Harvard Police Officers Scuffle at HQ

A first-fight between two Harvard police officers last week in the basement of the 29 Garden St. station left blood on the floor and some officers troubled about internal tensions in the unit, according to department sources.

The incident is the latest in a series of embarassments for the police department, including a Cambridge Human Rights Commission report which detailed sexism in the unit and a University-commissioned report on the department's guard service which showed unprofessional behavior there.

And with the police officer's union locked in intense negotiations for a new contract, tensions are high.

Officers Philip Murphy and Patrick Griffin fought in the fracas, said sources, who could not name the exact cause of the dispute.

No charges were filed as a result of the incident and there will be no investigation, according to police sources.

In an interview yesterday, Murphy denied trading blows with a fellow officer.

"It was a minor incident. There was no fisticuffs involved," Murphy said. "It was more of a shouting match."

Murphy also said there was no particular reason for the scuffle.

"It was just something that spontaneously happened and was instantly regretted," Murphy said.

Lawrence J. Murphy, acting chief of police, acknowledged yesterday that an incident had occurred, but said Police Lt. John Stanton, who was on duty as watch commander at the time, worked out a resolution between the two officers.

"Their watch commander who was working at the time said there was a difference of opinion," said Murphy, who is no relation to Officer Murphy. "Their watch commander handled the situation and resolved it between both parties."

Earlier this year, a report on the Universityguard service detailed serious problems with staffrelations. And officers and security guards in thepolice department said personal animosity and poormanagerial skills of supervisors exacerbate tenseworking conditions

Earlier this year, a report on the Universityguard service detailed serious problems with staffrelations. And officers and security guards in thepolice department said personal animosity and poormanagerial skills of supervisors exacerbate tenseworking conditions