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“You have demonstrated through your racist comments that you cannot continue as a patrol officer,” Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella wrote in his termination notice to officer John Perrault.
Mazzarella’s decision comes a day after Police Chief Robert Healey recommended during a disciplinary hearing that the mayor fire Perrault, saying he’d used racial slurs at least twice before.
Perrault’s attorney, Joseph Sandulli, said his client would either appeal through the civil service commission or file a grievance through the police union. Sandulli said Perrault didn’t intend the word as a racist insult and that the city overreacted.
“He was criticizing Crawford for being a bad player, not because he was a black man,” Sandulli said.
Perrault had been on paid leave since he called Crawford a “Monday” before a July 5 minor league game in Manchester, N.H. The word can be used as a derogatory term for blacks.
Crawford was playing with a Red Sox minor league affiliate while rehabilitating a wrist injury. Perrault attended the game while off duty. After Perrault taunted Crawford, the outfielder notified stadium officials.
In the termination notice, Mazzarella cited previous alleged racist remarks by Perrault, including when he repeatedly used a racial slur in a bar while watching black NBA players.
GREINKE TRADE SOON?
General manager Doug Melvin acknowledged that the Milwaukee Brewers are fielding trade inquiries for ace pitcher Zack Greinke.
Melvin confirmed Greinke’s availability in comments to USA Today and Milwaukee’s WTMJ radio earlier Thursday.
Melvin did not go into detail on how many teams have expressed interest in the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner.
BONDS APPEAL DELAY
Barry Bonds has requested another delay in his appeal of his obstruction-of-justice conviction. Bonds’ lawyers asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday to postpone the deadline for his reply brief from Aug. 2 to Aug. 16.
A jury found Bonds guilty in April 2011 of one count of obstruction of justice, finding he gave an evasive answer in 2003 to a grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution.
SHORT HOPS
CBSSports.com reported that Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki could miss the remainder of the season due to a groin injury. He was originally expected to be out six to eight weeks. … The Baltimore Orioles have recalled left-hander Dana Eveland from Triple-A Norfolk to fortify their overworked bullpen. To clear room for Eveland on the roster, Baltimore optioned infielder Steve Tolleson to Norfolk. … The Minnesota Twins have placed right-handed reliever Anthony Swarzak on the 15-day disabled list with a right rotator cuff strain.
