Suffolk DA refutes claim he closed officer misconduct investigation

Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden on Monday again refuted claims he closed an investigation into a transit police officer who allegedly pulled a gun on a driver and then covered it up. The case has raised questions about how his office handles police misconduct cases.

"This case has always remained opened because I'm the one who makes that decision, and I never determined to close the case," Hayden said Monday "It will continue to remain open until we come to its conclusion."

The Boston Globe reported Saturday that officials in Hayden's office indicated the office would drop the investigation of transit police officer Jacob Green. Green, who is white, is accused of pointing a gun at a Black motorist in April 2021, and then trying to cover it up with help from one of his colleagues. Transit officials told the paper that they brought the matter to former Suffolk DA Rachael Rollins, who launched an investigation before she left to become Massachusetts U.S. Attorney in January. They also said Hayden's office was going to drop the case.

Boston City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo, Hayden's opponent in September's democratic primary, called on Hayden to resign, as have other Arroyo supporters in city government. Hayden said he stands by the work he's done since he was appointed to take over when Rollins left office.

"I'm as committed to doing this job today as the day I walked in here in January after the governor appointed me," Hayden said. "And I will continue to be and I'm not going to let any particular individual case distract my office or me from continuing to do the very best that we can to serve all of the citizens of Suffolk County."

Hayden also said that his campaign has returned the $225 in campaign contributions from Green and his attorney Robert Griffin. He said he was not aware of the donations and felt it was appropriate to return the money because of the investigation. He said his office is actively investigating various cases involving police officers.

"Since I've arrived here, there are other instances of misconduct and criminality involving police officers that we have charged and will continue to do so," Hayden said. "We're always going to continue to do our job to the best of our ability and I'm certainly not going to let politics and gamesmanship play into how we how we do things."