Boston police officer on paid leave after domestic violence charge

Local News

Ricardo Alexandre was placed on paid administrative leave after his arrest, a Boston police spokesperson confirmed. He pleaded not guilty in court.

A Boston police officer is on leave after he was arrested and charged with domestic assault last week, court records show.

Ricardo Alexandre is charged with strangulation or suffocation and assault and battery on a family or household member, according to Dedham District Court records. He pleaded not guilty Dec. 31 and was released on his personal recognizance.

Alexandre was placed on paid administrative leave after his arrest, Boston police spokesperson Sergeant Detective John Boyle said. He clarified the department was not involved in his arrest.

Alexandre, who began working as a Boston police officer in 2015, earned more than $320,000 in 2024, city payroll records show.

The Peace Officer Standards and Training, or POST, Commission suspended Alexandre’s law enforcement certification Dec. 31. He was ordered to turn over his credentials and equipment, including weapons, the order said.

Alexandre’s lawyer, Peter Pasciucco, said the officer “denies the allegation in its entirety.”

“We will let the process play out but are confident the matter will be resolved in his favor,” Pasciucco said in an email. “He has been placed on paid administrative leave which is routine protocol is a situation like this. He looks forward to clearing his name and getting back to work.”

In 2021, an internal affairs investigation “sustained findings against Ricardo Alexandre for violations of ‘Conduct Unbecoming,’ ‘Alcohol off Duty,’ and ‘Conformance to Law,’ according to records obtained from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

Molly Farrar is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on education, politics, crime, and more.