Commonwealth v. Read — Trial ArchiveJ. Ryan Gallerani — Direct
46 linesJUDGE CANNONE: All right. Your next witness, Mr. Lally.
MR. LALLY: Yes, Your Honor. The People call Sergeant Brian Gallerani to the stand.
COURT CLERK: ...to tell the court and jury in this case the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
MR. GALLERANI: I do.
JUDGE CANNONE: Whenever you're ready, Mr. Lally.
MR. LALLY: Thank you. Good afternoon. Could you please state your name and spell your last name?
MR. GALLERANI: J. Ryan Gallerani — G-A-L-L-E-R-A-N-I.
MR. LALLY: And what do you do for work, sir?
MR. GALLERANI: I'm currently employed as a sergeant for the Needham Police Department.
MR. LALLY: And how long, in total, have you been a member of the Needham Police Department?
MR. GALLERANI: I graduated from the academy in January of 2006.
MR. LALLY: And how long have you held the rank of Sergeant?
MR. GALLERANI: Just under a year now.
MR. LALLY: Prior to you holding the rank of Sergeant, what was it that you did within the Needham Police Department?
MR. GALLERANI: I was a detective from September of 2014 to June of 2023.
MR. LALLY: Now, over the course of your work as a detective and sergeant with the Needham Police Department, what, if any, training have you received in regard to collection of biological samples?
MR. GALLERANI: As part of a sexual assault class I took in January of 2015, I was certified in DNA collection by the Mass. State Police.
MR. LALLY: And can you explain a little bit to the jury about what that certification process entailed, or what it was that you did to become certified?
MR. GALLERANI: So I was specifically certified in buccal swabs, which is the process of collecting cells suitable for DNA comparison by swabbing inside of a person's cheek.
MR. LALLY: And that certification — is that up to date at this point?
MR. GALLERANI: Yes.
MR. LALLY: Now, at some point — on January 16, 2024 — did you have occasion to collect buccal swabs or samples in relation to this case?
MR. GALLERANI: I did.
MR. LALLY: And, fair to say — as far as your work with the Needham Police Department — you had no familiarity or work with the investigation on a Canton Police Department case? Correct? Or on a State Police case involving incidents that occurred in the town of Canton. Correct?
MR. GALLERANI: Correct.
MR. LALLY: You didn't know any of the parties involved in the case?
MR. GALLERANI: I did not.
MR. LALLY: And so, on January 16, 2024, where did you go on that date?
MR. GALLERANI: I went to the Norfolk District Attorney's Office in Canton.
MR. LALLY: And who, if anyone, did you meet with — or who, if anyone, did you collect samples from on that day?
MR. GALLERANI: I collected samples from Sergeant Bukhenik and Trooper Proctor.
MR. LALLY: And can you explain to the jury, just briefly, the process of your collection — what did you physically do?
MR. GALLERANI: So I physically swabbed the inside of their mouths with a cotton swab, and collected the evidence, sealed it up in a buccal swab kit, photographed it, and brought it back to my police department.
MR. LALLY: When you brought it back to the police department, what did you do with it?
MR. GALLERANI: I entered it into evidence.
MR. LALLY: And did you do that — both the collection and the securing of the item — did you do that in conformity with your training and certification on buccal swab collection?
MR. GALLERANI: I did.
MR. LALLY: Now, with reference to those items — at some point, were you informed that those items were to be transferred, transported, to a Bode Technology lab in Lorton, Virginia?
MR. GALLERANI: I was.
MR. LALLY: And were there specific instructions as far as shipping was concerned that were provided by the Bode Technology lab?
MR. GALLERANI: Yes.
MR. LALLY: And the shipping that occurred in this case — was that in conformity with what Bode had provided as far as the policies and protocols for shipping those types of materials?
MR. GALLERANI: It was.
MR. LALLY: Thank you, sir. I have nothing further.
MR. JACKSON: We have no questions.
JUDGE CANNONE: All right, you're all set, Sergeant. Thank you. Have a good day.