Mass. mayor fires cop who slurred Red Sox player
Thursday, July 26, 2012
LEOMINSTER, Mass. (AP) -- A Massachusetts mayor has fired a police officer accused of directing a racial slur at Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Crawford during a baseball game.
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella says Officer John Perrault's comments and actions show he's unfit to serve on the police force.
Mazzarella's decision Thursday comes a day after Police Chief Robert Healey recommended that Mazzarella fire Perrault. Healey says the 38-year-old officer has used racial slurs at least two other times.
Perrault has been on paid leave since he called Crawford a "Monday" before a July 5 minor league game in Manchester, N.H.
The word is considered a racial slur when associated with the phrase, "I hate Mondays."
His attorney says Perrault wasn't using the word in a racial way and that the city is overreacting.
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