Cotter Defends Integrity Against Accusations from Supt. Pia Durkin

New Bedford School Committee member Chris Cotter made a bold statement at Monday night's meeting.

Cotter, a detective with the City's police department, says Superintendent Pia Durkin sent a letter to Mayor Jon Mitchell and Cotter's department head, accusing Cotter of using his position as a detective to gather information on a situation involving a student and a teacher at Keith Middle School.

Cotter tells WBSM News the accusation is unfounded, and could have a damaging effect on his job. "...has put a red mark, or a notice, on my file which is going to be in question," said Cotter. "At this point, whether this turns into an internal investigation for my job or not is yet to be determined."

Cotter says his job as an officer and his role as a school committee member have nothing to do with each other, and he would never use one position to help with another.

Durkin responded only by saying she has a "role to protect the confidentiality of students and families."