11/22/2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Author and Investigator Lawrence P. Smith Condemns “Selective Justice” in Methuen Police Scandal — Says State Cover-Up Far Worse Than the Crime
Methuen, MA — November 22, 2025 —
Lawrence P. Smith, retired Massachusetts State Police Sergeant, USAF combat veteran, and author of Six Degrees of Corruption – The Fleecing of a City, released a statement today criticizing what he calls “selective justice” in the ongoing Methuen Police Department scandal. Smith contends that state prosecutors and oversight agencies deliberately under-charged the case to protect political co-conspirators and that the City of Methuen remains civilly liable for years of corruption and misconduct.
The Cost of Selective Justice in Methuen
The City of Methuen now finds itself exactly where it never should have been—alone, exposed, and civilly liable for the fallout of a conspiracy its own leadership helped create. The state had years of evidence showing that former Police Officer Sean Fountain was never legally certified. His forged academy certificate was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Forensic Laboratory, and every supporting record was proven fraudulent. The Massachusetts Police Training Committee (MPTC), the Attorney General’s Office, and two successive District Attorneys were repeatedly notified and chose to do nothing.
This case was deliberately undercharged to protect the co-conspirators and the state officials who enabled it. The limited criminal filing against Fountain is not justice—it’s containment. By keeping the charges narrow, the state avoided confronting the deeper truth: this was not the act of one man but a coordinated failure by those sworn to uphold the law. The forgery could not have succeeded without cooperation from inside Methuen PD, the MPTC, and the very agencies tasked with oversight.
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 41, Section 96B, “No person shall receive an original appointment on a full-time basis as a police officer of a city or town unless that person has been awarded a certificate of completion of a police training program established by the municipal police training committee.”
That statute leaves no room for ambiguity. Every arrest, search warrant, and courtroom testimony Fountain participated in was conducted in direct violation of Massachusetts law. He was never eligible to wear the uniform, carry a firearm, or exercise police powers under any legal authority.
Smith argues that Methuen cannot escape accountability merely because the Commonwealth has finally acted. “A plea deal or conviction against Fountain doesn’t clear the City,” he said. “It cements its liability. You can’t claim ignorance when your own department knowingly allowed a civilian to arrest citizens, carry a gun, and testify in court.”
The Investigation and the Cover-Up
Smith has spent years pushing for the criminal prosecution of all responsible parties—not just Fountain. His 203-page STIRM Investigative Report exposed the fraud, traced the forged certification, and identified the chain of culpability across the Methuen Police Department, the MPTC, and state officials. That report was attached as supporting documentation to a 50-page sworn affidavit authored by the Methuen Police Department, which sought criminal charges based on Smith’s findings.
After reviewing the combined filings, the Lawrence District Court Clerk’s Office determined there was sufficient probable cause to issue criminal charges—a finding the Essex County District Attorney’s Office had repeatedly ignored. “I’ve said from the beginning that the cover-up is always worse than the crime,” Smith stated. “We’re about to see that play out. The cover-up—built on political interference, falsified records, and deliberate inaction—has become the greater offense.”
Smith also points to Brady violations by the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, which he says compromised the integrity of the case. He maintains the current DA is “hopelessly conflicted” and should have recused himself long ago.
Equally alarming, Smith asserts, the Massachusetts Police Training Committee knew Fountain was still acting as a police officer without certification and did nothing to remove him from duty. “They later lied about their involvement,” he said, “compounding the deception that kept an unqualified individual in uniform for years.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has twice empaneled federal grand juries to review the matter—only to abandon both. The most recent grand jury was dissolved in December 2024, despite substantial evidence and multiple potential federal violations.
What Comes Next
The former Methuen Police Chief is scheduled to stand trial next September, facing a limited set of charges that Smith says “only scratch the surface of what really occurred.” The case progressed only because the Lawrence District Court Clerk’s Office, after reviewing the affidavit and the STIRM report, found probable cause when state prosecutors refused to act.
Smith’s rhetorical question underscores his broader point:
“Why would prosecutors refuse to charge a fake cop who arrested more than sixty people, with the help of a previously fired Police Chief who kept him on payroll, knowing he wasn’t a police officer, even after the Field Training Coordinator refused to sign off on his training?”
Until every co-conspirator is held accountable—from City Hall to the State House—Smith insists justice will remain incomplete, and Methuen’s liability will continue to grow.
About the Author
Lawrence P. Smith is a retired Massachusetts State Police Sergeant, U.S. Air Force combat veteran, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Protection Professional (CPP). He is the founder of STIRM Group Inc., specializing in security, training, investigations, and risk mitigation.
His investigative book, Six Degrees of Corruption – The Fleecing of a City, is the first installment in a three-book series on systemic corruption. The next volume, Six Degrees of Justice – The Investigation, will be released following the Chief’s trial next September.
Readers can explore the original evidence in the online Evidence Vault at
👉 https://lpsmithauthor.com/the-evidence-room/
Media Contact
Lawrence P. “Larry” Smith
📧 [email protected]
📞 (617) 682-2271
🌐 www.LPSmithAuthor.com
A gripping exposé that pulls back the curtain on political corruption and the systems that shield it. It’s a call to action—for anyone who believes integrity still matters.
