Major Stonewall
In “Major Cover Up” (December 28, 2022), RobbiLeaks revealed that New Hampshire State Police Executive Major, Matthew Shapiro killed his high school girlfriend Tara Linehan in a motor vehicle crash, back in 1987. Shapiro was reportedly speeding, on the wrong side of the road, fighting with his girlfriend, and uninsured at the time he slammed his car into a dump-truck on Route 103-A in the town of Newbury. Up until just a few years prior to the crash, Shapiro’s grandfather was the long time Police Chief in Newbury. Despite a mountain of incontrovertible evidence supporting a Negligent Homicide case, Shapiro was never charged. In effort to bring this information to you, the reader, RobbiLeaks filed 91-A requests with numerous agencies, to include Newbury Police Department and the New Hampshire State Police, who led the investigation into this crash.
In “Major Discovery” (January 17, 2023) RobbiLeaks was able to confirm that Shapiro was arguing with Linehan at the time of the crash, and that he confessed to speeding. We were able to report this because tiny little Newbury Police Department, with a staff of about 6, was able to locate their copy of their crash report. They rightly forwarded it to us. (See #Receipts)
The initial response from the New Hampshire State Police was essentially: “We don’t have it. We keep crash reports for only 20 years, then purge them.” That is a bit suspicious itself, especially given that Newbury PD was able to locate their report. Nevertheless, RobbiLeaks again reached out to the Division of State Police, to provide them with a little, much needed guidance.
Our response was simple: When Executive Major Shapiro applied to the Division, he was subject to a background investigation, just like all Trooper applicants. This background investigation would include his education, family history, credit history, criminal record and yes, his motor vehicle history. As such, a copy of the official crash report WILL be located within his background packet, which is contained in his personnel file. This packet remains intact until 20 years after he leaves the Division. Since he is still there, the report is still there. Remember that really windy day back in late January? That was actually the collective *gasp* coming from State Police Headquarters when they realized they could no longer deny the existence of the report. (It kinda sucks when the outsider tells you EXACTLY where the report is located.) Not surprisingly, the Division’s initial response was something like, “Uh…Um…Well….. We will have to get back to you.”
They got back to us. Department of Safety Assistant Commissioner Bailey responded in a letter dated February 21, 2023. In Assistant Commissioner Bailey’s letter, he states: “Without confirming or denying the existence of the record in a law enforcement personnel file, to the extent that it did exist, it would be exempt from RSA 91-A.”
Two things: First, that is a confession. If it weren’t in the file, Bailey would have said so. We don’t have it. Case closed. That’s not what he said. He went on to explain that it would be “exempt from 91-A.” This is an unnecessary explanation if the report doesn’t exist. Again, it does.
Second, his argument may be an overly broad interpretation of the statute. The report in and of itself is subject to a 91-A request. His argument is essentially: If thee report were sitting in a file labeled, “Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes” you could have it. But because we threw away (supposedly) all the copies of that report except the one sitting in Shapiro’s background, you can’t have it. Sorry, Assistant Commissioner Bailey, RobbiLeaks did not ask for the entire personnel file, simply the Fatal Accident report contained therein. Furthermore, the crash occurred well before Shapiro entered law enforcement and involved his personal (albeit uninsured) vehicle. It has nothing to do with his work history as a Division member. RSA 105:13-B, which is cited by Bailey, appears not to apply.
Stop stonewalling and produce the report, if it was a just a “tragic accident”, as I’m sure Shapiro contends, it explains how your Executive Major got a pass for killing a teenage girl. Otherwise, it appears that something is purposely being hidden.
To clarify, RobbiLeaks is not on a mission to destroy the Division of State Police, but the Division needs an enema at the top to save it. Let’s recap: A Commissioner, who directs subordinates to run unauthorized queries, A Colonel, who looks the other way, An Executive Major, who was the at-fault driver in a fatal motor vehicle accident, A Major, who executed a woman for non-violent crimes, A Major, who encouraged those in his command to violate civil rights, then disappeared when it went bad, and a Lt. in charge of Professional Standards, whose integrity is suspect at best.
To ensure that the Governor and Executive Council are aware, RobbiLeaks, through Maverick Investigative Services, sent an Open Letter, via email to the Governor and Executive Council (See # Receipts).
