Description: Francis "Mickey" Roache (Boston Police Commissioner), Minister Don Muhammed (Roxbury community leader), Superintendent Albert Sweeney (Chief of the Bureau of Professional Standards), and Deputy Arthur Morgan (Bureau of Professional Standard) are present at a press conference to announce the results of the internal police investigation of the Silver Shield Club rape case. Roache reviews the details of the case. Roache says that Sweeney conducted a thorough investigation which turned up no witnesses or victim. Roache says that there is no evidence that a sexual assault ever took place at the Silver Shield Club. Roache adds that police have identified a suspect in the murder of Lucia Kai. Sweeney talks about the investigation. Sweeney says that all of the officers involved in the case passed a polygraph examination. He adds that the investigation is closed. The panelists answer questions from the media. Muhammad says that he is satisfied with the police investigation. He adds that Kai's murderer must be found. Roache says that the investigation will be reopened if compelling evidence is found. Roache will not comment on Kai's murder except to say that police have not found probable cause to link their suspect to the murder. Sweeney notes that Richard Armstead (Boston Police Department) was not asked to take a polygraph test because he was not a witness to the alleged sexual assault. He adds that the officers involved have been cleared of all accusations. Sweeney says that Armstead and William Celester (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department) have both conducted themselves in a professional manner. Sweeney notes that no victims or witnesses have come forward. Sweeney continues to talk about details of the case. He says that it is difficult to trace the origins of the rumors that sparked the allegations.
1:00:00: Visual: Francis "Mickey" Roache (Police Commissioner, City of Boston), Minister Don Muhammed (Roxbury community leader), Albert Sweeney (Boston Police Department), and Arthur Morgan (Boston Police Department) seat themselves at a press conference to announce the results of an internal police investigation of the Silver Shield Club rape case. Nancy Sterling Gleason (spokeswoman for Roache) introduces each of the men at the table. Roache summarizes the allegations in the Silver Shield case. Roache says that rumors have surfaced that an African American female was sexually assaulted at the Silver Shield Club in 1982. Roache reviews the details of the case. He reports that an African American female was found murdered in the Franklin Park section of Roxbury; that rumors suggested a connection between that homicide and the sexual assault at the Silver Shield Club. Roache says that he has conducted a thorough internal investigation of the matter; that there is no evidence of a sexual assault ever having taken place at the Silver Shield Club. Roache says that Sweeney spent many months investigating the matter; that the investigation has produced no victim or no witnesses. Roache reports that Lucia Kai (Roxbury resident) was murdered in August, 1982; that police have not yet solved the case; that there is a suspect, but no probable cause. Roache says that he is pleased to have worked with community leaders on this investigation; that the Silver Shield Club investigation is closed. Roache compliments Sweeney on his thorough investigation. 1:05:32: V: Shot of Muhammed; of Sweeney. Sweeney says that the investigation has led to the conclusion that there was no sexual assault at the Silver Shield Club in 1982. Sweeney reports that there are no witnesses, victim, or evidence to support the allegations. Sweeney says that the officers involved in the case voluntarily submitted to a polygraph examination; that the results were confirmed by the Massachusetts State Police Department. Sweeney says that the officers were asked if they had any knowledge of the sexual assault, if they participated in the sexual assault, and if they had any knowledge of any sexual assaults at the Silver Shield Club at any time. Sweeney reports that the officers denied any knowledge or participation in the sexual assaults; that the polygraph examination confirmed the truth of those answers. Sweeney says that the investigation is closed. Roache says that all of the officers in the department were invited to come forward with information on the case. Shot of Morgan. 1:07:49: V: The panel takes questions from the media. A reporter asks Muhammed if he is satisfied with the investigation. Muhammed says that he will not be satisfied until the Kai's murderer is found; that there is no evidence to support the sexual assault allegations at the club. Muhammed says that he would push for further investigation of the sexual assault allegations if compelling evidence were found; that Roache and the Boston Police Department have done an "admirable" job of reopening the case and pursuing the investigation. A reporter notes that Detective Richard Armstead (Boston Police Department) has accused the officers involved in the case of lying about the alleged sexual assault; that Armstead is not satisfied with the investigation. The reporter asks if action will be taken against Armstead. Roache says that disciplinary action is taken against an officer only if he or she violates given rules and regulations. Roache says that further investigation of the allegations will take place if compelling evidence is found. A reporter asks why the media had not been informed that there was a suspect in the investigation of Kai's murder. Roache reminds the reporter that the case is four years old. Roache says that the police have not found a probable cause which will link the suspect to the murder. Roache says that the police will work with the community to uncover evidence to solve the crime. Shots of the assembled media. Roache says that he will provide copies of the investigation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the office of the US Attorney. 