Announces New Chiefs of Community Outreach, Victim Services
BOSTON, Dec. 17, 2015—Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley today announced the hiring of a highly-experienced prosecutor designated to work on cold case homicide investigations with Boston and State police.
John Verner, formerly of the Middlesex District Attorney’s office and Massachusetts Attorney General’s office, will take on the title of supervisor of special homicide investigations, acting as a point person for Conley’s office on unsolved homicides. He will be sworn in as a Suffolk County assistant district attorney on Jan. 4.
A graduate of Suffolk University Law School and a prosecutor since 2000, Verner previously served as chief of the Public Protection, Anti-Terrorism, Corruption, and Technology Unit of the Middlesex District Attorney’s office, overseeing the team that prosecuted public corruption, police misconduct, organized crime, white collar crime, and large scale narcotics offenses.
More recently, he served as chief and chief trial counsel of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Criminal Bureau, which investigates and prosecutes organized crime, financial fraud, human trafficking, public corruption, and other offenses.
As a Suffolk County prosecutor, Verner will work primarily with the Boston Police Homicide Unit’s Cold Case Squad to review and re-investigate unsolved homicides within the City of Boston. He will also work with the Suffolk County State Police Detective Unit on cases arising out of Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop.
“John’s experience and professionalism make him a tremendous asset for the office and a valuable resource for families looking for justice,” Conley said. “His new role won’t just bring new eyes to old cases – it will streamline the collaboration between police and prosecutors.”
According to a 2011 study by the RAND Corporation, “Cooperation between police and prosecutors can improve both the efficiency and effectiveness of cold-case investigations.” That partnership has been successful in Boston, where, of the 10 historical homicide cases since 2009 in which suspects were developed, every living person to be charged has been convicted. The remainder died before they were identified.
In addition to his cold case duties, Verner will also take a leadership role in Conley’s independent investigations of police-involved fatalities. Those cases are currently assigned to a small group of senior prosecutors, each of whom also carries a full caseload of active homicide investigations and supervises a team of Superior Court prosecutors.
“Our investigative model is being praised across the country, and John brings a level of integrity and experience in use-of-force investigations that can’t be matched,” said Conley, who has been invited to speak on his practices in fatal police shootings to the Major Cities Prosecutors Council, National District Attorneys Association, New York State District Attorneys Association, and National Association of Attorneys General.
Also today, Conley announced the promotion of Kara Hayes, formerly chief of the DA’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program, to the role of chief of community engagement, overseeing the Community Relations and Intergovernmental/Legislative Affairs departments.
“Kara will help us to further develop and advance relationships in the community related to our office’s core mission,” Conley said. “She will also serve as a policy advisor on a range of issues in which we have a pronounced interest: addiction, mental health, alternative sentencing, juvenile diversion, specialty courts, LGBTQ issues, and more. It’s a natural step forward for a woman who started as a district court victim advocate and advanced to the very top of statewide victim services.”
Hayes began her career at the DA’s office more than 20 years ago, when she served as the sole victim-witness advocate in Dorchester Municipal Court, New England’s busiest courthouse. She went on to supervise advocates in the Juvenile, Gang, and Homicide units. She is the recipient of countless awards and recognitions, including a Boston Police Commissioner’s Citation and the Massachusetts Office of Victim Assistance’s Access to Justice Award, presented to those “whose leadership and outreach efforts have made victim rights and services more available and accessible to underserved populations.”
Taking Hayes’ former position as chief of victim services is Katherine Moran, previously assigned to the DA’s Homicide Unit. Moran is a 12-year veteran of the Suffolk DA’s office who held positions in Dorchester Municipal Court, the Major Felony Bureau, and the Elders & Persons with Disabilities Unit. She is the recipient of the 2005 Suffolk Award for Outstanding District Court Victim Witness Advocate, the recipient of the 2012 Suffolk Award for Outstanding Superior Court Victim Witness Advocate, and the Massachusetts District Attorney’s Association Advocate of the Year award for 2014. She also serves on the board of directors for the Boston’s Garden of Peace memorial.
“Katherine has provided support and services to hundreds of families in their darkest hours, while also supervising and mentoring newer advocates,” Conley said. “Her ability to connect with victims, her capacity for hard work, and her steadfast ability to manage a seemingly impossible caseload with patience and grace has established Katherine’s reputation as one of our office’s most selfless and understated leaders. It’s a great privilege to announce her promotion to this central position in the office.”
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