• Lived in Pawtucket, RI; graduated from Shea High School during this time.

• Moved to East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

• Resigned from position as Animal Control Officer in Halifax, MA due to family commitments (per municipal meeting notes). Meeting Notes

• Hired as Animal Control Officer (ACO) for the Stoughton Police Department. Animal Control Officer.

• Attended the Foxborough Police Academy for further training in law enforcement.

• Joshua Heal and Sandra Birchmore met in the early fall of 2019 at the Animal Shelter in Stoughton. Sandra came in to adopt a cat. They became friends. Sandra on Facebook
• Three months after Joshua Heal first met Sandra Birchmore in early fall of 2019, Sandra visited him at the animal shelter. During her visit, she kept receiving and replying to text messages. Once she finished, Sandra explained to Heal that the person she was seeing was tracking her location. That person could see that she was at the shelter with him and that he was texting her to ask why she was there.
• She also shared that the tracking on her cell phone was enabled because she was in a bad relationship in the past and had taken out a restraining order against a former boyfriend.

• Sustained a work-related injury and went on medical leave.

• Returned to active duty at Stoughton PD after being out due to injury.

• Met Sandra Birchmore at the Stoughton animal shelter when she came to adopt a cat. The two became friends and later engaged in a one-time consensual sexual act after work hours. They were Facebook friends. Facebook

• During a visit to the shelter, Birchmore received frequent text messages and said someone was tracking her location. She explained that she had a past restraining order against an ex.

• Heal reported during interviews that Birchmore had shared graphic and explicit photographs sent to her by William Farwell, although Heal did not receive or share those images.

• Heal told Birchmore that Matthew Farwell’s wife was pregnant with their third child. Birchmore, upset, drafted a message intended for Farwell’s wife revealing their affair. She shared that draft with Heal. “I am just messaging to inform you that your husband Matthew has been out cheating on you since before you guys were even married.”

• Birchmore told Heal she had been pregnant three times before and was currently pregnant with Matthew Farwell’s child. She said Farwell wanted her to have an abortion, but she was adamantly against it.

• Heal became a full-time police officer with the Abington Police Department.

• Sandra Birchmore called Joshua Heal and stated that, after telling Matthew Farwell about the baby, Matthew Farwell told her that “he wished just would die and he wants nothing to do with the baby.” According to the information Birchmore shared, Farwell put Birchmore in a headlock and grabbed her cell phone from her hand. Joshua Heal told Birchmore to distance herself from Matthew Farwell, given that he was dangerous, a police officer, and obviously did not care about the law. However, Matthew Farwell was also aware that Birchmore appeared to be attached to him because he had taken her virginity when she was 15 years old.
• Heal officially left Stoughton PD and started full-time with Abington PD.
• Assigned as School Resource Officer in Abington.

• Joshua Heal learned of Sandra Birchmore’s death from Officer Victoria Denneno of the Stoughton Police Department (SPD).
• Denneno informed Heal because she knew of his friendship with Birchmore.

• Del Papa stepped into his role as the new Chief of Police in Abington.
• Only a few months into his tenure, in December, a situation arose that would test the limits of his experience and integrity. Stoughton investigators, embroiled in the complexities of the Birchmore case, sought to interview Officer Heal, a school resource officer under Del Papa’s command, as a possible witness.

• Del Papa was appointed as APD Chief of Police.

• Stoughton Deputy Chief Brian Holmes informed Abington Police Chief David Del Papa that Heal was a witness in the Sandra Birchmore investigation.
• Del Papa met with Holmes, who advised him that Heal was a witness in the SPD administrative investigation.

• Del Papa met with Heal in his APD office.

• Del Papa received email notification from Holmes about scheduling the interview with Heal, which was set for December 21, 2021.

• Heal sat for an Internal Affairs (IA) interview with Holmes and Paul L’Italien.
• He disclosed a single consensual act with Birchmore outside work hours.
• He walked out during the interview, stating he felt more like a suspect than a witness.
• Del Papa spoke with Heal in his APD office.

• Holmes emailed Del Papa to schedule another interview with Heal.

• Del Papa met with Holmes.

• Del Papa sent Heal an email citing rule 9.20, ordering him to cooperate with Holmes’ investigation.

• Detectives received authorization to conduct a forensic analysis on a couch located in an office that may have evidentiary value.

• Detectives, along with MSP crime lab personnel Lt. Kenneth Heffernan and Jennifer Preisig, processed the couch for forensic evidence.

• Heal sat for a second interview after being told cooperation was required. He provided new information.
• Birchmore confided in him about sexual relationships with Matthew and William Farwell and Robert Devine.
• She claimed to have photos and videos, some of which she showed Heal.
• Heal said Birchmore wanted a romantic family life with Matthew Farwell.
• Heal doubted many of Birchmore’s claims, citing her history of lying and exaggeration.

