Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard McKeon (left) Lieutenant Colonel Francis Hughes retired abruptly in October 2017 shortly after the Ali Bibaud case became public.
A series of explosive lawsuits filed by two Massachusetts State Police troopers alleging that higher-ups conspired to direct the whitewashing of a lurid arrest report featuring a prominent judge’s daughter has now resulted in the retirement of the agency’s second in command.
On Tuesday Lieutenant Colonel Francis Hughes submitted his retirement paperwork, days after Colonel Richard D. McKeon, the agency’s top dog, did the same.
The federal lawsuits filed by troopers Ryan N. Sceviour and Ali Rei never mentioned Hughes by name, however. Both troopers named McKeon and did indicate a “number of John/Jane Does” in their respective filings.
Sceviour, the first trooper to sue, claims an order came down from McKeon to alter his arrest report detailing how Ali Bibaud, daughter of Dudley District Court Timothy Bibaud, allegedly offered him sexual favors in return for leniency and openly volunteered that she had traded sex for the heroin she had in her possession. Rei, a drug recognition expert who worked alongside Sceviour to process Ali Bibaud’s arrest, lodged a second lawsuit.
Bibaud was arrested last month after she allegedly plowed her car into another vehicle while driving on Interstate 190 in Worcester and subsequently flunked a series of field sobriety tests. According to Sceviour, Bibaud also pointed out during her arrest that her dad happens to be a judge.
The Worcester-based website Turtleboy Sports was the first to report that higher-ups in the Massachusetts State Police had ordered Sceviour to alter Bibaud’s arrest report in order to hide the embarrassing details.
Hughes’s retirement was confirmed by State Police spokesman David Procopio in a statement provided to various local media outlets.
Procopio in his statement claimed that dual retirements from top officers is not uncommon.
“Traditionally, when a Colonel/Superintendent of the Massachusetts State Police leaves his or her position, the Deputy Superintendent resigns as well to allow a new Colonel to select a second-in-command of his or her own choosing,” Procopio stated. “As such, Deputy Superintendent Francis Hughes today retired from the State Police after a 31-year career.
“Deputy Superintendent Hughes served honorably in numerous postings, including 20 years in the Gang Unit, an important period at the State Police Academy, and several years as a deputy commander in the Division of Investigative Services. He is a past recipient of the Trooper George L. Hanna Medal of Honor for Bravery and the Trooper of the Year Award. The department has deep gratitude for his years of dedicated service.”
Gov. Charlie Baker appointed McKeon to the top post in 2015 following the retirement of then-Colonel Timothy Alben.
Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey confirmed last week that their offices are investigating the incident.
Prior to both retirement announcements, Turtleboy Sports reported that McKeon “and at least one subordinate” would be leaving the State Police.
Massachusetts State Police Colonel Richard McKeon (left) Lieutenant Colonel Francis Hughes retired abruptly in October 2017 shortly after the Ali Bibaud case became public. 
