A review of former Fall River DCM Chief John Perry’s 35 Page Misconduct Report

A 2022 investigation into the Department of Community Maintenance (DCM) in Fall River, conducted by private investigator Daniel Lowney at the request of Mayor Paul Coogan and City Administrator Seth Aitken, revealed a series of deeply troubling allegations involving department head John Perry. The confidential report, spanning over 30 pages, details potential improprieties ranging from misuse of city resources to environmental hazards and workplace misconduct and abuse.

The City of Fall River resisted releasing the report for almost two years, even though the findings, based on surveillance and employee interviews, paint a picture of systemic issues within the DCM, raising concerns about oversight and accountability in city operations.

Phase One: Surveillance of John Perry

The investigation began with a two-phase approach. Phase One involved monitoring John Perry’s arrival and departure times at City Hall, where his office was located. Over three days in April 2022, Lowney observed Perry’s activities, noting his assigned parking space and light-colored BMW sedan. The surveillance revealed inconsistent work hours, with Perry arriving after 9:00 AM and leaving as early as 1:56 PM on one occasion, sometimes returning briefly before departing again by 5:07 PM. On April 19, 2022, Lowney was informed that Perry had been placed on a two-week administrative leave, halting further surveillance.

Phase Two: Employee Interviews Expose Allegations

Phase Two consisted of interviews with employees across the DCM, Parks Department, Cemetery and Tree Maintenance Department, and the Lewiston Street facility. Conducted between April 20 and May 2, 2022, the interviews were voluntary, with employees assured immunity from retribution and the option to have union representatives present. No employees requested union presence, and all participated freely, according to Lowney.

The interviews uncovered a range of allegations against Perry, including:

• Workplace Misconduct: Multiple employees described Perry as a difficult and abusive supervisor. One employee reported Perry humiliated her in public meetings, swore at her, and made derogatory remarks. Another alleged physical assault, claiming Perry repeatedly slammed a truck door on their legs during a confrontation. Employees consistently described low morale, with Perry labeled as a “bully” who berated staff and dismissed differing opinions. The investigation revealed a lack of accountability with Fall River’s Human Resource department, as employees reported that complaints filed against John Perry were allegedly leaked to him by HR staff before review, discouraging fair reporting and resolution.
• Misuse of City Resources: Employees alleged Perry ordered city mechanics to repair private vehicles, including those owned by Quality Fence and JDM, using city parts and labor. Perry’s personal BMW was reportedly serviced in the city garage. Additionally, city equipment, such as a backhoe, was allegedly used for private projects, including at the property of a DCM employee. An employee reported that city resources were used to repair concrete sidewalks in front of John Perry’s sister’s residence, despite the repairs being unnecessary, as they were expanded from an adjacent emergency assignment.
• Environmental Concerns: The investigation revealed serious allegations about the handling of contaminated materials. Employees claimed Perry ordered the burial of fuel-contaminated soil from a gas station lot near the Morton School construction site at Oak Grove Cemetery. The soil, described as having a strong petroleum odor, was reportedly moved after complaints from residents. Furthermore, the incinerator pit at the Lewiston Street facility was allegedly filled with hazardous materials, including paint, asphalt, and toxins, raising concerns about structural instability and environmental risks. An employee stated that John Perry was observed operating a front-end loader at night to cover hazardous materials, including paints and toxins, in the incinerator pit at the Lewiston Street facility.
• Procurement Violations: Several instances of improper procurement were reported. Perry allegedly bypassed bidding procedures for projects, such as a $13,000 concrete job and $30,000–$40,000 in paving repairs, by breaking them into smaller invoices. Employees also claimed Perry ordered a damaged city excavator to be repaired without a purchase order and manipulated rental agreements for equipment.
• Theft and Fraud: Employees reported the theft of city property, including copper wiring from the incinerator building, allegedly removed by Perry and others. Scrap metal and a city-owned pressure washer were also reported missing. Additionally, billing irregularities were noted, with private vendors like JDM allowed to self-report hours without oversight, potentially leading to fraudulent payments. Employees observed that bags of sand-blasting material for the city-owned graffiti machine, which sat unused for years, were regularly diminishing from pallets at the Lewiston Street facility, suggesting unauthorized removal.
• Favoritism and Retaliation: Perry was accused of favoritism in hiring and job assignments, including appointing a politically connected individual to a supervisory role over a more qualified candidate. Employees who challenged Perry or reported issues faced retaliation, such as unfair write-ups or threats of termination.

