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SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Fire Commissioner Bernard “BJ” Calvi will not face criminal charges related to the killing of a raccoon in late February.
A newly released report from the Massachusetts Environmental Police obtained by The Republican portrays Calvi’s slaying of the animal by running it over with his city-issued vehicle as something of a mercy kill, despite a public outcry over the incident that was captured on video.
The report also sharply noted the third-largest city in the state failed to follow protocols related to animal euthanasia.
“The Commissioner’s actions appear inconsistent with common euthanasia practices by trained personnel; the Commissioner acted in a professional capacity, in the interest of public safety with the means available to him at that time,” the report says.
Among the details included in the report: The animal died of blunt force head trauma, seemingly from a single impact despite the fact that Calvi charged at the raccoon multiple times with his SUV, according to video footage.
The narrative also says Calvi was in his right to kill the animal under state law.
The report chronicles a string of calls from the public to a local animal shelter and police over at least three days in late February regarding the creature, which appeared to be limping and wandering in circles around fire headquarters on Worthington Street.
Police refused to kill the raccoon, and the city’s animal officer didn’t respond along with other public health officials.
“The fire commissioner is asking for assistance with a raccoon over there,” a dispatcher told responding officers on Feb. 21. “The trapper’s coming out.”
“If the trapper isn’t doing anything about it, do we have permission to ...?” an officer responds, referring to police officers’ option to kill potentially rabid animals.
The dispatcher answered that she’d call the captain on duty.
“That was a firm no,” she told the officer, later adding: “Who’s going to take care of this raccoon?”
The state report says police declined to call Steven Stathis, the city’s contracted animal control officer.
“He’s not coming out for this,” a dispatcher responds, the report says, later adding that Stathis would come at a later time.
During an interview with the environmental police, Calvi said he suspected the animal was rabid, as it was out and about during the day, tried to enter the fire station and appeared to be frothing at the mouth. But whether the animal was actually rabid will forever remain a mystery as the city improperly disposed of the animal, according to the report, which labeled Calvi’s actions as “unconventional.”
Reached for comment, a spokesman for Calvi said he was “unavailable” on Thursday.
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno thanked the state for its thorough review. ”Commissioner Calvi has spent his career rushing into fires to save people and pets,” he said.
City Solicitor John Payne said he was relieved.
“I’m glad this matter is resolved,” Payne said.
The state report added the city was unprepared for the incident.
“There was no intent by him inflict or cause undue suffering. Therefore, we conclude that no criminal charges are warranted in this case. Commissioner Calvi’s actions undoubtedly were the result of a breakdown in the City of Springfield’s protocol for handling sick and injured animals,” the 11-page report also reads.
The report notes a city Department of Public Works employee told state investigators he dumped the carcass in a gulley in Forest Park at the behest of a supervisor and also because he was “on break,” according to the report.
Since the carcass was in the woods for an extended period, its brain couldn’t be tested for rabies, the state report says. The report absolves Calvi completely.
“Absent the training and experience, as in the circumstance with Commissioner Calvi, he utilized his department vehicle to not only safeguard himself from a possible exposure from the animal, but a mechanism to remove this animal from suffering in a timely manner. Commissioner Calvi had knowledge that the police were not authorized to discharge their weapons, and the city agent was reported to be in a time frame not conducive with the exigency of the situation. He attempted to contain the raccoon with his vehicle and subsequently utilized the best method and means available at the time to dispatch the sick and/or injured animal, " the report concludes.
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