By William Tauro
Meet this week’s “Special Person of the Week: Joe Voutour
Joseph Voutour was born and raised in Somerville on Willow Avenue. He attended Somerville Trade High School and graduated with Valedictorian Recognition in the Electrical Career Field (1973) He pursued his career and received his Journeyman’s & Master’s License, along with a teaching Certificate. In 1974 he joined the US Air Force, did his four years active duty, and served in the Reserves for another sixteen years, retiring with many medals, awards & decorations. His job in the Air Force was in the electrical field.
Joseph began his Somerville Employment Career as an Auxiliary Police Officer in 1978. In 1981 he was appointed to the Somerville Police Force, a job that he loved and and still does to this day. In 1988 he was involved in a very tragic fatal police shooting inside the Somerville Police Station. All levels of the government that investigated this shooting, cleared him of any wrong doing, and infact he was the recipient of numerous awards and decorations including the departments highest award, the Medal of Honor. Joe was also decorated with awards and citations in the Governors Office (Mike Dukakis), and the Massachusetts State House of Representatives (Alderman Vinnie Ciampa). In 1990 he accepted the position of Somerville’s Superintendent of Electric Lights & Lines (full time) at the DPW and went on a temporary leave of absence with the Police Dept.
Also in 1990, he was served notification that the wife of the shooting victum (Franco LaPorta), was sueing him and the City of Somerville for $ 20 million each. He was served on the last day of the two year statue of limitations, and it was done at the Federal Level, along the state level. This civil case went on for four years, two years in the Federal Court System and was subsequentally thrown out. They then proceded in the State Court System, which also lasted two years. The very day of his trial, in Superior Court, in front of the judge, he accepted the terms which closed the case. It was agreed the City of Somerville would pay $3000.00 dollars to Laporta’s wife, with the understanding that the 3k would be going to Laporta’s children (3 x $1000.00 each), and futher that there would be no compensation to her attorney. The matter was then closed, and yet the stress endured after four yrs of litigation, prompted him to quit his city job and move to Maine.
Joe applied for a disability pension with the Somerville Police Deptpartment, and was granted the normal 72 %. After being in Maine for about a year, Joe returned to the Somerville DPW job as Electrical Supt, but only in a part time capacity. He continued to work for Mayors Mike Capuano, Bill Roach , Dot Gay and Joe Curtatone. Joe Curtatone later offered him the position of the combined Superintendents (Electrical & Highway Divisions), a full time job and he was ready for its challenges.
Joe is now retired living in Maine and Florida!
We here at the Somerville News Weekly salute you for everything that you do to make Somerville a better place.
Congratulations!
the LaPorta’s have suffered greatly at the lost of there father. not only at the lost of there father but also at the hands of thesomerville police that has abused them from the day they all turned of age they have abused there power the fear that Francis children would take down a police force that was corrupt at the time and wqs scared that the whistle would be really and truly be blown on some officers but they seem to forget the children where too young to remeber names or faces. I don’t believe they should suffer anymore at the hands of the Somerville police or people who only know what they read in a article and not the actually facts of the issue
I don’t think this article is actually right .if my memory service me correctly he shot a man that was actually going to report the drug use of the cops at that time. he was not shot by the front as the report states but by the side a man killed trying to stop the corruption in the police force at the time . I my self could name at least four officers at the time who was using drugs at the time and I was a teenager you can all say what you want but the fact remains medical reports do not lie he was shot by the side where the bullet collapsed his lungs and killed him all because he was going to blow the whistle on the police officers
Krystal, you asked “why you guys would bring something up after all these years, etc. etc.”
YOU brought this entire matter to print with your first post. You are responsible, not “you guys.” And the police officer wasn’t responsible for your father’s dearth, your father was. Do what some one else suggested-get some help, before this thing kills you; otherwise you will take it all to your grave.
That is a very touching comment by retired officer Cunningham. I also know Joe and know that he was a good police officer and is a good person. I will pray for all involved in this matter. It is so sad.
Sincerely,
Steve Keenan
Krystal, I do not know you, nor u I. However, I want to express my deepest condolences to you & your family members on the loss of your Dad, so many years ago.
I also want you to know that Joe Voutour was/ is a person of reasoning & utmost integrity.
His actions were not taken in any sort of cavalier manner. He acted, as trained, to save lives.
No one chooses or relishes to be in the position he was in. He was heartbroken & fractured over taking a life, even though he felt he had no choice.
I don’t expect you to understand, as you were not privy to the facts. It is also the heartache that causes loved ones to want to place blame somewhere.
I also can understand that all of this being dragged up again, must be incredibly painful.
I soulsearched over writing, but I want you to know that Joe is not looking to open old wounds, he just feels compelled to come forward with information & history, of which,
sadly, your family is a part.
Joe Voutour is one of the people I have been fortunate enough to know, in my lifetime, that is sincere,heartfelt,honest & caring.
I pray for him & your family. That all can heal.
