Two state troopers put on leave amid Vineyard inquiry

Troopers placed on paid leave

Two Massachusetts State Police troopers have been placed on paid administrative leave amid a rape investigation on Martha’s Vineyard. Paid administrative leave means the troopers remain paid while away from their regular duties.

The leave is an administrative action while the investigation proceeds. It does not, by itself, establish what happened or determine criminal responsibility. The fact that two troopers were placed on leave also does not define their connection to the investigation.

The matter concerns public safety and oversight within the state police. It is not directly tied to a candidate, campaign or election.

Overnight visitors barred

New rules now prohibit all overnight visitors at the barracks. The restriction covers every overnight visitor rather than a specific person or category of guest.

The visitor ban is separate from the decision to place the two troopers on leave, though both actions come amid the same investigation. One governs access to the barracks overnight; the other concerns the employment status of the troopers.

The next steps are part of the investigative and administrative process. The rape investigation can examine the underlying allegation, while Massachusetts State Police can separately review workplace conduct and barracks policies. Any later change in the troopers’ leave status or the overnight visitor rule would be a further agency action.