Amid continued frustration with past police misconduct in Worcester, residents are renewing decades-old calls for stronger oversight of the Worcester Police Department.
The recent push for an independent investigative body comes after a report last fall by the nonprofit Worcester Regional Research Bureau concluded a civilian review board would increase police accountability and rebuild trust in the department.
The U.S. Department of Justice in 2024 found Worcester officers had used excessive force, disproportionately targeted Black and Latino people, and committed other “outrageous” misconduct that violates people’s rights. That includes engaging in sexual conduct with women suspected of being involved in the commercial sex trade during undercover operations.
After the research bureau released its report, City Manager Eric Batista — who asked the bureau to look into the matter — said he would bring the topic of a civilian review board before City Council for more discussion. But that has yet to happen.
At a City Council meeting Tuesday night, more than a dozen people said it’s time for Worcester leaders to take action on the bureau’s recommendation. Janet Davis told councilors many residents agree the city needs a police oversight board.
“At the least, we should be talking about it on the floor instead of just continuing to ignore it and pushing it to the side,” Davis said during the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting.
City councilors did not address residents’ calls for the oversight board. After the meeting, the offices of Batista and Mayor Joseph Petty, who chairs the City Council, told GBH News they still plan to raise the research bureau’s report but did not offer specifics on when that would be.
Petty and several other councilors have previously said they don’t believe a civilian review board is necessary. They point to entities like the Worcester Human Rights Commission and the police department’s internal Bureau of Professional Standards that already help oversee officers.
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Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier has also said he doesn’t think the review panel would be effective. He’s argued the department has made reforms to enhance training and hold officers more accountable following the justice department investigation.
Still, in its report last fall, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau argued the city would benefit from a review panel that consists of residents and has the power to subpoena people as part of its investigations into police affairs.
The bureau noted that Worcester is among a shrinking minority of localities nationwide without an independent review body or oversight structure. That’s even though Worcester residents have been calling for a civilian oversight board since the 1970s, a fact speakers pointed to during the City Council meeting Tuesday.
“It’s unacceptable that a publicly funded institution is not accountable to the public,” Sarah Bertrand said. “Holding a publicly funded institution to a higher standard is not disparaging nor radical. It’s what our community deserves and has been asking for.”
Other residents added that calling for more police oversight doesn’t mean they’re against Worcester officers. Rather, they want to ensure that police stop violating people’s rights, and vowed to continue showing up to City Council meetings to advocate for a civilian review board.
“They’re going to be here on your back until we get something,” Gary Hunter warned councilors.
