Officer Loses Job After Drug-Related Texts Surface

A Malden police officer accused of seeking prescription painkillers from an alleged drug dealer has lost his job, officials confirmed this week. 

Investigators said incriminating text messages from then Officer Brian Killion's mobile device were discovered after the January 2012 arrest of a Malden man on alleged drug and firearms charges.

Killion, an 18 year veteran of the department and the nephew of former Mayor Richard Howard, is appealing the decision but no longer on active duty with the city.

State Rep. Christopher Fallon, who also serves as the attorney for the city patrolman's union, said he could not comment on the case pending its appeal. 

Last September, he told the Boston Globe's Matt Byrne that it was unlikely Killion would face criminal charges. 

"The determination was made months ago that there would not be any criminal charges made against this police officer because the circumstances -- the circumstances didn't warrant it, in their opinion," he told the paper.