Joshua William Heal

Full Name: Joshua William Heal
Date of Birth: December 1979
Place of Birth: Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Joshua W. Heal was born in December 1979 and raised in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, where he lived from 1997 to 2007. He graduated from Shea High School, a local public school known for its vocational and academic programs.

1997–2007

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

By 2009

• Moved to East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

2013

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

March 6, 2016

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

2017

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

May 2019

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

July 30, 2019

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

Early Fall 2019

• 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 

December 2019

• 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.

Unspecified Date:

• 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.

October 5, 2020

• 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.”
  

December 2020

• 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.

2020

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

January 9, 2021

• Sandra Birchmore called Joshua Heal and stated that, after telling Matthew Farwell about the baby, Matthew Farwell told her that “he wished [she] 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 Matthew Farwell because he had taken her virginity when she was 15 years old.

February 9, 2021

• Officially left Stoughton PD and started full-time with Abington PD.

Throughout 2021

• Assigned as School Resource Officer in Abington.

August 2021

• 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.

December 7, 2021

• Stoughton Deputy Chief Brian Holmes informed Abington Police Chief David Del Papa that Heal was a witness in the Sandra Birchmore investigation.

December 21, 2021

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

January 11, 2022

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

January 14, 2022

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

February 9, 2022 – 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.

May 13, 2022

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

September 22, 2022

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

September 23, 2022

• 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

Post-September 23, 2022

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

January 10, 2023

• Heal claimed: “The Case,” Kirk Minihane (Barstool Sports) made false and defamatory claims about Heal, including:
• That 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 
• That a DNA test was performed on a couch to implicate him (false: the couch DNA test was performed according to IAB report)
• Heal also claimed: The negligence on the part of Chief McNamara and Deputy Chief Holmes in handling the IA investigation and subsequent public disclosures directly contributed to the damages Heal suffered.

Post-January 2023

• 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.

September 2023

• 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.

June 24, 2025

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

In the fall of 2019, Sandra Birchmore visited the Stoughton animal shelter to adopt a cat, where she met Heal. The two developed a friendship and later engaged in a one-time consensual sexual encounter after hours at the shelter. Heal was connected to Birchmore on Facebook and became a person of interest in the investigation into her later death.

2020 – Heal became a full-time police officer with the Abington Police Department.

December 2020

• Sandra shared with Joshua Heal she had been pregnant three times, and that she was pregnant again with Matthew Farwell’s baby, that Farwell wanted her to have an abortion and that she was “very adamant about not having an abortion.”

2021

February 9, 2021

• Officially left Stoughton PD and started full-time with Abington PD.

Throughout 2021

• Assigned as School Resource Officer in Abington.

December 7, 2021

• Stoughton Deputy Chief Brian Holmes informed Abington Police Chief David Del Papa that Heal was a witness in the Sandra Birchmore investigation.

December 21, 2021

• Stoughton investigators interviewed him as part of their inquiry into Sandra, Investigators for the Stoughton Police Department asked Heal during both interviews if he had “engaged” in certain behaviors with Birchmore but he walked off the interview. “He didn’t feel like a witness; rather, he felt like he was being “interrogated.”

January 11, 2022

• SPD conducted a forensic analysis of a love seat from the animal shelter’s office. No evidence implicating Heal was found.

February 9, 2022

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.

During his interview with IA, Mr. Heal told Deputy Chief Holmes and Paul L’Italien

• Birchmore’s goal “was to have a family where her and Matt would live together and have children together and live happily ever after.”
• Heal had a general awareness of the sexual relationships that Ms. Birchmore had with other members of the SPD.
• Deputy Chief Holmes and Mr. L’Italien asked Mr. Heal if he believed all of what Ms. Birchmore had told him. Heal responded that he did not always believe what Ms. Birchmore told him because he knew of her lying from time to time and he had previously caught her lying or embellishing various aspects of her life. 
  As time went on and Heal changed careers, his friendship with Ms. Birchmore “fizzled out” and they barely spoke. For example, Mr. Heal did not know Sandra Birchmore moved from Stoughton to Canton. 
• Birchmore told Heal she was having sexual relationships with people in the SPD.
  Heal acknowledged some of the text conversations got “pretty intense and graphic.” Birchmore shared with Heal that she wanted to have a threesome.
  Birchmore shared graphic and explicit photographs and/or video with Heal that William Farwell had sent of his own wife.
  Birchmore also shared with Heal who stated during his IA interview that Matthew Farwell sent Birchmore explicit pictures, but that Ms. Birchmore did not share those pictures with him. 
• Birchmore did not share with Mr. Heal that she had any kind of sexual encounter or relationship when she was with or in the Stoughton Police Explorers. 
• Birchmore specifically told Mr. Heal she had a sexual relationship with Matthew Farwell.
• He told her that Matthew Farwell wife was pregnant. Birchmore had not known of this fact and “seemed a little upset about it.” She did not know because Mr. Farwell had not told her that his wife was expecting their third child. Birchmore shared with Mr. Heal that she had planned to reach out to Mr. Farwell’s wife and drafted a message that she had intended on sending to Mr. Farwell’s wife.
• During his IA interviews, Heal stated to Paul L’Italien that Ms. Birchmore never told him when the sexual relationship with Mr. Farwell started.
• Birchmore did not share time frames or ages when sexual relationships began.
• Heal was positive of that because if a relationship began before she was 16, Mr. Heal stated, “that’s something that would have been a red flag in my mind.”
• At all times relevant, the information Heal reported to Paul L’Italien and Deputy Chief Brian Holmes was based on information Birchmore had shared with him and told him.
• Heal did not receive information that he relayed in his statements during the Internal Affairs Investigation that came from William or Matthew Farwell or Robert Devine.
• During the IA investigation, Heal told Mr. L’Italien Ms. Birchmore believed Matthew Farwell was the father of her baby.
• Heal did not know whether to believe Ms. Birchmore because she was having sexual relations with other people. 102.
• At all times relevant, Mr. Heal did not speak or communicate with Matthew Farwell about Ms. Birchmore or any of the subject matter set forth in the Complaint.
• Heal did not speak or communicate with William Farwell about Birchmore or any of the subject matter set forth in the Complaint.
• Heal did not speak or communicate with Robert Devine about Ms. Birchmore or any of the subject matter set forth in the Complaint.
• During his interviews during the IA Investigation, Heal told Deputy Chief Brian Holmes that he did not always believe what Ms. Birchmore told him because she “told lies all the time” and “[he] caught her in ‘lies’ “multiple times.” He advised that Birchmore was not always truthful.
• Matthew Farwell did not personally communicate to Ms. Birchmore that his wife was pregnant with their third child.
• Heal learned of Ms. Birchmore’s death from Officer Victoria Denneno of SPD. Officer Denneno knew Heal was friendly with Birchmore and wanted to let him know that she had passed away.
  

