Police probe officer behavior
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER
The Nantucket Police Department is conducting a probe into whether officers acted inappropriately, used racial slurs or may have targeted a group of black youths during an incident that occurred on Aug. 8 on the Broad Street strip. Police Chief William Pittman said once the investigation is complete he will release the information to the public.

Two 18-year-old youths among the group were arrested after the incident. Last Friday, however, the district attorney's office decided not to prosecute their cases. Nicholas Phillips had been charged with assault and disorderly conduct and Adeane Watty had been charged with assault and battery on a police officer, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Shack said the grounds for the dismissal were "in the interest of justice," and would not elaborate other than to say that as far as his office is concerned the matters are closed.

Hospital records show that two in the group, including 13-year-old, were examined and treated for minor injuries at Nantucket Cottage Hospital and that both told hospital clinicians they had been assaulted or tackled by police.

Chief Pittman said that despite charges being dropped the department's internal investigation will continue.

"Several days later it was brought to my attention by one of the mothers of the individuals that more happened than what was in the police report. It was [also] alleged after the incident that there were some racial slurs used by one of the officers," said Pittman. "We are investigating that and then will determine whether any training has to be done, policy issues need to be addressed or any disciplinary actions have to be taken. The outcome will have public benefit. The public will be made aware of it.

"I take these kind of allegations very seriously," he added. "We are looking into it as thoroughly as any case. Allegations of racism or profiling by police officers hurt. The public deserves to know that they are taken seriously. The community has got to have trust in

its police department." I