Massachusetts Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog

A police officer is facing a domestic assault charge in Boston after allegedly assaulting his wife at their Roxbury apartment, according to a report in the Boston Globe.

A Massachusetts domestic violence defense lawyer understands how important it is to defend yourself against charges of domestic assault and battery in Boston or elsewhere in Massachusetts. Members of the military or those in law enforcement may face additional sanctions, including job loss and the inability to own firearms. Domestic assault charges frequently involve contentious divorce or custody proceedings, which can also be negatively impacted by a conviction. In still other cases, a restraining or protection order can have a drastic impact on your life, and may even prevent you from seeing your children or returning to your own home.

Boston police report responding to the 36-year-old officer's apartment after a complaint by his wife that he had assaulted her and damaged property. Authorities say she was injured and two apartment doors were damaged. Police confiscated his department-issued firearm and report finding cigarette rolling papers and a plastic bag containing an unknown substance.

He is facing charges of assault and battery, malicious destruction of property, intimidation of a witness and failure to secure a large capacity firearm. He is due in court on Tuesday and has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

The department reports the officer had a prior domestic incident. He was suspended for five days in October 2007 after he was accused of a physical altercation with a former girlfriend. He has been on the force since 2004 and made just shy of $100,000 in 2008.