Politics & Government

Security Cameras Show Selectman Didn't Confront Firefighter

Selectman Stephen Campbell wants a public apology for the "witch hunt" that followed an incident that has turned out not to have happened.

Salem Selectman Stephen Campbell is calling on members of the Salem Public Administrators Association and the Salem fire chief to issue a public apology now that surveillance footage has proved he had no confrontation with a uniformed firefighter at Market Basket last month.

Campbell was accused of interrogating that firefighter by members of the union, who wrote a letter to Town Manager Keith Hickey describing Campbell's actions as "abhorrent behavior." Campbell was also publicly accused by various individuals in the press, and those accusations have generated heated comments by Patch readers. 

Hickey was recently able to obtain the store's security tapes from Nov. 17 — which was the date of the alleged incident — and multiple parties have since determined that Campbell in no way made contact with a firefighter inside the store.

Campbell described the actions of the individuals who brought forth the allegations without evidence as "unprofessional." He said it comes across as a "witch hunt" by a group of individuals whom he feels doesn't like him because he has been "asking about overtime" and "proposing staff cuts."

"After reviewing that video, anyone with one ounce of fairness in their bones would watch that video and say this never happened," said Campbell during Monday's Salem Board of Selectmen meeting. "If I was part of the staff, I'd probably feel the same way [about budget cuts], but I guarantee you that I would try to fight someone on the issues and not try to hurt their reputation."

The Salem firefighter reported to Fire Chief Kevin Breen that he was in full uniform and purchasing food for a meal at the fire station on Nov. 17 when Campbell allegedly confronted him. After the incident was discussed at a selectmen meeting, Breen told the Eagle-Tribune, "I don't know how [Campbell] can't recall" the confrontation.

The letter submitted to Hickey by union President Shawn Patten, who is also Salem's deputy police chief, claimed that "formal action" would be taken against Campbell "if he is allowed to continue" what the union described as "unfair labor practice."

Campbell blasted those statements Monday, claiming the entire thing was "done in a wrong way" before there was actual evidence to prove that he spoke with a firefighter inside the store on Nov. 17. He said he is owed a public apology during a board meeting because "they got me in public," and Campbell also called on Selectman Mike Lyons to apologize for comments he made about the alleged confrontation.

Chairman Everett McBride agreed that Campbell is owed an apology by the union, as he said they "didn't do their homework" before submitting the letter to Hickey. McBride also said a more thorough investigation should've been done by the union "before they went to the press," and that "they never should've went to the press." 

Vice Chairman Pat Hargreaves expressed similar views Monday night.

"There was no way that these two gentlemen passed," he said. "They slandered the man in the newspaper."

Hickey provided more insight Monday night into the events that followed the firefighter's allegations, stating that the firefighter has since admitted to Hickey and Breen that he "made a mistake."

Hickey said the firefighter "thought" a man who allegedly confronted him in Market Basket on Nov. 17 was Campbell, although in a subsequent conversation with Hickey and Breen, the firefighter allegedly was no longer "sure" it was actually Campbell.

It's now "up to the individuals... to apologize," said Hickey, who said he believes it truly was a "mistake" and that the allegations weren't "politically motivated" due to Campbell's penchant for asking "tough questions" about the budget.

"I hope it ends right now, because the public's questioning of people's integrity goes both way, and I would like very much for it to end right now," said Hickey, who also told Campbell he "can ask as many tough questions" as he'd like. "I am exhausted from reading things publicly questioning my integrity."

Lyons responds to Campbell's request for public apology here, while Patten's and Breen's responses are posted here.


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