A former Abington police officer, Joshua Heal, who allegedly had a sexual relationship with Sandra Birchmore, may soon be decertified by a state watchdog group, according to Abington Police Chief John Bonney. Chief Bonney, a recent addition to the department from Stoughton, confirmed he has recommended Heal's decertification to the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission.
Heal, who served as a school resource officer, came under scrutiny in connection with Birchmore’s death after an internal investigation revealed disturbing details. Birchmore was found dead in her Canton apartment in 2021. Initially deemed a suicide, her death is now believed to be a homicide orchestrated by former Stoughton officer Matthew Farwell, who allegedly maintained a sexual relationship with her since she was 15. According to a federal indictment, Farwell is accused of staging her death to resemble a suicide.
Three former Stoughton officers, including Farwell, have been named as defendants in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Birchmore’s estate. The lawsuit alleges that Farwell, his twin brother William, and former officer Robert Devine groomed Birchmore after she joined a youth explorers program at age 13. Although Heal was also named as a defendant in this suit in 2023, charges against him were dismissed in 2024.
Heal’s attorney, Pete Farrell, clarified Heal's position in the ongoing federal investigation, asserting that Heal is cooperating fully as a material witness. “Allegations are allegations, and it is speculative at best to suggest that Mr. Heal may be decertified,” Farrell said in a statement to Boston.com. He added, “The Court made specific factual findings. Those findings speak for themselves and are a part of the Court record. These facts reveal Mr. Heal and Ms. Birchmore were friends and met while both were adults.”
Court documents reveal that Heal met Birchmore in 2016 when she was an adult, adopting a cat from the shelter where Heal worked as an animal control officer. According to the records, “Defendant Heal admitted he received oral sex from Ms. Birchmore on at least one known occasion.” Heal also reportedly described their relationship as close friendship in conversations with investigators.
Although court findings indicate that Heal and Birchmore did not know each other during her youth, her estate argues that Heal exploited his position, exerting influence over a “vulnerable young adult.” Furthermore, the complaint alleges that Heal had detailed knowledge of Birchmore’s prior abuse and that he was aware Farwell tracked her phone activity.
The lawsuit claims, “Heal owed Ms. Birchmore a duty to protect her from abusive and grooming behaviors exhibited by M. Farwell, W. Farwell, and Devine, and to refrain from exploiting his status as the Animal Control Officer to obtain sexual contact with Ms. Birchmore.”
According to the POST Commission, Heal resigned from his position with the Abington Police Department “in lieu of discipline” and currently holds certification as an unassociated officer, which is set to expire on July 1, 2025.
While Heal’s future as a certified officer remains uncertain, POST has already taken action against other former Stoughton officers connected to the case. William Farwell, Matthew’s twin, was decertified last month, and Robert Devine is listed as “not certified” by POST due to his alleged involvement in inappropriate relations with Birchmore.
As the investigation continues, Heal’s decertification status will be determined by POST, potentially marking another step in the efforts to address the troubling circumstances surrounding Birchmore’s death.
#SandraBirchmore #PoliceMisconduct #AbingtonPolice #StoughtonInvestigation #POSTCommission #JoshuaHeal #Justice
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