24-03-2025
Two Dedham School Committee members face legal troubles
In a loud voice, Walsh allegedly said he was 'going to [expletive] up Benzie and wage war on the middle school,' the report said.
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Benzie told police Walsh had previously exhibited similar behavior last October, and the police report went on to say Superintendent Nan Murphy decided to issue a no-trespass order against Walsh to prevent him from entering the middle school again.
'Superintendent Murphy told me that after this incident she was in fear for the safety of her staff at Dedham Middle School,' the police report said, noting Murphy found the comments about waging war against the middle school particularly concerning.
Walsh, who is running for re-election, did not respond to an email or phone call for comment.
But in a Facebook post Walsh recently addressed the conflict, saying 'a parent's number one priority is to protect their child and there are always two sides to every story.'
'I will not resign or end my campaign as I remain as committed today as I was one year ago,' wrote Walsh. 'I will continue to be the voice of reason and will always apply common sense in any and all votes concerning the taxpayers and children of Dedham.'
Walsh is facing competition at the polls on
a parent volunteer who has held PTO leadership positions. Members are elected to the seven-member committee on staggered terms
in the district south of Boston, which serves 2,700 students.
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Meanwhile, Christopher Polito, who has served on the School Committee since 2021, is facing several charges tied to an alleged tax evasion scheme that stems from his previous work at Rochester Bituminous Products Inc., according to documents at Suffolk Superior Court. The case, which was filed by the state's attorney general's office in 2022, is slated to go to trial on May 6.
Reached by phone Monday, Polito declined to comment.
Between 2011 and 2013, Polito prepared sales tax returns for and provided other accounting and financial services to the company, where he was an employee at the time. The state Department of Revenue began auditing the company, including its sales of asphalt, in 2013, and 'noticed significant discrepancies and conflicting figures,' according to court documents.
As a result of the 18-month long audit, the agency in 2015 issued a notice of intent to assess the company $677,185 in sales taxes, plus additional penalties and interest, according to court documents. The AG's Office eventually convinced a grand jury to charge Polito and the company's founder on several counts that included tax evasion, producing false documents, and obstructing the administration of tax laws, according to court documents.
Polito, working in conjunction with the company's founder between 2014 and 2017, allegedly conspired and produced to the revenue department 'scores of false records of sales and other transactions in an effort to conceal Rochester's tax evasion and obstruct the administration of the audit,' according to court documents.
Specifically, court documents say, the defendants produced 'false records to DOR that characterized taxable sales of asphalt as exempt from tax in an effort to defeat the audit.' The company itself also is facing charges.
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Polito was
James Vaznis can be reached at
