Rumsey: Former Police Chief Kelly Furtado “contemplating legal action” against the City of Fall River for “hostile work environment”

The City of Fall River’s Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey sent out an email on Thursday, July 23, notifying all nine Fall River City Councilors that “Kelly Furtado, the former chief of police, is contemplating legal action arising from her employment with the Fall River Police Department” under the Whistleblower Protection Act.

“Ms. Furtado is alleging, inter alia, that she was subjected to a hostile work environment and was constructively terminated from her employment due to her efforts “to expose misconduct” within the FRPD.” 

Rumsey alerted city councilors that “all documents related to Ms. Furtado’s employment with the City must be preserved. This preservation request includes, without limitation, all records/documents relating in any way to Kelly Furtado’s employment, her investigations, her reports of misconduct, her contract negotiations, and any adverse actions taken against her. 

Here is the five-page letter Furtado’s lawyer sent to Mayor Coogan’s office: