NP Attorney Gary Nolan recently represented Marblehead officer Chris Gallo in his 4-year battle to restore his job and his good name. We were very pleased, but not a bit surprised, that the Arbitrator’s decision completely vindicated Officer Gallo. Her decision mirrored exactly our arguments from day one of this case (see news report below). Ever since Chris blew the whistle on the hateful conduct of a former employee (carved a swastika into another officer's car), it was clear that there would be payback, and his job and reputation were on the chopping block. As was pointed out by the arbitrator, the most troubling thing about this case is the lengths to which so many agents of the Town all just went along with, or turned a blind eye to, the malicious and unfair treatment of this 27-year, veteran officer.
The arbitrator not only ordered Officer Gallo to be reinstated with back pay and all benefits, but she also took the rare step of ordering payments of all retroactive overtime and detail compensation. The arbitrator strongly rejected every single allegation levied by the Town, and highly criticized the actions of the police administration, including particularly the Chief’s shocking order that investigators (1) not question witnesses they knew had lied about Gallo and who were out for revenge, (2) the Chief's releasing to the media information about Gallo known to be misleading or wrong, and (3) for including allegations against Gallo that Chief King knew to be false. From top to bottom, the arbitrator’s award is an indictment of Marblehead’s officials, and a clear exoneration of Officer Gallo, a loyal son of Marblehead. As noted clearly in her 48-page ruling, Gallo was the victim in this case.