Specific Incidents Highlight Systemic Issues

One notable incident reported in the report involved city council member Pamela Laliberte allegedly taking cobblestones from the Bullock Street facility with her personal vehicle. Another employee witnessed Perry and an associate using city equipment to perform private work on a commercial property, reportedly for $9,000. The report also highlighted the lack of accountability in salt deliveries, with missing bills of lading potentially allowing discrepancies in reported quantities. One employee was threatened with termination by John Perry, who warned them they could either accept unfair write-ups or risk being fired. The employee reported that John Perry told him, “…would you rather suck up the complaints or be a single father without a job. It will take at least a year before this issue gets to court.”

Photographic evidence, including images of the Oak Grove Cemetery site, non-city vehicles in the garage, and missing city equipment, corroborated employee accounts. The report included a photo index of 70 images, with some provided by employees and others taken by Lowney.

Employee Perspectives and Morale

While some employees, particularly in the Parks and Cemetery departments, reported minimal interaction with Perry and no direct issues, the DCM staff at Lewiston Street painted a grim picture. Many described a toxic work environment, with Perry’s leadership creating a “black cloud” over the department. Employees expressed fear of retaliation, with one noting that complaints filed with HR were allegedly leaked to Perry, discouraging further reporting.

The City of Fall River’s resistance to releasing the report

On April 19, 2022, Perry was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation into “several recent incidents” within DCM, as stated by City Administrator Seth Aitken, who also resigned in controversy a few years later. Aitken, abruptly resigned in February 2025 following an internal, unofficial investigation prompted by allegations of a conflict of interest.

The Perry investigation, initially planned for two weeks, began in May 19, 2022, and extended to two months due to its complexity. The city hired private investigator Daniel Lowney to conduct the probe, which involved tailing Perry for three days and interviewing 48 city employees from DCM, cemeteries, and parks departments. The investigation was reportedly triggered by an unreported accident at the DCM barn on Lewiston Street, causing minor injuries and equipment damage, and expanded to examine possible “illegal and/or unethical activities” within the department.

Perry resigned on June 17, 2022, following negotiations with Mayor Paul Coogan’s administration, represented by attorney Philip N. Beauregard from New Bedford. The resignation came after signing a separation agreement. Under the agreement, Perry received his salary until the end of August 2022, along with vacation pay and other owed benefits, effectively partially fulfilling his contract through mid-December. According to the Herald News, along with severance pay and unused vacation, personal and sick days, Perry was paid $64,740 in exchange for his resignation.  

The lack of transparency regarding the separation agreement, which reportedly included a confidentiality clause, fueled public and media interest, especially given the context of the former mayor Jasiel Correia serving a prison term for corruption and fraud, raising concerns about municipal governance. The Herald News sought access to the investigation report, separation agreement, and related documents through public records requests filed in May and June 2022. These requests were denied multiple times, leading to an appeal to the Attorney General’s Open Records Division and, ultimately, a lawsuit filed in November 2022. The lawsuit accused the city of procedural and substantive violations of Massachusetts’ public records law, requesting a declaratory judgment for document release.

The City of Fall River, under Mayor Paul Coogan, resisted releasing the investigation report and separation agreement, citing privacy and legal exemptions. This led to a public records lawsuit by The Herald News with a court in October 2023 ordering some documents released. The City appealed, further delaying public access to the investigation. City officials, including Assistant Corporation Counsel Mary O’Neil, cited state law exemptions, arguing that disclosure would prejudice effective law enforcement and invade privacy, particularly concerning “voluntary complainants, witnesses, investigative techniques, personnel matters, and witness statements.”

On October 11, 2023, Bristol County Superior Court Judge Renee Dupuis ruled that the city must release certain documents, including the names of the 48 employees interviewed, rejecting the city’s privacy exemption claims. However, the city, represented by Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey, appealed this decision, but the Herald news won the court battle and received the report. The Herald News reported that Mayor Coogan referred the report to the Fall River Police and Bristol County District Attorney, but they declined to further investigate or prosecute. Why was the report not sent to State or Federal investigators? Why after all the alleged abuse of City resources, was Perry given a Golden Parachute?

Fall River Reporter obtained a redacted copy of the 35-page John Perry nvestigation results that contained redactions of employees who were interviewed. The information is shocking, and we will produce several articles and podcasts reviewing specifics in the report. We will also make the report available to the public.