A Haverhill man found guilty of negligent operation in connection with the death of a Massachusetts State Police trooper was sentenced in Lowell District Court Monday to 18 months in prison.
A Middlesex County jury found last week in that Kevin Francis was driving negligently when he struck Trooper Thomas Devlin in July of 2018. Devlin had stopped another vehicle by the side of Route 3 in Billerica when he was struck by Francis, who had drifted into the breakdown lane, officials said.
Over the years, Francis underwent multiple surgeries related to his injuries from the crash. He died of the injuries on Sept. 3, 2020 at age 58, after serving more than 35 years in the state police.
In court Monday, Francis’ lawyer argued that his client had no prior record and that jail time in the case was unfair.
“The treatment that he is receiving [is] because it is a state trooper,” attorney Michael Bowser said, according to WCVB.
Outside the courthouse Friday, Devlin’s widow said the verdict was “an incredible, incredible relief.”
“It’s what we hoped and prayed for,” Nancy Devlin said, according to WHDH. “We are hoping it is just a chapter that can close for us so we can move forward.”
State police Col. Christopher Mason said his thoughts were with the Devlin family and that he hoped the conviction could bring them comfort.
“Trooper Devlin’s legacy is one of being a beacon of strength and love for his family, as a dependable and highly-respected colleague and a mentor to younger Troopers, and as a reminder of the dangers police officers face every day,” he said.
After Devlin’s death, prosecutors charged Francis with motor vehicle homicide, but the charge was dropped last month after a medical examination showed a rare brain disease contributed to Devlin’s death, the network said.
“Trooper Thomas Devlin upheld the highest ideals of the Massachusetts State Police: integrity, dedication to duty, and service to others,” Mason said in a statement following the trooper’s death. “He loved and respected the job, and the job loved and respected him.”
Devlin was devoted to his family above all, Mason said. He also left behind sons Matthew and Paul and daughters Rachel and Hannah.
Following the 2018 crash, Francis was charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and failure to move over for an emergency vehicle, state police said.
“In one day that all changed. It all changed because somebody did not pay attention and did not move over and it just destroyed our lives,” Nancy Devlin told WHDH. “He was the most amazing man I have ever known.”
The case also underscored the importance of a law requiring drivers to slow down and move over to the left lane when an emergency vehicle is stopped on the right side of the road with its flashing lights on, Mason said.
“[It] should remind drivers of the need to give space to first responders, tow drivers, highway workers, and others who are called to do important jobs on our roads,” he said.
Devlin was a member of the 66th Recruit Training Troop and graduated from the State Police Academy on Dec. 6, 1985. He was assigned to the Concord Barracks for much of his career.
“Trooper Devlin was known in the Department for his hard work, his rock-solid character, and his commitment to be being a reliable friend, co-worker and public servant — a Trooper who could be counted on by his colleagues and the public,” Mason said. “It was in service to the public, in the act of keeping our roads safe, that he gave his last, and the ultimate, sacrifice. We are lesser today for his loss and we will miss his smile.”
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