North Andover police investigate ‘unauthorized’ social media comment about Kelsey Fitzsimmons case

As news broke this week that Kelsey Fitzsimmons was planning to pursue civil litigation against the town of North Andover, an “unauthorized” social media comment seemingly made by the town’s police department prompted online outrage and a swift internal investigation from the department. 

Fitzsimmons is a former North Andover police officer who was shot by a colleague last year. She survived and was charged with assault. A judge found her not guilty last week after a heavily publicized trial. 

The comment in question was made under a Facebook post about Fitzsimmons and her upcoming civil suit. It read: “in other shocking news!” and was made by the department’s official Facebook page, according to screenshots posted by the user that made the initial post. 

The comment was later deleted, and the department’s Facebook page was taken offline. 

The North Andover Police Department issued a lengthy release responding to the situation. NAPD is investigating the unauthorized use of its Facebook page, and officials are alleging an unnamed former employee made the comment. 

The former employee suspected of making the comment resigned from the department in 2023 “in lieu of termination after an internal affairs investigation sustained allegations of racially inappropriate comments,” officials said. 

The former employee’s work certification under the state’s law enforcement oversight agency was previously restricted, and they were not authorized to use the department’s Facebook page. The investigation is ongoing. 

“The inappropriate comment, made about a serious issue and speculating about possible pending litigation is deeply troubling, and this comment is certainly not in line with the policies, procedures and values of the North Andover Police Department,” Chief Charles Gray said in a statement. “I am deeply disturbed and troubled by these statements, and I pledge that we will conduct a thorough investigation, and review our social media practices to ensure that something like this does not happen again.”

NAPD leaders and town officials are working with their IT vendor to arrange a full audit of all social media accounts and websites connected to the town, with the goal of preventing any unauthorized access in the future. The town and NAPD are also reviewing social media policies “in consultation with legal counsel.”

The town is engaging with an “outside agency” to further examine social media access and IT practices to make sure former employees cannot access official accounts. 

The department is planning on restoring its social media channels “as soon as possible.”

Fitzsimmons herself responded in a social media post of her own. She called the comment “heartless” alongside an image of her bullet wound. 

Fitzsimmons was shot after three of her colleagues arrived at her home to serve her a restraining order. It had been granted to her then-fiancé and the father of her child. Fitzsimmons was left alone with one other officer, who testified that she pulled out a gun and attempted to shoot him in the face. 

Fitzsimmons testified that she never pointed her gun at the other officer and was only ever attempting to take her own life. NAPD officers do not use body-worn cameras, a fact the judge who presided over the bench trial emphasized when announcing his verdict. 

With the hubbub over the Facebook comment and pending civil litigation that could include claims against the department, NAPD will likely remain the subject of public scrutiny. 

“Our Police Department prides itself on its mission and values, and this comment does not reflect the fine work done every day by the men and women of this department,” Gray said.