A retired Boston police officer who served as president of the department’s union appeared in court on child sex abuse charges Thursday while hiding his face..
Patrick Rose, a former president of the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, was held on $100,000 cash bail Thursday over allegations he repeatedly sexually assaulted and raped a young relative starting when she was 7 years old.
Rose, 66, hid his face during his arraignment in West Roxbury District Court after he was arrested on child sex charges Wednesday in Needham. The retired Boston police officer is facing five charges of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14. He's also facing one charge each of aggravated rape, enticement of a minor, open and gross lewdness and dissemination of matter harmful to a minor.
The victim, now 14, says the assaults continued for five years, until she turned 12. Rose allegedly touched her inappropriately and asked her to perform sexual acts on him in his West Roxbury home.
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Assistant District Attorney Mark alleged in court Thursday that Rose abused the victim on multiple occasions between 2012 and 2018, when the child was between the ages of 7 and 12. The victim disclosed the abuse to a relative earlier this month, who reported the assaults.
“There is no greater betrayal and breach of trust and morality than sexual violence against a child,” District Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a statement. "That the individual accused of these despicable crimes is an adult family member of the victim and a former member of law enforcement, who swore an oath to protect victims from harm, is unconscionable."
She continued, “While this man was molesting and harming an innocent child, he was standing in judgment of others as a sworn member of law enforcement. He has dishonored the badge of the Boston Police Department and I intend to hold him accountable."
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Rollins said she is "so proud" of the survivor in this case for finding the "strength and the courage to come forward."
Prosecutors had requested that bail be set in the amount of $250,000 in light of evidence that Rose was attempted to evade arrest.
Rollins said prosecutors could not request that Rose be held based on dangerousness because the offenses he is charged with are ineligible under Massachusetts law.
Judge Kathleen Coffey ordered Rose to wear a GPS monitor, surrender his passport, surrender any firearms as well as his license to carry, have no unsupervised contact with any child under the age of 16, and stay away from and have no contact with the victim.
Rose, who is being represented by Michael McKinnon, is due back in court on Sept. 10.
A representative for the Police Patrolmen's Association president didn't have a statement in response to the arrest, noting Rose was retired and no longer associated with the organization.
Boston police didn't have a comment when reached by NBC10 Boston.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said in a statement he was “deeply disturbed by these horrific allegations, which must be investigated to the fullest extent of the law.”
State police detectives assigned to the DA's office, not the Boston Police Department, are conducting the investigation because of Rose’s history with the department. The Suffolk County District Attorney's office said they are looking for other victims.
An investigation remains ongoing.
In Suffolk County, survivors of child abuse and exploitation and their non-offending caretakers can receive comprehensive services at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Suffolk County. The CAC can be reached at 617-779-2146. Survivors may also contact the Child Protection Unit at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office at 617-619-4300. Anyone who believes that a child in Massachusetts may be the victim of abuse can call the DCF Child at Risk Hotline at 1-800-792-5200.
