WORCESTER—A raucous crowd of an estimated 200 people filled the Worcester City Council’s chambers and spilled into the hallway, as the council discussed the recently-released report from the U.S. Department of Justice that alleges members of the Worcester Police Department committed a series of transgressions and crimes.
Approximately half of those in attendance were WPD officers.
The report, based on an investigation that began in November of 2022, was released on Dec. 9. It alleges that officers resorted to unnecessarily tasing suspects, striking them in the head, and inflicting bodily harm, among its assertions.
It also accuses officers of sexually assaulting female sex workers under threat of arrest, and engaging in sexual acts while under cover.
Several people representing Project Priceless, a collective of women who have survived the sex trade, urged the council to act.
Elizabeth Grajales, Project Priceless’s vice president, said the turnout of women at the meeting expresses the outrage of the report, but also outrage about police actions that have taken place over many years.
“I believe that homeless women in the city of Worcester are under attack,” she said. “We demand a public apology and restitution for all the women that suffered at the hands of these officers.”
The report does not name any specific police officer or details of any incidents.
The report also alleges that the WPD lacks appropriate policy for addressing reports of sexual assault and discriminating against Black and Hispanic persons.
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Several people who spoke advocated for the council to take the complaints seriously, to investigate further, and punish any officers determined to be guilty.
Resident Serenity Jones said she agrees that the DOJ report should include names of offending officers, as well as alleged victims, along with any other evidence or information.
“If we don’t know who is making accusations, how are we to fix anything?” Jones asked.
William Gardiner, a former WPD officer, said he was blackballed and ridiculed by other officers and fired from the force “because I refused to behave in the ways described in the Department of Justice’s report.”
“The culture of policing in this country is riddled with this type of behavior,” Gardiner said. “The WPD needs to acknowledge that they are not as squeaky clean as they make themselves out to be.”
Meanwhile, members of the WPD and their supporters said the DOJ report lacks information or evidence, and undermines the public trust in the WPD.
Veteran police officer Thomas Duffy called the report “a total disgrace.”
“We have local elected officials, and some in our community, who prioritize disparaging the great men and women on a regular basis,” Duffy said. “This sham of a so-called investigation is a new low point, with hardly any factual information, and the authors take it upon themselves if an allegation made against police is credible.”
After the public comments, City Manager Eric Batista called the report “shocking – it’s unacceptable.”
“It’s something that we, the city and the community are trying to digest everything in it,” he said, also commending the people who spoke. “I do acknowledge and want to recognize the fact that there are survivors in this space who came tonight and spoke valiantly of their experience.”
Mayor Joseph Petty said that when he learned of the DOJ investigation two years ago, he knew that the council would have to react to the eventual report.
“Our community deserves a response that is professional in nature,” Petty said, “reflecting an experienced and deliberate council body.”
Petty urged the council to come up with an official response and plans to move forward with the issue within 30 days, including responses to every one of the 19 DOJ recommendations. He also proposed a special meeting of the council, open to the public, dedicated to this issue only, take place.
“I want to recognize those in the community working to make sure the community stays informed throughout the process,” Petty said.
The city has also set up a hotline, specifically for the public to report incidents of police misconduct (774-548-1696). Complaints may also be submitted online, at https://forms.worcesterma.gov/f/InvestigationsIntake.
Council member Khrystian King said the hotline was “simply not enough.”
“Systemic change, we must have,” King said. “I can appreciate rooting out individuals who have perpetrated acts upon the people and upon the bodies of people.”
King said that while a number of officers have served the right way, including those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to the community. He also applauded the community members who spoke, even though seemingly outnumbered by officers in attendance.
“The women who have come forward in the midst of institutional presence, influence and power, to speak their truth is extremely impactful,” King said. “We know that this report was not just based on fiction. They talked to the police department….they culled information from police reports. Reports that they culled showed that there was excessive force with regards to folks who were suicidal or in the process of being sectioned, hospitalized.”
“Heads need to roll; people need to be fired,” said Councilor George Russell, describing his reaction to the report. “The comments I’m hearing from the community and from the officers is that they feel the same way, that heads should roll. If there are officers there that have done these bad acts, then they should be fired.”
Later in the five-hour meeting, councilors blasted the WPD for their perceived disavowing of the entire DOJ report, and not acknowledging that any of the claims have any truth.
“Tonight could push things a little further back,” King said, adding that Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier has been responsive to any issues but expressed concern that the statement released WPD’s statement on the issue fell short by calling for training and other preventative initiatives for the WPD going forward, but says nothing about addressing the allegations made by the DOJ.
The city’s response, released the day after the report came out, was created by the city manager, Petty and city attorneys, and sent out as a press release and on the city’s website. King objected to the other councilors not even seeing the response before it was released, nor having any input as to what it said.
“[It’s] insufficient to let that go out,” King said. “I don’t care what the recommendations were. These councilors had no idea, but we had two leaders that did.” King added that police have opposed any sort of memorandum of understanding, agreement or consent decree with the DOJ.
“Heads rolling? Not enough. It falls short. There are systemic changes and civilian oversight that are required here,” King said. “If that department is dismissing this, if their leadership is dismissing this, and the union is not supporting the reform, it doesn’t matter what you or the chief does. It’s the rank and file. They must know the facts. When there are errors, they should know that too. There will be no change without that buy-in.”
“We need to condemn these acts and protect our BIPOC communities, folks with disabilities, and vulnerable sex workers and women who are being prostituted and are clearly being harmed by the patterns and practices of WPD,” said councilor Thu Nguyen. “This is not new. It’s been known for over five years. There are so many people who know about this. For us to act [like it’s] brand new is a disservice and dishonest. This did not come out of nowhere.”
Councilor Etel Haxhiaj did not hold back in her comments about the police department, and their apparent desire to discredit the entire DOJ report.
“They do not intend to work to implement the process of us going forward,” she said. “These folks are coming to this audience tonight not in good faith.”
“This is a very standard tactic of abusers – to intimidate, to expose and to weaponize sexual violence,” Nguyen said, “and to linger, and control the narrative…It’s so abusive and disgusting to me.”
Haxhiaj added words directed at the women of Project Priceless and others who made the claims.
“I will protect you, with my life if I have to,” she said. “You have shared with me the fear of coming forward, not being believed and the repercussions of reporting your experiences. I was terrified tonight as a woman. I personally understand the risk that women, whether they are trafficked or prostituted, here or in other settings, take when they come forward.”
She added that she was “sickened” by the report.
“It’s been about some men in power who feel comfortable about adopting a ‘your body, my choice’ behavior toward women. It’s about black and brown members of our community who have begged for change, to be heard and taken seriously.”
Steve Smith is a veteran reporter from Connecticut with 17 years of experience at The Hartford Courant. Now based in Worcester, he brings his passion for photojournalism to his work and spends much of his free time behind the camera. An award-winning photographer, Steve has covered major events including U.S. Men’s and Women’s Soccer, pro football, UCONN Huskies basketball, and the Miss America competition. He also serves as the official photographer for the Miss Massachusetts competition. In addition to journalism, Steve is a realtor, helping families find their perfect homes.
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