The state’s Civil Service Commision has issued a report May 27 in finding in favor of former Somerville police officer, Alessandro Capobianco, fired by former mayor Dorothy A. Kelly Gay one month before she was succeeded by the officer’s cousin, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone.

"I am just looking forward to getting back to work and being a productive member of the police force," Capobianco said.

"I will spend the rest of my life helping others who are struggling with drug addiction, which is now the true passion of my life," he said.

Before his termination, Capobianco admitted that he had become addicted to pain killers perscribed to him after a car accident after other officers found what they thought was his voice on a the cellphone voicemail of his drug dealer, who had died of an overdose.

The commission report is highly critical of Kelly Gay, calling her a less-than-credible witness, whose firing of Capobianco was politically motivated. In her testimony, the commission found her belligerent and contentious during cross-examination.

Kelly Gay’s treatment of Capobianco was unlike other cases during her administration, when police officers with drug problems, were handled through the police department’s collective bargaining agreement proceedures. The commission found that Kelly Gay acted counter to the principles fairness and civil service law.

Although, both the city and Capobianco have 10 days to appeal, and the matter must be accepted by the Board of Alderman, the decicison of the commission was for full re-instatement without penalty.

Capobianco will receive full back pay, and his five-day suspension before his termination was reversed.

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