Can you please get me intouch with joe? Have him email me at keith.laporta@gmail.com on behalf of my familybwr would like closure and i would like to make amends and offer my forgiveness
Thank you🙏
Don’t waste your time with Kyrstal; she is complete denial as to the facts concerning her father’s death.
Frank LaPorta entered the police station with a deadly weapon in his hand. Doesn’t sound like he was looking for help. Maybe it was “Suicide by Cop.” I do not know, but I know that any person who enters a police station brandishing a deadly weapon and acting in an irrational manner is intent on HURTING someone!
Officer Voutour told him to stop; Mr. LaPorta DID NOT STOP! Officer Voutour was justified in using deadly force to defend himself and others.
Krystal says he should have shot her father in the leg. What would you do in the position of Officer Voutour? You ask why your father had to be killed(not murdered because this was a case of justifiable homicide, not murder)
Why did Mr. Laporta have to enter the police station with weapon in hand and evil intent? We will never know, but we know this_Officer Joseph Voutour was cleared of any wrong doing by more than one investigative agency where the EVIDENCE you ask for was given and shown.
Krystal, I feel for you and your family, but your dad was at fault. You just don’t want to accept the facts and the truth. I suggest that you get some counseling. I believe you will benefit from it. You are in my prayers as is your father and Joe Voutour.
You know what screw all of you! I don’t know why you guys would bring something up that’s happened so long ago after my mother passes and my family can’t defend themselves with your selfishness just to be prideful in taking a life and getting a case dismissed. Go fly a kite! Just because you hold titles don’t make you better or right. I’m done with you. God sees all. Peace be with you and me
Yeah,a good majority of the somerville cops are corrupt,and I’m also sorry for your loss Krystal, i never met your dad,but i knew your mom and grandparents,loved them all
It doesn’t matter what the story is. He didn’t have to lose his life!! Let me see the police videos of what happened then I will believe what truly happened!! Still bringing this up in an article that’s suppose to be his accomplishments doesn’t make any sense and is extremely disrespectful to our family who lost a loved one that day!! And that’s awful you have to brag about him only having to give 3000 to the family. My fathers worth more and can’t be replaced!!
If I am correct and recall this tragedy Mr. Laporta entered the Somerville Police station with a weapon in his hand and refused this police officers order to drop the weapon and stop.
The officer was cleared of any wrongdoing if I remember correctly.
I am sorry that a person died, but what the officer was defending himself.
If I am incorrect on the details, please comment.
You are so right Krystal! This goes to show how corrupted the city is especially the police department.
Hi I am the daughter of Franco LaPorta. You and the city left my Mother and us four young kids to live a life of grief and depression. Without our father we were lost! My mother was lost! She was sick all the time and couldn’t even work to provide and take care of her four young children. We still suffer to this day!!we wish we got to meet our father. You left us a measly 3000 dollars and called it a day. We hardly had money to put food on the table and have nice clothes. You ruined our life’s that moment you took our father. It’s hard to take in how this government can take an innocent persons life and ruin his whole family and not give a damn! As we sit here and suffer you are given award upon award?!! This is down right absurd and ignorant to bring up after all these years!! We’ve done nothing wrong to deserve such disrespect from any of you!!
Your father was responsible for the actions of that day. He is the one who made your lives what it is. Blaming others for your miserable life only points to your inability to see clearly what the court and others could. Until you consider these truths, your life is your own doing.
My father went there for help instead he got shot! If joe was trained right he would’ve shot him in the leg. My life has been pretty good since I put it behind me but who ever wrote this article has some balls to not even care about our families feelings and it’s disrespectful towards us. How ignorant can you be. I will not stand here and let this man be praised for murdering someone that my dear is not an accomplishment it’s murder. My father didn’t hurt anyone.
Again, the incident started with your father going to the police station with a weapon in his possession.
Think about that, with a weapon, in a police station.
Try to absorb this fact.
Consider that if your father didn’t go to the police station that day, this would not have happened. Take responsibility for his actions.
Clearly, this was such a terrible unfortunate case.
I don’t believe the writer is disrespectful for stating the facts.
Ask yourself why if being sued for 20 Million, the court only awarded you 3K, as you state? If the incident was justified , as you assert, then why wouldn’t the 20 Million have been awarded?
Critical thinking is difficult when we are emotional, I get that. It’s been a tragedy for others as well. I hope you can heal, and consider these thoughts.
Like I said SHOW ME The EVIDENCE!! The police cameras!!!! The lie detector test!!! I want the truth not the word of of mouth. Ppl lie to save themselves from wrong doing. So please stop going by these articles or the courts or whatever because I want to see the proof of what happened that day. Don’t believe everything you read. Like I said joe should have done differently I mean how can you feel unsafe in a police station full of your fellow officers!!! Give me a break lady please!!! Now move on with your life cause I sure ain’t staying here to keep arguing over this when all of you are cold hearted and heartless. Get over your stuck up noses.