North Andover officer shot after pointing gun at colleague granted bail

Kelsey Fitzsimmons, a 28-year-old North Andover police officer, was granted bail after her arraignment in Essex Superior Court for allegedly pointing her gun at a colleague during a June incident. While off-duty, Fitzsimmons was shot twice in the chest by another officer after the alleged gunpoint confrontation. A grand jury indicted her on a charge of assault with a dangerous weapon, rejecting a more serious charge of armed assault with intent to murder. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of five years. Fitzsimmons pleaded not guilty and her attorney, Martha Coakley, asserted that she never pointed a gun at anyone, emphasizing her struggles with postpartum depression.

The incident unfolded as officers attempted to serve a restraining order related to the father of her newborn. The case highlights concerns surrounding mental health support for law enforcement officers. Fitzsimmons’s situation reflects broader issues of postpartum challenges faced by new mothers in high-stress professions.