• Del Papa received a letter from Holmes.

• Heal and his wife purchased a home in Abington, MA.

• Del Papa received updated, but limited, information from Holmes regarding Heal in connection with the results of the SPD investigation.
• Holmes met Del Papa in person in Holbrook.

• Abington PD’s Chief Del Papa received notice that Heal faced allegations stemming from the investigation. Heal was placed on paid administrative leave.

• Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara held a press conference announcing findings of the IA investigation. Heal was not named, but was indirectly implicated. Press Release
• Del Papa received a call from Abington Town Manager Scott Lambiase.
• Del Papa met with Heal in his office to notify him that he was being placed on Administrative Leave.

• Del Papa contacted Heal and arranged to take possession of the comfort dog, Harlow.

• The IA report was released publicly, with Heal’s identity only partially redacted. Heal was not notified in advance and was not given a chance to object.

• Heal claimed “The Case,” Kirk Minihane (Barstool Sports) made false and defamatory claims about Heal, including:
• Heal had known Birchmore since 2015.
• That he had traded a cat for oral sex (possible, as no adoption paperwork was located).
• That he was friends with the Farwells.
• A DNA test was performed on a couch to implicate him (false; the couch DNA test was performed according to the IAB report).
• Heal also claimed that the negligence of Chief McNamara and Deputy Chief Holmes in handling the IA investigation and subsequent public disclosures directly contributed to the damages Heal suffered.

• Following the podcast and report release, Heal was named in a civil lawsuit, suffered extensive reputational damage, and was forced to resign from the Abington Police Department.

• An investigatory interview for Heal was scheduled as part of this investigation.

• APD’s Police Accreditation status is set to expire.

• During a student interview, it was revealed that Heal used a K-9 Instagram account to communicate with students. One student described the messages as “unusual,” but no charges were filed.

• The investigation report was dated.

• 9:30 AM: POST Pre-Hearing Conference in the Matter of Joshua Heal Case No. 2025-026. Source

Case Records, Joshua W. Heal

• Joshua Heal learned of Ms. Birchmore’s death from Officer Victoria Denneno of the Stoughton Police Department (SPD). Denneno informed Heal because she knew of his friendship with Birchmore.

• Sandra Birchmore was a member of the Stoughton Police Explorers program.
• However, at all relevant times, Joshua Heal was not employed by the Town of Stoughton or the SPD during her involvement with the program, nor did he have any oversight or participation in it.

• Chief Donna McNamara of the Stoughton Police Department held a press conference to release the Internal Affairs (IA) Investigation results. During the conference, McNamara identified Matthew Farwell, William Farwell, and Robert Devine as subjects of the investigation and announced her intent to decertify them as police officers.
• During the press conference, although Chief McNamara did not mention Mr. Heal by name, she indirectly implicated him as being guilty or responsible for Ms. Birchmore’s death.

• The SPD released the IA Investigation Report to the public, which included information about Mr. Heal. Efforts were made to redact and conceal personal identifying information, but Mr. Heal’s identity was not fully redacted.
• Although the SPD IA investigation did not implicate Joshua Heal in any wrongdoing or unlawful acts, the IA report was publicly disseminated, potentially damaging his reputation. Throughout the IA report’s release, Mr. Heal was not notified of its impending release and was not allowed to object, despite the report containing personally identifiable information pertinent to his employment.
• Deputy Chief Brian Holmes communicated incomplete information to Chief Del Papa of the Abington Police Department, failing to clarify that the IA investigation did not implicate Mr. Heal. This act was considered negligent and caused substantial harm to Mr. Heal’s reputation and career.
• The dissemination of the partially redacted IA report and the subsequent public commentary significantly damaged Mr. Heal’s privacy, reputation, and professional standing. The SPD’s actions were considered to have breached their duty of care towards Mr. Heal.
• The Town of Stoughton, aware of the potential civil liability from the press conference, reportedly took steps to remove the recording from public channels. Despite this, the damage had already been done.
• There was significant criticism regarding the Town of Stoughton and SPD’s handling of the press conference and the release of the IA report, which exposed the town and department to substantial legal risks.

• Kirk Minihane, the host of the Kirk Minihane Show and a member of Barstool Sports, featured the Sandra Birchmore case on his podcast, “The Case.” During the podcast, Minihane made false and defamatory statements about Mr. Heal, including exaggerations and unverified claims regarding his involvement in the case.
• Minihane falsely stated that Mr. Heal was friendly with the Farwell’s, had known Sandra Birchmore since 2015, and claimed that Heal had traded a cat for oral sex with Birchmore. He also incorrectly claimed that a DNA test was performed on a couch to verify this.
• Minihane made additional defamatory statements about Mr. Heal, implying that he used his position as a K-9 officer to “lure young girls” and insinuate inappropriate behavior with students.
• Minihane also implied that Mr. Heal was a predator, expressing outrage that he was allowed to remain a school resource officer in Abington despite the allegations. These false claims were made without evidence, further damaging Mr. Heal’s reputation.

