The federal government's decision to replace the embattled Andrew Cohen as special agent in charge of ocean and fisheries law enforcement for the Northeast became official Thursday.
Starting Monday, Cohen who is at the center of an intensifying investigation of a U.S. Inspector General into abuse of police authority exercised against the Gloucester Seafood Display Auction, will leave Gloucester for a new assignment, reporting directly to the acting director of law enforcement for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration at NOAA headquarters in Silver Spring, Md.
The change, first reported in Thursday's Times, was said to be agreeable to Cohen and NOAA — which has already put Cohen's former boss, Dale J. Jones, the longtime chief of law enforcement, on paid administrative leave in the still unfolding scandal in federal fisheries law enforcement.
"Andy and I agree a change in leadership in the Northeast is needed at this time," said Alan Risenhoover, who was appointed acting director of law enforcement in the early spring as part of the decision to take Jones out of the line of authority.
"(Starting Monday), he will report directly to me," Risenhoover's statement said, "and will be reassigned to a non-supervisory headquarters position. He will no longer be directly involved with any future enforcement actions in the Northeast."
No other information was released. But an unofficial source said that an agent in Gloucester, Tim Donovan, would be appointed to replace Cohen at least temporarily. Efforts to confirm that report from Risenhoover's office were unsuccessful.
An internal memo from Risenhoover that was leaked to the Times confirmed the Donovan appointment.
Read the complete story from The Gloucester Times.