Methuen chief catches on-duty cops watching Patriots game

METHUEN, Mass. -- Methuen's police chief has removed TVs from the station after finding a group of on-duty officers watching a Patriots game last week when they were supposed be on patrol.

Chief Joseph Solomon has also launched an investigation into the incident.

Solomon says he caught five patrolmen, a sergeant and a lieutenant in the police station having dinner and watching the Patriots preseason game against the Carolina Panthers on Friday night.

He did not identify the officers involved but said the sergeant has been suspended.

The football-watching cops left just two officers on patrol -- one on foot -- to cover the 23-square mile city. Solomon called that "unacceptable."

He says the TVs may be returned after the investigation is complete.

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