Former New Bedford Fire Chief Killed, Police Officer Shot at Fairhaven Lounge

FAIRHAVEN (WBSM) — Former New Bedford Acting Fire Chief Paul Coderre was killed in a shooting Friday outside a Fairhaven bar, after he reportedly shot a police officer.

According to police, a call came in at about 4:50 p.m. of a patron inside the Bayside Lounge on Sconticut Neck Road causing a commotion.

Initial reports suggested an inebriated patron was in the parking lot with a firearm.

Police from multiple communities responded, and the person – later identified by the office of New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell as Coderre – reportedly shot an Acushnet Police officer in the leg.

Police then returned fire, shooting and killing Coderre.

The Acushnet Police officer’s injuries were not considered to be life-threatening.

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Coderre was appointed as Acting Fire Chief in New Bedford in December 2018.

He was then fired in January 2022 for allegedly lying about work-related injuries.

Coderre went on injury leave in August 2020 for back-related injuries and remained out of work while collecting full pay, amassing more than $208,000 in salary during that time..

Believing he was being dishonest about the extent of his injuries, the City of New Bedford hired an investigator to follow Coderre and the investigator recorded video of Coderre moving a nearly 200-pound smoker out of the back of a pickup truck. That investigation led to Coderre's firing.

Coderre filed for retirement three days before his termination hearing; the City asked the retirement board to reconsider awarding him a pension, and then later appealed the board's decision to keep his retirement in place.

Meanwhile, Coderre fought his termination, and earlier this month, the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission found in his favor, stating the City’s termination of Coderre was “unlawful.”

Mitchell stated at the time that the City would appeal the commission’s ruling in Superior Court.

On Friday night, he issued a short statement on the shooting incident.

“This was an awful set of events. We are relieved that the officer who was injured will make a full recovery,” Mitchell said.

We will update this story with more information when it becomes available.