A veteran Shrewsbury police officer has been pulled off duty and now faces felony charges after an alleged domestic incident in March, according to town officials. Officer Shawn Valliere, 53, was placed on administrative leave in mid‑April, and investigators say the incident unfolded on March 17 in neighboring Millbury. The state’s law enforcement certification board later issued an emergency suspension, and the matter has moved to Worcester courts.
Millbury police said a household member told responding officers that Valliere refused to let her into their home on March 17 and pointed a gun at her, according to WCVB. The same report states that Valliere later put a firearm in his mouth and told the household member to pull the trigger. Valliere denied that part of the account when questioned.
State panel suspends certification
According to a suspension order posted by the Massachusetts POST Commission, Valliere’s law enforcement certification was suspended effective April 22. The order directs him to surrender all agency issued credentials and equipment, and the commission said it acted “in light of evidence that the Respondent engaged or may have engaged in criminal conduct.”
Department response and probe
Shrewsbury Police Chief Kevin Anderson said the department reached out to Millbury police after receiving information about the incident and placed Valliere on administrative leave. The department “takes these allegations very seriously” as it pursues transparency and accountability, Anderson wrote, according to Boston 25 News. The statement also says lieutenants confiscated Valliere’s firearms in mid‑April.
Officer history and local ties
Valliere is a longtime member of the Shrewsbury force and has previously been recognized for life saving work on local waterways, including a 2021 Team Excellence and Merit award for performing CPR on a one year old, according to a Worcester County District Attorney press release. That track record has added to the shock for some residents as the criminal case moves forward.
What happens next
Valliere faces charges of assault on a family or household member and assault with a dangerous weapon and is due to be arraigned May 7 in Worcester District Court, WCVB reports. The POST suspension will remain in place until a final commission decision or a successful hearing request, and the order spells out Valliere’s right to seek a prompt review, according to the Massachusetts POST Commission.
