Transit cop convicted of raping two women while on duty

A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted former Transit Police officer Shawn McCarthy for raping two women against and in his cruiser after offering them a joy ride in his cruiser that started near the Aquarium T stop and ended in a vacant lot near the Museum of Science in 2012, the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

McCarthy, who now lives in Maine, will be sentenced March 20, the DA's office reports.

According to the DA's office:

Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum said that on July 6, 2012, the victims, then in their early 20s, were drinking in Boston when they encountered McCarthy outside the Aquarium subway station. Against the advice of a fellow officer, McCarthy offered the women a joyride in his marked police cruiser and drove them around the area with blue lights flashing. After stopping in a vacant lot so the women could relieve themselves, McCarthy said he hadn’t risked his job for nothing and he would not take them back downtown until he got something out of it. The women stated that they feared getting in trouble and had no choice but to submit. McCarthy penetrated one victim’s vagina with his fingers and his penis as she stood against the parked cruiser; and inserted his fingers into the second victim’s vagina as she sat in the backseat of the vehicle. He then drove them back to the area where they had met and warned them not to tell anyone about the episode.

Authorities only learned of the attacks in 2019, when one of the two women disclosed the incident while applying for a law-enforcement job in another community, the DA's office reports:

Up to that point both victims had believed the perpetrator worked for the Boston Police Department. The matter was initially referred to BPD and further investigation identified the assailant as a Transit Police officer. A grand jury investigation with the MBTA police followed. McCarthy admitted that he had two women in the cruiser on the night in question but denied any wrongdoing. He was placed on administrative leave in December 2019 and resigned soon afterward.

In a statement, Transit Police Chief Kenneth Green applauded the verdict but especially the women who came forward:

First and foremost, we must acknowledge the survivors in this horrific incident. We are in total admiration at the courage and bravery they displayed throughout this ordeal. We must also acknowledge Assistant District Attorney Ian Polumbaum whose experience, skills and abilities were brought to bear on behalf of the survivors and citizens of the Commonwealth to hold Shawn McCarthy accountable for his abhorrent, predatory and vile conduct. The jurors rendered a thoughtful and just verdict.

We are committed to restoring the faith and trust of those we are sworn to serve and protect.