1:12:57: V: Shots of individual reporters and audience members. Roache tells a reporter that he will not comment on specific aspects of Kai's murder. Shot of the panel from the back of the room. A reporter asks if an apology will be offered to the officers accused of the sexual assault. Roache says that rumors can be very damaging. Jump cut on videotape. Shot of the panel from the side of the table; of individual reporters. A reporter asks about the status of the suspect. Roache says that he will not comment except that the suspect resides out of state. A reporter asks why Armstead was not required to take a polygraph examination. Sweeney says that Armstead was never a first-hand witness of the alleged sexual assault; that the officers who took the polygraph test were named as witnesses to the alleged sexual assault. Sweeney notes that Boston Police officers Jose Garcia, William Dunn, and William Kennefick took the polygraph test. A reporter asks if there was an officer named as the perpetrator of the alleged sexual assault. Sweeney says that Dunn was the principal suspect; that Dunn has been cleared of the accusations. A reporter asks if Armstead's allegations were handled properly by his superior officers. Roache says that he cannot speak for Armstead; that he is proud of Armstead for coming forward; that he is sure Armstead will act professionally as the investigation comes to a close. Roache adds that William Celester (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department) also conducted himself professionally at the time of the initial investigation; that the case is closed. A reporter asks how many officers came under investigation as suspects. Sweeney says that Garcia was named as the principal witness; that Garcia was alleged to have rescued the victim; that Dunn and Kennefick were named as suspects in the alleged assault. Sweeney notes that Garcia, Dunn, and Kennefick say that there was no sexual assault at the club. Sweeney adds that no victims or witnesses have come forward. Sweeney continues to explain details of the case. Shot of a female reporter. A reporter asks if there have been any attempts to trace the origins of the rumor. Sweeney says that it is difficult to trace the origins of a rumor from 1982; that the allegations were made at a time of great tension and difficulty within the police department. Sweeney says that the rumor was fed by an investigation by William Celester (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department) in 1982. Sweeney says that Celester's investigation brought Armstead into the case; that the current investigation has proceeded from Armstead's accusations.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 01/10/1986
Description: David Boeri reports on the Silver Shield case. Interview with Richard Armstead of the Boston Police Department, who gives his version of the events in the case. Boeri reviews the facts about the case and the people involved. Boeri's reports includes footage of William Celester (Boston Police Department) and photographs of Lucia Kai (Roxbury resident) and police officers Jose Garcia, William Dunn and William Kennefick. Boeri notes that an investigation has cleared the officers of all allegations. Press conference with Francis "Mickey" Roache (Commissioner, Boston Police Department), Albert Sweeney (Boston Police Department), Arthur Morgan (Boston Police Department), and Don Muhammad (Roxbury community leader). Nancy Gleason (spokesperson, Boston Police Department) says that there is no evidence of a crime being committed at the Silver Shield Club. Boeri notes that one of the officers may have told Bruce Wall (Twelfth Baptist Church) about the alleged rape at the club. Interview with Wall, who says that he will not comment on what he was told.
1:00:11: Visual: Footage of Richard Armstead (Detective, Boston Police Department) walking down a street in Roxbury. Armstead unlocks the door to a house. David Boeri says that Armstead has been ordered to appear before a grand jury on December 3; that Armstead is the source of the allegations in the Silver Shield rape case. Boeri reports that Armstead has insisted that an African American girl was raped by white police officers; that the girl was murdered to ensure her silence. V: Shots of police officers in the lobby of a Boston Police Department building. Boeri notes that Armstead was not a witness to the rape; that Armstead heard the story from William Celester (Deputy Superintendent, Boston Police Department) in July, 1982. V: Shot of Celester in uniform, speaking to a reporter. Footage of Armstead being interviewed by Boeri in his home. Armstead describes the circumstances surrounding his conversation with Celester about the rape. Boeri reports that Celester told Armstead that Jose Garcia (Boston Police Department) was sleeping in the backroom of the Club; that Garcia was awoken by screams. V: Shots of the exterior of the Silver Shield Club in Roxbury. Shot of a color photo of Garcia. Footage of Armstead saying that Celester told him that Garcia witnessed a white police officer forcing an African American teenage girl to perform oral sex at gunpoint. Boeri reports that Celester told Armstead that William Dunn (Boston Police Department was the perpetrator; that William Kennefick (Boston Police Department) was one of six or seven officers who witnessed the rape. V: Shots of black and white photos of Dunn and Kennefick. Boeri reports that Celester told Armstead that the Garcia rescued the girl; that the girl ran from the car near the Orchard Street Housing Project. V: Shot of the Orchard Street Housing Project at night from a moving car. Armstead says that Garcia told Celester about the rape. Boeri says that all of the officers involved have denied Armstead's allegations. V: Shots of photographs of Celester, Garcia, Kennefick, and Dunn. Boeri reports that the officers were cleared of the allegations by the most recent investigation by the Boston Police Department in January, 1986. V: Shot of Francis "Mickey" Roache (Police Commissioner, City of Boston), Minister Don Muhammed (Roxbury community leader), Albert Sweeney (Boston Police Department), and Arthur Morgan (Boston Police Department) at a press conference. Shot of Roache speaking at the press conference. Boeri notes that the investigation found no evidence of a crime. Boeri adds that the investigation concluded that Celester acted responsibly by attempting to verify the rumors about a rape at the club. V: Footage of Boeri commenting on a Police Department internal report. Boeri notes that the report says that Celester informed Armstead of the rumor. Armstead says that the report is not true. Armstead adds that Celester never told him that the account of the rape was a rumor. Boeri reports that Celester may have told the same story to a civilian. V: Shot of a photo of Celester; of a newspaper article with a headline reading, "Youth, 17, on danger list after shooting by a policeman." Boeri says that Reverend Bruce Wall (Twelfth Baptist Church) spoke with Celester in August of 1982, after the shooting of an African American youth by a police officer. V: Footage of Wall being interviewed by Boeri. Wall says that he will not comment on whether Celester told him about the rape. Boeri notes that Wall does not deny being told about the rape. Boeri reports that six weeks after the alleged rape, the body of Lucia Kai (murdered Roxbury resident) was found in Franklin Park. V: Shots of the exterior of the Silver Shield Club; of the woods in Franklin Park; of a color photo of Kai. Footage of Armstead saying that Kai was the girl who was raped at the Silver Shield Club. Boeri reports that police officials says that there is no evidence that Kai was raped at the club. V: Footage of Nancy Gleason (Boston Police Department spokesperson) saying that there is no evidence of a crime being committed at the Silver Shield Club.
Collection: Ten O'Clock News
Date Created: 11/18/1986