Sharon police officers busted for plan to get into Gillette Stadium suite without tickets

A pair of Sharon police officers are paying up after the two tried to devise a plan that would have allowed one of them and a friend to enjoy a Patriots game at Gillette Stadium from a high-end suite without tickets.

Officers John Avelar and Robert Awad have paid $8,000 and $4,000 civil penalties, respectively, for violating the conflict of interest law, as the two tried to sneak their way into the Putnam Club without tickets last December, according to the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission.

Tickets to the Putnam Club, a suite where fans can watch the game from the indoors as well as exclusive outdoor seats, and enjoy upscale food and drinks, range from $6,000-to-$10,000 per season and are only available to the general public as part of season ticket packages.

But officials say Avelar tried to ignore that by seeking assistance from Awad who had been scheduled to work security detail at the Dec. 1 game against the Bills.

Several weeks before that Thursday night tilt, Avelar contacted Awad to see if he could help him and his friend into the Putnam Club, and Awad, who had been with the Sharon Police Department for less than a year and was still in his probationary period, was onboard.

Awad escorted Avelar and his friend from outside the stadium and into the club, knowing they did not have tickets to enter. That’s when things got hairy, officials say.

“Awad, who was in his Sharon Police uniform, told a security team member checking tickets that Avelar and the friend were “with [him]” and that Avelar was an off-duty police officer,” an Ethics Commission release states.

“Several minutes later,” it continues, “a security supervisor who witnessed the three enter the Putnam Club told Awad to help the security team find and remove Avelar and his friend. Awad responded, “What’s wrong, don’t you like cops?” and, “Why don’t you trust me?” Avelar and his friend left the Putnam Club, and Awad was removed from his security detail.”

Avelar and Awad admitted to the plot by signing separate disposition agreements, and both have waived their right to a hearing. The pair violated the conflict of interest law’s prohibition against public employees using their positions to gain valuable privileges that are not properly available to them.

“A public employee must not use or try to use their official uniform, badge, work ID card, or public employee status to get into and enjoy places and events for free that others must buy tickets for,” Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson said in a statement.