WORCESTER—The Worcester City Council will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation that concluded the Worcester Police Department (WPD) engaged in a systemic pattern of unconstitutional practices, including excessive force, sexual misconduct, and racial discrimination.
The meeting is expected to feature a presentation by Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier, who outlines steps the department has taken in response to the DOJ’s report.
Saucier’s report, originally scheduled for discussion on March 18, details ongoing policy revisions and training initiatives intended to address the federal investigation’s concerns. Among these efforts, the department is working with former FBI civil rights unit chief Ron Reed to enhance constitutional law training for officers. Additional reforms include policy changes on undercover operations, updates to use-of-force procedures, and expanded crisis intervention training.
The DOJ’s 41-page report, released in December, found that WPD officers engaged in a “pattern or practice” of excessive force and inappropriate sexual contact during undercover operations. Investigators also raised concerns about gender bias in the department’s handling of sexual assault cases and alleged racial disparities in law enforcement practices. The DOJ outlined 19 recommendations for reform, though questions remain about whether a new presidential administration will enforce them.
Tuesday’s special session is also expected to revisit a petition filed by Worcester’s two police unions, which dispute the DOJ’s findings and have called for the department to release the names of individuals involved in the investigation. The council previously tabled the unions’ petition at meetings in December and January.
The meeting comes months after a contentious council session on Dec. 17, which drew hundreds of officers and community members, highlighting sharp divisions over the DOJ’s findings. City Manager Eric Batista previously called the report’s conclusions “shocking and unacceptable” and committed to implementing reforms to restore public trust in the department.
Worcester City Council meets on Tuesday, March 24, at City Hall in the Esther Howland (south) Chamber at 6:30 p.m. It is also live streamed on the city’s website.
Have news, tips, or a story worth telling? A good recipe or a funny joke? Reach Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org—because good stories (and great scoops) deserve to be shared.
- The Worcester Guardian is an independent nonprofit news organization. Support local journalism by making a DONATION today.
