Ex-Police Captain Gets 15 Years in Plot to Steal Promotion Tests

A former police captain was sentenced Friday to 15 years in prison for orchestrating a scheme to steal, sell and alter police promotion tests.

Former Metropolitan District Commission Capt. Gerald W. Clemente, who became the government’s star witness against examination cheaters, got a stinging reprimand from U.S. District Judge William G. Young, along with the sentence.

“You are one of the most amoral, arrogant and manipulative individuals to ever appear before the court,” Young said.

Others Sentenced

Three other former police officers also were given prison sentences Friday, joining five other defendants who were given prison terms last week.

Young termed “absurd” the defense contention that Clemente had “rendered a magnificent public service” by testifying.

“You have done nothing of the kind,” said Young, who told Clemente that he had affected scores of officers who took promotion tests without the benefit of advance copies and damaged the integrity of honest police officers.

Bank Burglary Case

Clemente, who also was fined $25,000 for his convictions on racketeering, conspiracy and other charges, will begin his federal sentence after completing a 30- to 40-year sentence he received for his part in the 1980 bank burglary at Depositor’s Trust in Medford.

Clemente’s sentence was five years shorter than the one given a week ago to former Medford Police Lt. Thomas Doherty, who was sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison in addition to the up to 20 years he is serving for the bank burglary and attempted murder of a police captain.

Doherty was Clemente’s partner in the scheme.