Byline: Ellie Oleson

OXFORD - The state Ethics Commission has found "no indication of any violation" by an Oxford police officer who was under investigation by the commission because of a complaint filed against him in December.

The complaint against Police Sgt. Anthony P. Saad

In a Sept. 18 letter to Sgt. Saad, Geeta A. McGrath, senior investigator for the Ethics Commission, wrote: "There is no indication of any violation of the conflict of interest law, General Laws chapter 268A. You may now consider this case closed. All related records shall remain confidential."

Yesterday, Sgt. Saad said, "I am pleased to know the finding of the state Ethics Commission investigation into these allegations against me coincided with the results of the internal investigation conducted earlier in the year by the chief of police and town manager. I cooperated fully and without reservation on the local and state level."

Police Chief Michael J. Boss said, "Sgt. Saad's vindication comes as no surprise. We came to the same conclusion. We exactly concur with the state's findings."

Town Manager Joseph M. Zeneski said, "I made that same assessment in January. When these allegations first came forward, I investigated and found no wrongdoing. Sgt. Saad did nothing ethically or procedurally wrong. The state has confirmed that."

Ms. McGrath was out of her office and could not be reached for further comment. David Giannotti, Ethics Commission spokesman, said that, because of strict confidentiality regulations, "the commission can neither confirm nor deny that there had been any complaint filed or any resolution made."

Mr. Erickson, in a July 10, 2007, affidavit, alleged that Sgt. Saad failed to arrest Catherine M. Bonin, then an Oxford police dispatcher, for allegedly driving while intoxicated.

Chief Boss said that when the incident occurred, the police chief at the time, Charles K. Noyes, "brought Cathy in and counseled her" and found no wrongdoing by Sgt. Saad.

Since January, Ms. Bonin has retired from her position in the Police Department and moved out of town.

Mr. Plasse, in his affidavit, alleged that Sgt. Saad had fixed tickets that Mr. Plasse claimed he had been given for traffic violations

In January, Mr. Zeneski said Sgt. Saad had not fixed any tickets for Mr. Plasse, noting, "We checked our records. I am satisfied he did not do that."

Mr. Zeneski also said Mr. Erickson had been dismissed as an intermittent police patrolman in Oxford during the summer of 2007. The details of Mr. Erickson's dismissal have not been released, and a Civil Service decision on his appeal is pending.

The affidavits of Mr. Erickson and Mr. Plasse were prepared by James B. Triplett, a private practice lawyer and former Oxford police chief. In his affidavit, Mr. Plasse said he gave testimony in favor of Mr. Erickson at Mr. Erickson's disciplinary hearing. Mr. Erickson could not be reached for comment.

In February, Mr. Plasse told police the affidavit he had signed was inaccurate and that he had not read the affidavit before signing it, though Mr. Triplett said in February that Mr. Plasse had "read each and every line of the statement." Mr. Triplett also said that he had made a few small changes to the affidavit before Mr. Plasse signed it.

Mr. Triplett could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Donna B. Plasse said yesterday she and her husband are thrilled that Sgt. Saad was vindicated.

"We are really glad," Mrs. Plasse said. "Sgt. Saad never did anything wrong. He's one of the nicest guys going. He's there for the town. We think he got a bum deal. We lost a lot of work over this. My husband was subpoenaed and everything. We're glad that the truth came out in the end. It always does."

NAME: OXFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT