Crime & Safety

Off-Duty Lexington Officer Allegedly Involved in Bar Fight

A Lexington police officer was allegedly involved in a fight at a Westford bar in November.

Written by Andrew Sylvia 

An off-duty Lexington police officer was allegedly involved in a bar fight in Westford in early November. 
According to a Westford Police Department log, at 10:47 p.m. on November 2, Westford Police arrived at a bar on Littleton Road following what was described as multiple fights that included an off-duty police officer from Lexington.

Westford Police reports indicated that it was difficult to ascertain who the instigators were in the fights, but the Lexington Police officer produced his badge and identified himself as a police officer during the fights, which was corroborated by witnesses on scene.

The officer on the call asked the Lexington officer to pay his tab and leave, which resulted in the Lexington officer calling the Westford officer and the Westford Police Department “a joke,” questioning the camaraderie of members of their profession, with the Lexington officer beginning to walk back into the bar.

At this point the Westford officer urged the Lexington officer to leave given the high emotions still present following the fights, saying that the Westford officer did not want a fight to occur and the Lexington officer would have to be arrested for disorderly conduct if he re-entered the bar at this time, urging the Lexington officer to avoid negative consequences that could result from an arrest such as notoriety from the media.

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By this time, several Westford officers were on the scene, as well as Littleton police and Massachusetts State Troopers and the initial Westford officer’s superior officer took over in attempting to calm down the other officer.

At the same time, another Westford officer was talking to the manager of the bar, who said that the Lexington officer was leaving the bar when another man used a racial slur against the Lexington officer, followed by a punch to the head.

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This led to a fight between three men and two other men, with bar employees trying to break up the fight. 

The individual accused of using the racial slur denied he used any slurs, but said he may have used prevocational language.

Individuals involved in that fight appeared intoxicated according to police reports, although the reports do not indicate which individuals appeared intoxicated.

In a statement made the next day, the person who insulted the Lexington officer said that after the punch, the Lexington officer pushed him against a wall, damaging a mirror.

This officer then talked to a third person who punched a picture frame and appeared intoxicated who was involved in a seemingly unrelated fight occurring at the exact same time within the bar.

This person said two female friends had been harassed by three other men and he attempted to punch them, hitting the picture frame. The officer informed the man he was no longer welcome at the bar.

A day later, officers talked to employees who brought up the fight, saying that the fight involving the three men allegedly insulting the women began near the center of the restaurant, migrating to near the entrance, where then the fight involving the Lexington officer occurred.

Identities of the individuals involved, including the Lexington police officer, were redacted within police reports.

Damages were estimated at approximately $1,000. Charges were made a week later after further investigation. 




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