to say we’ve come to at least a handshake agreement with the patrol officers union. I think that’s a sign of the work we’re willing to do. We want to make sure our police department doesn’t become a political football, and that’s exactly what’s happening here tonight,” said Arrigo.

  Councillor Rizzo responded by shouting out questions about the incident involving Cafarelli and Callahan, which led to a couple of confused moments of shouting and a chance for newly elected City Council President Patrick Keefe to show off his skills with the gavel.

  The council then closed the chamber doors and held their executive session. When they returned to their regular meeting, they jumped immediately into the next item on their agenda.