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According to court documents, the town of Boston is fighting in court to avoid paying nearly $300,000 in legal fees for cops who were recently acquitted of time beyond regulation fraud charges.

Former Boston cops Timothy Torigian, Robert Twitchell and two others were acquitted of embezzlement charges in April last 12 months. Torigian and Twitchell, who were supervisors, were accused of submitting time beyond regulation sheets for hours they didn’t work. Their lawyers argued they followed standard practices.

Nine Boston cops pleaded guilty to time beyond regulation fraud, one was convicted, and one died before going to trial.

In June, an arbitrator ruled that the town of Boston must pay Torigian and Twitchell's legal fees under the Boston Police Superior Officers Federation's collective bargaining agreement.

If an worker accused of against the law “in the course of his or her employment” is found not guilty, the City of Boston is required under the agreement to reimburse attorneys’ fees.

That includes $115,119 for Torigian, $64,780 for Twitchell and one other $100,000 for Torigian's fee, in keeping with documents obtained through a public records request.

When the town rejected their grievance filed in June 2023, their case was heard by an arbitrator in March, in keeping with the arbitrator's decision. The arbitrator ruled in favor of the union and ordered Boston to pay the fees.

“The City's obligation to compensate them after an acquittal arises only as to whether the charges were brought in the course of their employment,” the arbitrator wrote. “By deciding not to reimburse the plaintiffs for their criminal defense, the City improperly substitutes its verdict for the jury's verdict.”

Arbitrator rules in favor of union, city goes to court

The city of Boston then sued the union in Suffolk Superior Court in July, asking the court to overturn the arbitration award. The city claims the lawsuit searching for reimbursement was filed too late, partially because Torigian and Twitchell each voluntarily left the department in 2020.

“The complainants were neither employees nor members of a bargaining unit after their voluntary termination of employment with the Authority, and the 30 calendar day period for filing complaints on their behalf expired 30 calendar days after their termination of employment with the Authority,” the town's grievance states.

The union argues the 30 days began on the day of its acquittal, in keeping with the arbitration panel's decision, which was obtained through a public records request. According to court documents, the union responded to the town's lawsuit, asking the judge to verify the $279,899 in damages.

The Boston Police Superior Officers Federation didn’t reply to a request for comment.

OAKLAND – The son of a retired Union City police chief was in a position to prevent a murder last February, but that ultimately didn’t save him from prison.

Tyrone McAllister, 24, was convicted of robbery at the identical trial during which he escaped a murder conviction and was eventually sentenced to 13 years and eight months in prison. During the trial, his lawyer urged the jury to “go ahead” and find him guilty of the robbery that had taken place just hours before the murder.

According to records, McAllister was transferred to state prison on April 29.

At his sentencing, McAllister said he was sorry for the robbery and would reap the benefits of the rehabilitation programs in prison.

“I made a lot of mistakes while I was homeless and trying to find a way to live on my own,” he said. “I developed a lot of goals that helped me focus and solidify my newfound sense of direction… I deeply regret the things I did as a young person.”

McAllister went on trial last February for the 2019 murder of 32-year-old Janath Liyanage, but his lawyer convinced jurors it was not him. The prosecution's argument was based largely on the testimony of McAllister's co-defendant, Dennis Evans, who testified that the 2 had planned to commit armed robberies the night McAllister shot Liyanage while Evans waited in a getaway automotive.

However, the defense argued that McAllister unintentionally left his phone in Evans' vehicle before the 2 parted ways in which evening.

McAllister is the son of former Union City Police Chief Darryl McAllister, who retired in 2018. Tyrone McAllister's attorney, Annie Beles, said McAllister had no everlasting place to remain and was virtually destitute on the time of the robbery and murder.

Judge Scott Patton, who handed down the sentence, told the court he took no pleasure in it. He also said he didn’t consider the acts of which McAllister was acquitted, but added that McAllister's presumption of innocence didn’t mean he was “innocent,” in response to a transcript of the hearing. He said the robbery was a “very serious crime” that carried a certain quantity of danger.

“During a robbery, things can quickly go wrong and people can die,” he said.