NEPBA Wins Arbitration Victory for Local 500 Officer, Termination Overturned
Mar 12, 2026
The New England Police Benevolent Association is proud to share a significant arbitration victory on behalf of a member of NEPBA Local 500 in Middlesex County.
After a full arbitration hearing and review of the evidence, an independent arbitrator ruled that the termination of a Middlesex Sheriff’s Office correction officer was not supported by just cause, ordering that the officer be reinstated to his employment status and have his seniority restored.
The officer, who began his service with the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office in 2017, had a record of satisfactory performance when able to work. His challenges began after suffering a serious shoulder injury during a confrontation with an inmate in 2021, followed by additional medical setbacks that required extended recovery periods.
Despite these hardships, the officer continued seeking treatment and attempting to return to duty. However, after a subsequent injury and difficulties obtaining diagnostic testing while without health insurance, the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office terminated his employment in January 2025.
NEPBA Local 500 filed a grievance challenging the termination and pursued the matter through arbitration.
In his March 9, 2026 decision, the arbitrator determined that the termination lacked just cause. The ruling found that the officer’s absence from work stemmed from legitimate medical injuries and circumstances beyond his control, rather than misconduct or abandonment of his position.
The arbitrator noted that terminating a seven-year employee who remained medically injured, primarily due to gaps in documentation while he was attempting to obtain care, was disproportionate to the circumstances.
As a result of the decision:
- The officer’s termination has been rescinded
- His seniority and employment relationship have been restored
- He will remain in the leave status he held prior to the termination until medically cleared to return to duty
NEPBA Executive Director Tom Turco praised the outcome and the efforts of Local 500 leadership.
“Cases like this go to the heart of why unions exist,” Turco said. “Our members put themselves in harm’s way every day, and when they suffer injuries or face difficult circumstances, they deserve fairness and due process. This decision reaffirms that discipline must be applied with reason and humanity, not simply through a rigid application of policy.”
Attorney Peter Perroni of Nolan & Perroni, who represented the NEPBA in the case, emphasized that the arbitrator’s ruling reinforces the importance of fairness in labor discipline.
“This decision recognizes that the officer’s situation was the result of legitimate medical hardships, not misconduct,” Perroni said. “The arbitrator carefully reviewed the facts and concluded that terminating a dedicated officer under these circumstances was not supported by just cause. We’re proud to have helped secure a fair outcome.”
This arbitration victory underscores the strength of NEPBA representation and the organization’s commitment to ensuring that members are treated fairly, particularly when facing medical hardships or personal challenges.
At its core, the case reflects the NEPBA’s ongoing mission: protecting the rights of law enforcement professionals and standing with them when it matters most.
