Chief’s Corner

By Chief Steven J. Wojnar

Dudley Police Department

            Scanning the arrest logs often brings about questions of law.  Some laws appear complex or may just be confusing.  Some that are seen, all too frequently unfortunately, are the crimes of forgery and uttering.  I was asked to explain the difference between the two.
            Both of these crimes are addressed in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 267.  Forgery and uttering, as described in this chapter, pertains to such items as official documents, currency, and a variety of legal notes.  These two offenses are similar as they both involve some form of deceit, trickery, or falsifying.  In basic terms, the crime of forgery involves the actual falsifying or illegally reproducing an item.  An example of this is unlawfully endorsing a check.  The crime of uttering involves giving the false document to someone pretending it is real.  This would apply when a person takes the unlawfully endorsed check to the bank and cashes it.  They are "passing" this illegal document under the pretext that it as valid.
            The punishments for these crimes vary based on the severity.  Most are considered felonies carrying state prison terms, some up to life.  These are unfortunately occurring more often with the spike in identity theft.  Everyone should guard their personal information and stay on top of their finances.  Banks and other financial institutions can assist with any question or needs you may have.

            It is with regret, we must announce the passing of former Dudley Chief of Police Leon Holewa.  Chief Holewa served the department for some 28 years prior to his retirement in 1985. Our department passes on our condolences to the Chief’s family and friends.  We express our gratitude to Bartel’s Funeral Home, the Veterans Council of Webster and Dudley, and all the others who assisted with the calling hours and funeral service.

            I also had the occasion to walk in the Boston Marathon Jimmy Fund Walk held Sunday September 17^th in Boston. Webster Chief Bent and I, numerous other police chiefs from across the state, and hundreds of other supporters walked the final three miles along side several young people battling cancer. The Jimmy Fund is the main charity of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.  Our fund raising efforts are still under way.  Dudley Park and Shop graciously agreed to place the coin canisters at their registers.  Thanks to your generosity, we are hoping to raise as much money as possible to help make cancer a thing of the past.

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