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NEW BEDFORD — The firefighter who was placed on paid administrative leave after facing two criminal arrests this winter, Manuel Mota Jr., retired from the New Bedford Fire Department last month, only hours before a scheduled termination hearing.
By retiring, Mota protects his right to annual pension payments of tens of thousands of dollars a year.
The 20-year veteran of the fire department was arrested in Fairhaven on a charge of disorderly conduct on Jan. 27, and was arrested in Weymouth on charges of disorderly conduct and assault and battery on a police officer on Dec. 6 of last year.
An investigation by The Light found that Mota has been arrested at least eight times dating back to 2000. To date, all charges against Mota have been dismissed at the request of the commonwealth or “continued without finding” after Mota admitted to “sufficient facts.” Mota has never been subject to discipline beyond a $200 fine or a 45-day loss of license.
In February, Mota was placed on paid administrative leave “to determine whether his actions constituted a violation of departmental policies,” according to a statement provided to The Light in March.
Any employee terminated for “moral turpitude” faces a possibility of forfeiting their right to a retirement allowance. By retiring before his termination hearing, Mota will not face this outcome — unless the city, fire department, or other party initiates a hearing to challenge his retirement before the retirement board.
The city’s personnel policies include prohibitions on the use or possession of alcohol on city property and forbids verbal abuse. In Mota’s Fairhaven arrest, he was accused of repeatedly using a racial slur.
Mota’s attorney in New Bedford District Court, Ahmed Farouk Ahmed, did not respond to two phone calls and an email regarding Mota’s retirement.
Mota, 49, is set to receive a pension from the New Bedford Contributory Retirement system according to its schedule for police and firefighter retirees. Eric Cohen, the executive director of the retirement system, said it will take four to six weeks for Mota’s retirement pay to be calculated and finalized in the system. An estimate based on Mota’s age and years of service, according to the schedule, indicates that he could receive almost 40% of his base pay in annual pension payments.
In 2024, Mota’s salary was $98,850.94, including a base salary of $84,660.54. Pension payments are calculated using the average of an employee’s highest three consecutive years of base salary, according to Cohen.
Police reports from Mota’s multiple arrests included photos, described body camera footage, and corroborating witness testimony. In one 2016 incident, New Bedford police officers found Mota intoxicated and asleep behind the wheel of his car — which was still in drive and had run into a streetlight — while Mota was still in his firefighter uniform.
That charge was dismissed and Mota’s only punishment was a 45-day loss of license. Other charges Mota has faced include: assault and battery, leaving the scene of property damage, resisting arrest, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating under the influence, trespassing, disturbing the peace, and disorderly conduct. He has never gone to trial or been found guilty.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s office has been the prosecutor responsible for dismissing at least five criminal charges against Mota over the last 20 years.
New Bedford’s public information officer, Jonathan Darling, said, “We can’t prevent [employees] from retiring or quitting.” He added that the city solicitor’s office had “worked for months” to prepare for the May 21 termination hearing, but that Mota’s retirement came “a few hours” before that hearing would’ve been held.
Mota’s next criminal-case hearing in New Bedford District Court, on the disorderly conduct charge from Fairhaven, is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10. His next hearing in Quincy District Court, on the charges of disorderly conduct and assault from Weymouth, is scheduled for July 16.
Email Colin Hogan at chogan@newbedfordlight.org
First, he ought to have been reprimanded since 2000. Someone dropped the ball on his 8 time bad behaviors! Second, if Mota ends up receiving retirement benefits this shows such a disrespect for ALL the other employees who provide consistently outstanding work in their expert field who exhibit strong character and strive always to give excellent service. May Mota get what he deserves…nothing!
Why was he allowed to go this far without termination is beyond me. He should of been reprimanded all the way and should of been let go years ago
To be arrested 8 times and then allowed to retire. There’s something fishy going on. This malarkey makes me sick. He should of been reprimanded twice then fired.
20 years service a long time…he apparently has some problems …the department could’ve tried to get him some help ….it’s time for him to not be a part of the department but 20 years service deserves his benefits.
Sad situation for all.
Why don’t they interview the former chief of the fire department that retired service connected and find out why he allowed this to continue. And while they’re at it do a little more detective work!
I know someone who lost their license for good for drinking while behind the wheel …2 not driving but behind the wheel and I absolutely do not condone drinking and driving….but this jerk does have his license I assume and also doesn’t spend time in jail and also will receive his pension…..what doesn’t make sense here!!!!!
Make this make sense.
Keyboard warriors who have no idea what others deal with. It’s clear there is more behind the story but did this article do their homework? I wish you well Manny and hope you stay on the course/path you have now started.
I think we all realize that working as a firefighter exposes an individual to a lot of human suffering and unimaginably stressful and traumatizing situations but that still doesn’t justify any of this.
It was off duty. He hasn’t been convicted of anything so what isn’t tolerable it had nothing to do with the fire department.
Has anyone even considered that this man had 20 years of outstanding service. That this man’s offenses happened off duty. Has anybody considered what this man’s life has consisted of outside of these minor offenses.. Have there been any complaints of him on duty? Why are people so quick to sit in judgement when they don’t know the whole story. It’s a shame that New Bedford just lost one of the best firefighters they had.