Retired Fall River Police Chief Kelly Furtado claims she was publicly attacked by members of the City Council, the victim of false information and forced into retirement. Those are just some of the claims by Fall River’s first female police chief in a five-page notice of Furtado’s intention of suing the city under the Massachusetts Whistleblower Protection Act.

The Fall River Reporter obtained the letter through a public records request which was sent by Furtado’s attorney, Needham-based Timothy M. Burke, to Mayor Paul Coogan on July 2.

The notice of a possible lawsuit was received a little more than a month before former Police Chief Paul Gauvin, the primary target of Furtado’s whistleblower claims, had his termination reduced to a 90-day suspension by the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission on Aug. 6.

Civil service investigation conflict with claims in possible lawsuit

The commission found Gauvin’s termination in April 2025 for alleged misconduct was inappropriate and he is expected to return to rank of captain.

Gauvin stepped down as police chief in October 2024 after a vote of no confidence by the department’s patrol officers and superior officers a month before and after a 90-page report by an outside agency that reviewed Furtado’s claims against Gauvin were released to the public.

Sources with knowledge with the FRPD allege the votes of no confidence were in part orchestrated by Furtado who allegedly made an unsuccessful attempt to do the same with former Police...

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