A former school resource officer at Hopkinton High has been charged with raping a student

Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News
·2 min read
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HOPKINTON — John Porter, a now former Hopkinton deputy police chief, has been indicted on charges he raped a teenager nearly two decades ago.

A Middlesex County Grand Jury on Monday indicted Porter, 54, on three counts of rape of a child.

The alleged incidents, according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office, occurred in 2004 and 2005 when Porter was a school resource officer. They involved a 15-year-old student and occurred on multiple occasions off school property, authorities charge.

The investigation has been handled by the Massachusetts State Police and the District Attorney's Office.

Former Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief John Porter, seen in this 2021 file photo, is charged with three counts of rape of a child.
Former Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief John Porter, seen in this 2021 file photo, is charged with three counts of rape of a child.

In a joint statement, Hopkinton Town Manager Norman Khumalo and Police Chief Joseph Bennett said they were "deeply disturbed" by the allegations.

"We are deeply disturbed and troubled by these accusations," Khumalo and Bennett said. "These alleged crimes have no place in our community or anywhere else, and we extend our sympathies to the victim. The Hopkinton Police Department continues to cooperate fully with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office. All further inquiries into this matter should be referred to the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office."

A Middlesex Superior Court arraignment date has not been set.

Porter had been on paid leave

Porter, who had been a police officer in Hopkinton for 30 years, and in Upton for three years before that, has been on paid administrative leave since August. No reason was given at the time it was announced.

Earlier: Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief John Porter placed on leave with no reason given

According to the District Attorney's Office, as of last Friday Porter is no longer employed by the Hopkinton Police Department.

"On Friday, Porter notified the town that he is seeking to retire, and the town accepted his immediate separation from employment," Khumalo and Bennett said in their joint statement.

Porter resigns as girls' soccer coach

Earlier on Monday, Porter posted on Twitter that he was retiring from coaching soccer at Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School in Upton, where he coached girls' soccer.

"On Friday I announced to BVT that I was retiring," Porter tweeted. "The last ten years as head coach of the women’s soccer team has been nothing but a honor, privilege and a time of pride for me and my family. I will miss all the players, parents and faculty and all the support they have shown us."

Michael Fitzpatrick, superintendent-director of Blackstone Valley Tech, said the school was unaware of any criminal charges until they were reported in the media.

"We were recently made aware (via the media) of allegations directed at our former soccer coach," said Fitzpatrick. "Mr. Porter, who served as the head coach of the girls' soccer team, has resigned, facing allegations in his personal life, and is no longer an employee of the District. The District has no further comment at this time."

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Former Hopkinton deputy police chief Porter charged with child rape