O'Brien v. New England Police Benevolent Ass'n, Local 911

The plaintiff, the city manager of the city of Worcester (city), appeals from a judgment of the Superior Court allowing the defendant’s motion to confirm an arbitration award. After hearing, the arbitrator, having found that a police officer’s actions were reasonable and did not justify his termination “for cause,” ordered the city to reinstate and make whole the officer, who had been terminated for actions that the city alleged constituted gross misconduct. The plaintiff contends that the arbitrator’s decision infringes on the city’s managerial prerogative and otherwise violates public…