DA hires the son of senator despite history of arrests

[Ian David]

By Suzanne Smalley, Globe Staff | November 11, 2005

Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley has hired the son of state Senator Dianne Wilkerson as a civilian investigator in his office's homicide unit despite the young man's long history of arrests, court records show.

In an interview, Conley said he knew when he hired Cornell Mills that he was the son of the Boston senator. However, political connections played no role in the hiring, Conley said.

The district attorney's office conducts criminal background checks on all job applicants, and it is rare for someone with an arrest record to be hired, Conley said. However, all the charges were ultimately dismissed against Mills, 31, the district attorney said, adding that Mills deserved the opportunity.

''Cornell Mills is a nice young kid who certainly got himself in some squabbles, but was never convicted of anything," Conley said. ''He's well liked around here; he's gotten terrific reviews from supervisors. We gave him a chance, and he deserved that chance."

The civilian investigator position is an entry-level position, with a $25,000 salary, and is often a steppingstone to other law enforcement jobs, such as with the State Police or FBI. Conley spokesman David Procopio said there are typically dozens of applicants for the positions.

Mills, whom Conley hired in January, was arrested at least four times on 15 charges between 1991 and 2000, according to public records obtained by the Globe from courthouses in the region, and a spokeswoman for the sheriff in Mecklenburg County, N.C., where Mills once lived.

More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/11/11/da_hires_the_son_of_senator_despite_history_of_arrests/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News

[rzemanfl]

1. I live in Florida, where an ex-Hooters restaurant waitress (i.e., a

young fox with a hot body, the only kind Hooters hires) who had a two year degree got hired as a legislative aide at $55,000.00 a year a few years ago. Somehow seeing this kid get a $25,000 a year job despite some arrests that did not result in convictions does not rankle me much. Mommy probably spent as much on attorney fees for this kid as she did on his education.

[givemebackmycountry]

2. OK. Hold the freaking phone.

I ask this...

Since when is someone who is 31 years old a "NICE YOUNG KID".

Just asking.

And if your 31 and you have a "entry level" position making 25 grrr a year...your pretty damn sorry.

So, is the good Senator a Republican or a Democrat?

Just curious, that's all.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. A *gasp* Democrat.........

[Ian David]

5. Yeah, we kinda own this one ourselves.

But I bet he's a "conservative."

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Is this a great country, or what?

Mom has a long history of tax evasion. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree....................