City of New Bedford Still Appealing Coderre Pension Decision

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — The City of New Bedford is still seeking an appeal of the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission’s decision to award former New Bedford Acting Fire Chief Paul Coderre, Jr. his full pension.

"The City continues to appeal the decision of the Civil Service Commission. This action is appropriate and backed by both the evidence and the law,” City spokesperson Jonathan Darling told WBSM.

Coderre was shot and killed by police outside of the Bayside Lounge in Fairhaven on December 29, 2023. The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office recently released its complete 19-page report on the officer-involved shooting, in which multiple witnesses described Coderre as distraught over the City’s appeal.

READ MORE: D.A. Finds Police-Involved Fatal Shooting of New Bedford Fire Chief "Justified"

According to witnesses, Coderre found out while having drinks at the Bayside that the decision was under appeal, and according to one witness, it caused him to get “a little pissed off.”

He later punched out the window of his own truck, choked out a friend, pointed his gun at his wife, fired off a shot into the air, and then when police arrived, made suicidal statements before firing his weapon at police, who then fatally shot him five times.

The D.A.’s Office determined his homicide was “justified.”

Coderre, 55, was appointed 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.

Coderre had won a ruling by the Civil Service Commission after two years of litigation against the City of New Bedford in order to keep his pension after his firing. The commission had determined his termination and denial of pension was unlawful, but the City sought to appeal the decision in Superior Court.

A witness said Coderre got a call from his lawyer informing of him of the appeal during their lunch and drinks at the Bayside on December 29. Coderre's wife also received an email that afternoon from lawyers informing her of the appeal.