Episode 70 | This week is a bonus! The show will continue on a biweekly release schedule. This is part two, a special episode continuing my conversation with Susanne Cleveland of Justice for Sandra Birchmore. Sandra was found in her Canton apartment, but spent the majority of her life in Stougton.
There is a lot that needs to be said and there is much more to come in the weeks ahead for her case and the man who has been arrested and charged in her murder.
Sandra Birchmore's short life was filled with loss and disappointment, but she seemed to take it in stride, looking at the brightside, and was forging her own path in spite of it all. She was finding success on her terms. She was hired to work for the Sharon School System as a teaching aid, she was preparing the process of going to nursing school, had recently moved into her very own apartment in Canton and, what pleased her the most, she was expecting a baby.All those plans were haulted when a man, a man she had looked up to for much of her life, made a plan to end it. And he almost got away with it.
The tragic death of Sandra Birchmore has jolted a town and exposed alarming misconduct within the Stoughton Police Department. Advocate Susanne Cleveland joins me again (please listen to part one) to scrutinize the internal investigation that revealed appalling actions by former officers Matthew Farwell, William Farwell, and Robert C. Devine. Their crimes, including statutory rape by at least one of them, have spurred efforts to decertify them and fueled a wrongful death lawsuit led by Sandra’s family. This episode unpacks the systemic issues in law enforcement and the crucial role public outcry plays in driving accountability and reform.This episode explores the broader implications for protecting individuals from predatory behavior within law enforcement. We reflect on the ongoing battle for legislative change, the importance of creating safe spaces for survivors, and the public’s frustration with law enforcement’s mishandling of critical cases. Don't miss the next live show, featuring North Shore Crime Cases and an engaging Q&A session on Thursday, Oct 10 at Off Cabot in Beverly, Mass. Ticket link here
Sources
Jane Doe Inc - Massachusetts Coalition against Sexual Violence and abuse
National Domestic Violence Hotline - https://www.thehotline.org
crimetimelines.com/sandra-birchmore -includes Matthew Farwell indictment and internal investigation docs Justice for Sandra Birchmore Facebook Group justiceforsandrabirchmore.com The Enterprise - Stoughton Cop Robert C. Devine Sex Scandal The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts - Former Massachusetts Police Officer Arrested in Connection with Murder of Young Woman StoughtonPolice.com - Statement of Chief Donna M. McNamara mapostcommission.gov
Boston Globe - Database of police disciplinary records a step toward transparency, but still ‘more to do’ The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, database includes more than 3,400 records of sustained complaints leveled against nearly 2,200 officers including those from local, state, and college agencies. A complaint is considered sustained if an investigation found a “preponderance of evidence to prove the allegation of an act that was determined to be misconduct,” according to POST.