Former Boston police union chief, 66, charged with child rape, accused of sexually abusing minor over 5 years
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: A US Army veteran who was the former head of the Boston police union has been accused of sexually abusing a family member over five years, beginning when she was just seven-years-old. Patrick M. Rose Sr., 66, first came to the attention of the authorities after the victim, now 14, and another family member contacted the Boston police regarding the alleged abuse on August 2, reported Boston.com. Because of Rose's background as a member of the Boston Police Department and former president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, prosecutors decided the investigation into the allegations would be conducted by another law enforcement agency.
On August 12, the victim participated in a Sexual Abuse Intervention Network interview, during which she detailed how Rose had molested her "on multiple occasions on diverse dates." The abuse "took place almost exclusively" at Rose's West Roxbury home, although "there was also one assault that occurred at an unidentified drive-in movie theater that occurred in another county," according to a report by Trooper Russell Lloyd. Besides assaulting her on multiple occasions, the 66-year-old was also accused of showing her pornography, exposing himself to her, masturbating in front of her, and enticing her to perform a sexual act on him. All of the alleged assaults took place between August 2012 and August 2018.
"There is no greater betrayal and breach of trust and morality than sexual violence against a child," Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins was quoted saying by the Boston Herald. "While this man was molesting and harming an innocent child, he was standing in judgment of others as a sworn member of law enforcement. He has dishonored the badge of the Boston Police Department, and I intend to hold him accountable."
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh also condemned Rose's actions and promised a thorough investigation into the allegations. "I am deeply disturbed by these horrific allegations, which must be investigated to the fullest extent of the law," he said.
Rose has been charged with aggravated rape of a child, enticing a child under 16, open and gross lewdness, showing obscene matter to a minor, and five counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 in connection to the abuse. He was arraigned at the West Roxbury District Court on Thursday, August 13, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. During the arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Audrey Mark, chief of Rollins’ Child Protection Unit, cited concerns that Rose posed a flight risk and asked that he be held on a $250,000 bail. She said the prosecution was concerned by his behavior in recent days, during which he had made suicidal statements, left his home, and told family he was going to be an inpatient at a facility in Arlington. She said he was ultimately found and arrested at Needham hotel.
"There is a need for high bail," she insisted. "This is an extremely serious case. We only know that he was not being necessarily truthful with his family about where he was."
Judge Kathleen Coffey ultimately set the bail at $100,000 but ordered that Rose wear a GPS monitoring device, stay away from the alleged victim and other children under 16, and surrender his passport, any guns that he might have and his license to carry a firearm if he posts bail. The decision to let him walk out of jail was lambasted by Rollins, who said it was "reprehensible" because of the "heinous and egregious nature of the multiple charges against Rose."