• The release of an unredacted IA report and subsequent podcast episodes led to Mr. Heal being named a defendant in a lawsuit, significantly impacting his personal and professional life.

• As a direct result of being named in the lawsuit and the public release of his identity, Mr. Heal was forced to resign from his position with the Abington Police Department. The damage to his reputation, emotional distress, and loss of income were significant.

• Chief McNamara and Deputy Chief Holmes’ negligence in handling the IA investigation and subsequent public disclosures directly contributed to Mr. Heal’s damages.
• The latest extracted information continues to detail the legal claims and issues arising from the mishandling of the IA investigation and the subsequent public disclosures.

• The timeline indicates that SPD negligently hired William Farwell despite several red flags in his background, including a military discharge for misconduct, prior police interactions, and deceptive behavior during his interview. This hiring was critical, as it set the stage for Farwell’s involvement in the Birchmore case and the subsequent legal implications for Mr. Heal.

• Similar issues are highlighted with Robert Devine, who SPD retained despite a history of misconduct, including an affair that led to a significant investigation and his demotion. Devine’s continued employment by SPD is presented as another failure of the department, which eventually contributed to the tragic events involving Sandra Birchmore.

• Mr. Heal no longer worked for the Town of Stoughton and had taken a position as a police officer with the Town of Abington (“Abington”). Heal was aware that Ms. Birchmore was a Police Explorer in the Town of Stoughton Police Explorers Program. At all times relevant, Mr. Heal was not employed by the Town of Stoughton or SPD when Ms. Birchmore was involved with the Stoughton Police Explorers Program. At no time did Heal have any involvement, oversight, or participation in the Stoughton Police Explorer Program, nor did Heal have any involvement, oversight, or participation in the program when Ms. Birchmore was no longer a member or student of the program. Birchmore was a member of the Stoughton Police Explorers program from 2010 to 2016. Heal had no interaction with Ms. Birchmore while she was a member of the Stoughton Police Explorers Program.

• October 4, 2021: Del Papa was appointed as APD Chief of Police. (Page 3)
• December 7, 2021: SPD Deputy Chief of Police Brian J. Holmes notified Del Papa that Heal was a witness in the SPD administrative investigation, advising Del Papa that he would be interviewing Heal as part of his investigation. (Page 1)
• December 7, 2021: Del Papa met with Holmes, who advised him that Heal was a witness in the SPD administrative investigation. (Page 8)
• December 14, 2021: Del Papa met with Heal in his APD office. (Page 9)
• December 15, 2021: Del Papa received an email notification from Holmes about scheduling the interview with Heal, which was set for December 21, 2021. (Page 9)
• December 21, 2021: Heal was interviewed by Holmes and independent investigator L’Italien for his first interview. (Page 9, 13)
• December 21, 2021: Del Papa spoke with Heal in his APD office. (Page 9)
• December 22, 2021: Holmes emailed Del Papa to schedule another interview with Heal. (Page 9)
• December 29, 2021: Del Papa met with Holmes. (Page 10)
• December 31, 2021: Del Papa sent Heal an email citing rule 9.20, ordering him to cooperate with Holmes’ investigation. (Page 10)
• February 9, 2022: Heal was interviewed a second time by Holmes and L’Italien. (Page 2, 10, 14)
• March 2, 2022: Del Papa received a letter from Holmes. (Page 2, 10)
• September 20, 2022: Del Papa received updated, but limited, information from Holmes regarding Heal in connection with the results of the SPD investigation. (Page 2)
• September 20, 2022: Holmes met Del Papa in person in Holbrook. (Page 11)
• September 21 and 22, 2022: Heal was off duty. (Page 11)
• September 23, 2022: Del Papa placed Heal on Administrative Leave. (Page 1, 2)
• September 23, 2022: Del Papa received a call from Abington Town Manager Scott Lambiase. (Page 11)
• September 23, 2022: Del Papa met with Heal in his office to notify him that he was being placed on Administrative Leave. (Page 12)
• September 26, 2022: Del Papa contacted Heal and arranged to take possession of the comfort dog, Harlow. (Page 12)
• February 16, 2023: An investigatory interview for Heal was scheduled as part of this investigation. (Page 14)
• May 2023: APD’s Police Accreditation status is set to expire. (Page 4)
• June 5, 2023: The investigation report was dated. (Page 15)