BOSTON —Questions are being raised about how State Police handled an alleged drunk driving incident over the weekend involving an MBTA Transit Police officer, 5 Investigates had learned.
Transit Police officials tell us that the officer has been placed on paid administrative leave, and his gun has been taken away, but State Police said he was not arrested and no charges were filed.
We have also learned that the incident is under investigation by both the state and transit police.
"Respond over to the Gilmore bridge. Meet a Fallon ambulance by the T stop. They're behind a black Ford pickup, suspected drunk driver."
That was the call dispatched by state police to the Gilmore Bridge in Charlestown around 10 p.m. Friday.
Transit Police officer Joe Sacco
Sources told 5 Investigates the Transit Police officer, Joe Sacco, was allegedly drunk behind the wheel. A Fallon ambulance crew spotted him driving erratically and called 911, the sources said, and Sacco pulled over by the Bunker Hill Community College T stop before state police arrived.
At the time of the incident, the transit cop was off duty, in his personal vehicle, and with his department-issued gun. Sacco is a veteran, the secretary of the Transit Police Officers Association the son of Medford Police Chief Leo Sacco.
In addition to not being arrested or charged, sources said Sacco was not given field sobriety or Breathalyzer tests.
Transit Police were notified, MBTA transit officers picked up his truck and gun, and a relative took Sacco home, sources said. An hour later the scene was cleared.
State Police said they are reviewing their interaction with the operator of the pickup truck and said so far they have not established the driver was intoxicated. Until that is complete, they'll have no further comment, they said.
Sacco, his father and the transit police union also did not comment.
Full statement from Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio: The State Police are reviewing the facts and circumstances of an interaction between a member or members of our department and the operator of a pickup truck on the Gilmore Bridge in Charlestown that occurred Friday night. The review has not established at this point that the operator in question was operating under the influence. Until that review is completed, we will have no further public comment.
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