According to Allen Consulting Services, which conducted an internal investigation for Abington, it concluded that there was “sufficient credible evidence” indicating Heal violated department rules regarding proper officer conduct. This was primarily due to his alleged lack of truthfulness, full cooperation, and openness during the initial Stoughton investigation and subsequent interactions with Abington Police leadership.

These findings suggested that Heal could have potentially faced decertification as a police officer under Massachusetts’ new police reform law.

Based on the findings , prior to Heal’s resignation and scheduled APD Investigatory Interview, this investigator finds that there is sufficient credible evidence that Heal, while serving as an APD officer, violated APD rule and regulation, 4.01 – Conduct Unbecoming. There is sufficient credible evidence that Heal was not truthful, fully cooperative, and/or forthcoming during the SPD administrative investigation, including in his responses to questions from Holmes and L’Italien during interview #1 and interview #2. Heal did not fully disclose or advise Del Papa with complete and thorough information specific to his personal interactions with Sandra Birchmore, related to the SPD administrative investigation. Heal was not fully truth fill when he disclosed to Chief Del Papa and Sullivan that he was declining to be interviewed in a second, subsequent interview by Holmes because Heal was concerned about information being released. Heal was was not truthful with Chief Del Papa and Sullivan, as he had on at least one occasion ***redacted

September 22, 2022

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

September 23, 2022

• Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara held a press conference announcing findings of the IA investigation. Heal was not named, but was indirectly implicated.

In the civil lawsuit response, Joshua Heal claimed:

Before February 9, 2021:

• 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.

Joshua Heal Stated that from 2010-2016:

• 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.

September 23, 2022:

• 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.

September 23, 2022:

• 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.

Post-September 23, 2022:

• 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.

Post-September 23, 2022:

• Although the SPD IA investigation did not implicate Joshua Heal in any wrongdoing or unlawful acts, the IA report was disseminated to the public, potentially damaging his reputation. Throughout the release of the IA report, Mr. Heal was not notified of its impending release and was not allowed to object despite the report containing personal identifying information pertinent to his employment.

January 10, 2023:

• Kirk Minihane, the host of the Kirk Minihane Show and part 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.

January 10, 2023:

• 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.

September 23, 2022:

• During the press conference, Chief Donna McNamara of the Stoughton Police Department made statements that implicated Mr. Heal in the investigation even though the SPD IA investigation did not find Mr. Heal to be a target or subject of the investigation.

Post-September 23, 2022:

• 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.

Post-January 2023:

• 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.

Ongoing Impact:

• Chief McNamara and Deputy Chief Holmes’ actions and statements have had a devastating effect on Mr. Heal’s life, privacy, and ability to make a living.

Post-January 10, 2023:

• Kirk Minihane, during his podcast, 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.

January 10, 2023:

• 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.

After January 10, 2023:

• 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.

Post-September 23, 2022:

• 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.

Post-September 23, 2022:

• 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.

Impact on Mr. Heal:

• 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.

Legal and Administrative Failures:

• 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 detailing the legal claims and issues arising from the mishandling of the IA investigation and subsequent public disclosures. Here’s how it adds to the timeline:

Post-January 2023:

• The public disclosure of Mr. Heal’s name and involvement, coupled with defamation by Kirk Minihane and Barstool Sports, led to his being named as a defendant in a lawsuit. This resulted in significant reputational damage and emotional distress, and ultimately, Mr. Heal was forced to resign from the Abington Police Department.

SPD’s Hiring of William Farwell:

• 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.

SPD’s Retention of Robert Devine:

• 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 by the department, eventually contributing to the tragic events involving Sandra Birchmore.

Negligent Hiring and Retention: The documents outline how SPD’s negligent hiring and retention of both Farwell and Devine played a significant role in the events that unfolded. The department portrays these decisions as breaches of duty, directly leading to the damages Mr. Heal suffered. Read Here

By February 9, 2021,

• 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 Ms. Birchmore was a Police Explorer in the Town of Stoughton in the 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 2010-2016. Heal did not have any interaction with Ms. Birchmore when she was a member of the Stoughton Police Explorers Program.