Leo Lemuel Laughlin

Leo L. Laughlin (September 10, 1910 – April 13, 1997) was an American law enforcement officer and businessman who worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and served as Massachusetts' Commissioner of Public Safety.

Early life Laughlin was born on September 10, 1910, in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degree from The Catholic University of America.

In March 1962, Massachusetts Governor John A. Volpe announced that Laughlin was his choice to become the next Commissioner of the Boston Police Department. Laughlin was prepared to take a two-year leave of absence from the FBI to run the department. However, the Massachusetts General Court took the power to appoint the Boston Police Commissioner away from the Governor and returned it to the Mayor of Boston. Boston Mayor John F. Collins announced Laughlin as a finalist for the position, but Laughlin took himself out of the running, stating that he was "not interested in becoming commissioner". One of Laughlin's subordinates, Edmund McNamara, was chosen instead.

Business career In 1962, Laughlin retired from the FBI and became the executive vice president of the Harrington & Richardson Firearms Company. He later became president of the company. On September 30, 1965, Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Harry T. Kalus refused to issue an injunction to prevent the Secretary of the Commonwealth from issuing Laughlin's commission and Laughlin moved into the commissioner's office. Kalus later ruled that Laughlin was "the legally and duly qualified Commissioner of Public Safety". His decision was affirmed by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

Laughlin was appointed to a five-year term in January 1966. In 1967, The Boston Globe reported that Volpe wanted to oust Laughlin due to complaints over the way Laughlin handled the agency. Among the reported issues with Laughlin's leadership were his refusal to accept advice from his staff and low morale among members of the Massachusetts State Police. However, Laughlin refused to quit and Volpe could not remove him, as the accusations were not serious enough to justify bringing charges against him. Laughlin resigned as Commissioner of Public Safety effective August 31, 1969, to become executive director of 100 Club, a charitable organization that provides aid to the widows and children of police officers and firefighters killed in the line of duty.

Family life Laughlin married Mary E. Galligan they had five children. His first cousin, James M. Quigley, was a United States representative from Pennsylvania and Assistant Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.