Crime & Safety

Protesters Call For Salem Police Captain's Firing

Hundreds of people gathered outside the Salem police station to call for the removal of Kate Stephens.

Capt. Kate Stephens, a 24-year veteran of the department, has been suspended and on paid administrative leave​ since posting the message on Monday.
Capt. Kate Stephens, a 24-year veteran of the department, has been suspended and on paid administrative leave​ since posting the message on Monday. (Patch Graphic)

SALEM, MA — Hundreds of people gathered outside the Salem police station Friday, calling for the removal of a police captain who posted a "wildly inappropriate" message on the department's Twitter page.

Capt. Kate Stephens, a 24-year veteran of the department, has been suspended and on paid administrative leave since posting the message on Monday.

The message, which has since been deleted, targeted Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker. It read "@martywalsh so you issued a permit for 10 of thousands of people to protest but I can't go to a restaurant? You are ridiculous. You and Too Tall Deval are killing this state."

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


Related Story: One Arrest At Peabody Protest


It was the second straight Friday mostly young people have gathered outside of the police station. While last week they joined protesters to condemn the killing of George Floyd on Memorial Day while he was handcuffed by Minneapolis police, this week had the local layer of the social media post layered on.

Find out what's happening in Salemwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Both Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll and Chief Mary Butler have condemned the message.

"The posting of personnel commentary and opinions on the Department's social media account is not only against our internal policies, it undermines the public trust and confidence that we, as a Police Department, have worked so hard to achieve here in Salem. It is even more concerning that these comments come from someone in a leadership position within the Department," Salem Police Chief Mary Butler said in a statement. "These comments are uncalled for at any time, but they are particularly egregious at this time when the public is questioning the fairness, equity and legitimacy of the police and their actions."


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