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Westboro chief remains on leave after Shrewsbury police report describes liquor-store parking lot incident
A Shrewsbury police report says Westboro Police Chief Todd Minardi was found in an unmarked cruiser outside a liquor store after it had been parked there for more than a day. Westboro officials say an outside investigator will review the incident while the department’s deputy chief handles daily operations.
Westboro Police Chief Todd Minardi remained on administrative leave Tuesday after Shrewsbury police reported finding him in an unmarked cruiser outside a Route 9 liquor store, where surveillance footage indicated the vehicle had been parked for more than a day.
Shrewsbury police were called to Star Liquors around noon Friday, according to the department’s report. A lieutenant wrote that an officer told him Minardi was in the SUV and appeared heavily intoxicated. Minardi was not in uniform, the report said.
Officers reported finding two vodka bottles on the passenger seat, one empty and the other uncapped and mostly empty. They described Minardi’s eyes as bloodshot and glassy, and his speech as slow and slurred, with an odor of alcohol. The report said the keys to the Ford Explorer were wedged near the center console.
Minardi was taken to UMass Memorial Hospital. A paramedic told police that Minardi’s wife had called and said he had been missing for two days, had not been eating and had been drinking vodka, according to the report.
Police said surveillance video showed the SUV arriving at the liquor store around 9 a.m. Thursday and remaining there until Minardi was taken to the hospital at about 12:30 p.m. Friday. Investigators determined he had not driven the vehicle after arriving, the report said. Shrewsbury police issued him a citation for possessing an open container of alcohol.
Westboro officials said they placed Minardi on leave after learning of the incident and began arranging for an outside investigator to gather information. The town said it would not comment further because the matter involves personnel. The deputy police chief is overseeing the department’s day-to-day work.
Minardi became Westboro’s police chief in 2023. Westboro is in Worcester County, about 30 miles west of Boston; Shrewsbury is roughly seven miles east of Westboro.