March 31, 2008...9:09 am
The cop who shot the dog
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WPD Officer Mark Rojas, the cop who shot a dog last week, has certainly had more than his due share of negative publicity over the past few years.
- In January 2005, Dianne Williamson reported that Rojas, locked in a bitter custody battle, was accused of harassing, threatening, and assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her husband in incidents dating to 2003. At one point, Rojas allegedly jumped in the husband’s car and began to choke him as the husband called 911. In another incident, Rojas allegedly threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend, her new partner, and himself. While the victims’ complaints of harassment to Internal Affairs were dismissed, a District Court judge eventually issued a criminal complaint charging Rojas with assault and battery.
- Rojas was also one of the officers who arrested activist Kevin Ksen for trespassing in July 2006 after, said Rojas at the time, Ksen blocked the entrance to 5 Sycamore Street and refused to leave. Ksen, who claimed he was on the sidewalk, was also charged with resisting arrest. Ksen filed an official complaint with the department in September, claiming he was harassed, bullied, swore at, and falsely arrested. Said the Telegram report at the time, “With the first flash, Mr. Ksen said, Officer Rojas “quickly grabbed my arms, which were in front of me with the camera, twisted them up behind my back and slapped cuffs on me in seconds. I was pretty amazed how fast I was cuffed.” During the episode, he said, officers deleted a photo from his digital camera and threw away the fliers he and his friend were distributing.”
In that last incident, Ksen questioned the citizen complaint process, claiming that he was told he had to come alone for his interview with the Bureau of Professional Standards (the kinder, gentler Internal Affairs).
And that’s not to include Rojas’ media mentions for numerous arrests he made as a member of the Gang Unit and Vice Squads.
6 Comments
March 31, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Note that the charges against Kevin Ksen were continued and ultimately dismissed:
http://worcester.indymedia.org/node/120
Was the “assault and battery” matter you mention above resolved?
April 3, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Is Officer Rojas ’s past necessary in a dog shooting case…..He was just doing his job..answering a domestic call…THE DOG ATTACKED HIM…HELLO…ALL YOU COP HATERS NEED TO GET A LIFE…
The Worcester Magazine should focus on real news…Move on…Are you trying to make Officer Rojas a Celebrity or are you trying to ruin his life???
April 4, 2008 at 2:15 pm
[...] (we) (you) missed this week Jump to Comments What a week. A debate raged over the cop who shot a dog; Wyman-Gordon hasn’t redeveloped their 20 acre property; and the UniverCity [...]
April 12, 2008 at 1:33 am
Police officers are held to high standards.. The public is not trying to ruin his life, eventually you reap what you sow.
April 12, 2008 at 9:02 am
Police reputation constantly makes headlines. From corrupt officers to many honorable officers & heroes, police work for the public. Police are trained to protect and serve us….it is important to make sure the men we have protecting & enforcing the law are ETHICAL, HONORABLE, men. Rojas’s exposed past may only be the surface of what we as the public know about this officer. The city should have all officer backgrounds checked thoroughly from an outside source.
April 18, 2008 at 6:40 pm
….Most importantly is the fact that police departments should make certain that offiers, such as Officer Rojas who have undergone traumatic events (justified or unjustified) receive the proper counseling & tools to deal with the Post Traumatic Stress they may have after such an event- such as a dog shooting or something even more tragic. Combined with the publicity factor & the fact that these police officers may have stressful personal lives.. we need to make certain they are given tools to deal with their own issues.
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