Why the Department of Justice Should Investigate Worcester Police.

The Department of Justice, Cleveland Police Report, and Worcester Police Department.

Recently the Department of Justice wrote a negative report regarding misconduct and the poor practices of the Cleveland Police Department. Some of the issues that were found in need of improvement are:

•  The unnecessary and excessive use of deadly force, including shootings and head strikes with impact weapons;
• The unnecessary, excessive or retaliatory use of less lethal force including tasers, chemical spray and fists;
• Excessive force against persons who are mentally ill or in crisis, including in cases where the officers were called exclusively for a welfare check; and
• The employment of poor and dangerous tactics that place officers in situations where avoidable force becomes inevitable and places officers and civilians at unnecessary risk.

The report also described a lack of transparency in the Cleveland Police Department that allowed the misconduct to continue over many years.

In Worcester no one outside of the Worcester Police Department can say with certainty how much police misconduct there is in the police department. For decades this information has been kept secret, even when ordered by the courts to make it public.

The ACLU, the Worcester Telegram, and others have tried to obtain what should be public records from the Worcester Police. With each attempt the Worcester Police has blocked any significant release of public records.

There is evidence of police misconduct. The latest being the allegations that a Worcester Police officer beat up a shackled prisoner in the Worcester lock up. Even here the tape of the alleged misconduct has not been released.

In light of the many allegations of misconduct by the Worcester Police and the lack of transparency an investigation by the Department of Justice would be welcomed. The investigation might find that the Worcester Police are relatively well managed department doing a good job.  The report might find that the Worcester Police is abusive and non compliant to the civil rights of residents.  It might find the police in Worcester to be slightly flawed and in need of some changes.

This investigation will confirm or belay any trust issues with the communities of color. The powers that be should not be afraid of such an investigation by the Department of Justice. After all the City Manager asked it to come to Worcester to help with race relations. It makes sense for the City Manager to now ask the Department of Justice to give its seal of approval or disapproval to the Worcester Police Department.

It is troubling when at the May 18, 2015 Department of Justice facilitation of the discussion of race relations in Worcester that a Black woman was booed by White people when she raised the suggestion of the Department of Justice investigation of the Worcester Police. It was more troubling when a local columnist made light of her suggestion. There still exists a great divide in race relations in Worcester. 

It fairly clear that the so called discussion on race relations will not go any further when the racists are invited to participate. The hearings were never intended to be a debate or a platform for some tea party like people to make racist comments.

There is a need now for the additional action of the Department of Justice investigation of the Worcester Police.  Rumor is that local activists are writing a letter to the U.S. Attorney office of Carmen Ortiz making this petition.