Natick defends handling of case involving officer accused of sexual assault

Natick officials Tuesday released a statement and some documents defending their handling of a case in which a police officer was accused of sexually assaulting a dispatcher in a secluded parking lot two years ago.

The town leaders said they are "committed to ensuring fair and transparent communications" about the case. And they said a detailed timeline issued on Tuesday demonstrates the "responsiveness of Natick town officials."

The announcement comes just days after WBUR reported that the town tried to keep the incident secret for more than two years. The town's statement was signed by the town administrator, chairman of the select board and chief of police.

Natick town meeting member Cody Jacobs said the release of the documents and timeline was a "good first step," but thought the town should do more.

"It doesn't go far enough in giving people information, and most importantly, in giving people reassurance," he said.

The incident allegedly happened on April 12, 2020, according to both court documents and the timeline the town issued Tuesday. But Quilty wasn't indicted on criminal charges of sexual assault until December 2021 — a year and a half later — after both WBUR and a blogger requested documents about the incident. And in the meantime, the town has already quietly agreed not to fire Quilty.

Neither the town nor prosecutors publicly announced the indictment. And Natick rejected requests for almost all the documents about the case, including the results of both an internal and external investigation, a discrimination complaint filed by the dispatcher and a confidential "last chance" agreement to allow Quilty to remain with the department after a roughly two-month suspension. WBUR sued Natick for the documents in September.

On Tuesday, the town released a copy of the agreement giving Quilty a second chance, after initially insisting it could not be released. It also provided documents showing it paid a Springfield law firm that handles sexual harassment cases more than $23,000 to conduct an investigation, as well as disciplinary documents showing the town accused Quilty of violating the town's sexual harassment policy.

But the town declined to release a copy of the law firm's investigation. It also withheld the police department's internal investigation, noting the criminal charges against Quilty are still pending. It also withheld copies of the discrimination complaint the dispatcher filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, another case that is still ongoing.

Quilty, who has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges, has been suspended without pay from the Natick police department.

His attorney could not be reached immediately for comment on Tuesday afternoon, but has previously said in court that the officer mistakenly thought his interactions with the dispatcher were consensual.