A Massachusetts State Trooper has been stripped of his duties and placed on leave after an arrest for an alleged domestic violence incident. According to NBC10 Boston, the Trooper, Richard Whelan, is currently under investigation by internal affairs following his detainment by Mansfield police.
Whelan, 27, reportedly engaged in a heated altercation that escalated to him to allegedly choke his girlfriend, with a witness testifying to observing Whelan assault the woman after returning home from a music concert. The Sun Chronicle, through a cited police report, detailed that Whelan showed agitated behavior, punching a wall and subsequently grabbed his girlfriend by the throat while shouting expletives.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, both Whelan and his girlfriend denied that a physical assault took place. Furthermore, no restraining order was sought by the woman involved in the incident, records obtained by The Sun Chronicle suggest. Police arrived to the scene following a 911 call and discovered blood on the woman's shirt collar and cuts on Whelan’s knuckles, further complicating the scenario painted by the denial of both parties.
Following the incident, Whelan pleaded not guilty to assault and battery on an intimate partner when arraigned in Attleboro District Court, where he was released on personal recognizance. He had joined the State Police the previous year, importing a background as a Suffolk County corrections officer. During the last fiscal year, Whelan had earned a reported $78,000, as per court records. "Trooper Whelan maintains his innocence as does his girlfriend, the alleged victim who told police the accusations were untrue," said Benjamin P. Urbelis, Whelan's attorney, in a statement obtained by The Sun Chronicle.
In the meantime, State Police have taken Whelan’s cruiser, service revolver, taser, personal handgun, and ammunition. The internal affairs investigation will continue, considering the outcomes of the criminal case. As the case moves to an October pretrial conference, it highlights the troubling reality that law enforcement officers sometimes face justice themselves—a reminder for both those who serve and the public.
