CHELMSFORD POLICE AWAIT RESULTS OF DARE OFFICER PROBE

CHELMSFORD - The Police Department is still awaiting the outcome of a
grand-jury investigation into the actions of Officer Mike Horan, who was
placed on paid administrative leave in November.

Horan was relieved of his duties as the department's DARE officer because of
the results of an internal investigation, which is still ongoing. Police
have declined to reveal the nature of the probe, but sources told The Sun
Horan may have stolen as much as $20,000 from the DARE program and possibly
other programs.

Horan, 29, has been a Chelmsford police officer for nearly five years and
has run the anti-drug program at the McCarthy and Parker middle schools for
the last three.

Horan's attorney, Chelmsford lawyer Dan Wilkins, defended his client's
integrity in an e-mailed statement.

"Mike maintains his innocence in this matter and expects to be vindicated in
the long run," Wilkins wrote. "More importantly, he is disappointed,
primarily for the kids that he has been involved with as the town's DARE
officer, that this matter hit the press prior to the investigation being
completed and/or resolved."

Police Chief Raymond McCusker said his department is working with the
Middlesex District Attorney's office, and he expects to get word soon on
Horan's fate.