Lawrence mayor says he wants to suspend ed chief

LAWRENCE, Mass. -- Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan says he now supports suspending embattled School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy after another police raid.

Sullivan told the Eagle-Tribune newspaper Wednesday that he will vote Thursday at a closed-door school committee meeting to suspend Laboy, pending the outcome of a police probe that has involved searches of Laboy's office and home. Authorities have said the investigation involves alleged financial improprieties.

A majority of school committee members have said they wanted Laboy placed on paid administrative leave.

The 58-year-old Laboy has been on stress-related medical leave for several weeks but had said he would return to work this week.

Laboy did not immediately return phone calls. His attorney Scott Gleason said he's confident the superintendent will be exonerated.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)