Westborough Police Chief Todd Minardi has been placed on administrative leave after Shrewsbury police responded to a call for service involving him this past Friday, Oct. 23, town officials confirmed. Deputy Police Chief Steve Tompkins has taken over day-to-day operations of the department while the town moves to bring in an outside investigator to examine what happened.
According to MassLive, town officials placed Minardi on leave following the incident in Shrewsbury, and Shrewsbury police had responded to “a call for service” involving him on Oct. 23. The outlet reports that Westborough is in the process of hiring a third-party investigator to look into the matter, and that Tompkins has been put in command of the department’s daily operations in Minardi’s absence.
Westborough has not said what prompted the call or detailed the circumstances behind the chief’s leave. The Shrewsbury Post reports that the town did not disclose the nature of the call or the circumstances surrounding Minardi’s administrative leave, and that officials said the matter remains under active review while declining to comment further.
A Short Tenure at the Top
Minardi’s time as Westborough’s top cop has been relatively brief. The Community Advocate reports he became interim chief in July, after Jeff Lourie left to take the police chief position in Falmouth, and the Select Board unanimously approved Minardi as the permanent chief on Sept. 12, subject to contract negotiations. MassLive notes that, counting that span, Minardi has served as Westborough police chief for three years.
Minardi rose through the ranks over a long career with the department. The Community Advocate reports he became deputy chief in 2018, while his start date with the department is disputed: MassLive states he joined as a reserve officer in 1994, whereas a separate Community Advocate report states he has been with the department since 1993, also starting as a reserve officer. That same report notes Minardi’s 2024 compensation under his contract was set at $154,740.38, plus additional benefits.
What Happens Next
For now, the department’s operations fall to Tompkins while the town works to retain an independent investigator to look into the matter. Westborough officials have said only that the review is active and that they will not comment further while the personnel matter is being examined, leaving residents without answers on what triggered the call in Shrewsbury or how long Minardi’s leave might last.
