MA construction company fined for death of police officer - ToledoNewsNow.com: News, Weather & Sports for Toledo, OH

MA construction company fined for death of Westfield police officer

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By Cherise Leclerc - email
WESTFIELD, MA (WSHM) -

A Massachusetts construction company is facing thousands of dollars in fines for their role in the death of Westfield police officer Jose Torres.

Following an investigation, OSHA found that the company did not keep their work site adequately safe.

Revoli Construction was doing work on Pontoosic Road last July where Officer Jose Torres was doing road detail when he was struck by a dump truck at the site.

CBS 3 spoke with close friends and neighbors about OSHA's decision.

"You don't realize until they're gone how much they impacted your life," Donald Schumacher said.

Schumacher displays blue lights and wears a bracelet in honor of his friend and neighbor.

He says OSHA's decision to cite Revoli Construction is a step in the right direction but won't bring his friend back.

"It's good to know that they're being held responsible but I still don't think it's going to have any closure yet," he said.

Six months ago Torres was killed on Pontoosic Road as he worked a detail.

Now OSHA says the construction company is to blame for not keeping the area adequately safe.

CBS 3 obtained the citation issued to the Franklin-based company for not having adequate measures in place to keep the site safe.

In the citation, OSHA reps said in part quote "In this case, the actions taken by Revoli construction were not sufficient to prevent the death of police officer Jose Torres."

OSHA's citation blamed inadequate beeping and camera systems on trucks as they're backing up.

Now Revoli construction faces $14,000 in fines.

They have 15 days to either reach a settlement with OSHA or fight the fines.

Still, Schumacher says fines or not, the community still lost a great officer, friend and family member.

"I think it's going to take a long time they were a very close knit family he had a great relationship with his wife and kids that you could almost envy."

CBS 3 Springfield reached out to Revoli Construction for comment but so far calls have gone unreturned.

Copyright 2013 WSHM (Meredith Corporation). All rights reserved.

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