WORCESTER — Members of the public were briefed about the findings of a U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the Worcester Police Department during a Monday night webinar.
The two-year civil “pattern or practice” inquiry found Worcester police using excessive force and engaging in “outrageous” sexual contact with women while undercover.
The report was based on extensive documents, interviews with city and police officials, and 150 community members and organizations, including advocates and victims, according to staff members of the U.S. Attorney’s office for the District of Massachusetts. United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy credited community members with making the report possible.
Joshua Levy, U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts, briefed community members on the investigation of the Worcester police on Monday night.
Levy and staffers involved with the investigation detailed findings where they had a “reasonable cause” to believe the Worcester Police Department engaged in these practices and did not have the policies in place to prevent such behaviors.
The members from the U.S. Attorney’s office detailed findings that police “unreasonably” engaged in quick taser use, head strikes and biting inflicted by police dogs. Police also had a pattern of escalating “minor” incidents, according to the presenters.
The Worcester report was the first in which the Justice Department issued a pattern or practice finding involving sexual misconduct by officers. The report included testimony alleging officers unnecessarily engaged in sexual conduct with women believed to be involved in the sex trade while undercover.
In addition, there were “credible reports” of a “very small” number of officers sexually assaulting or engaging in other illegal sexual conduct with women under threat of arrest for engaging in the sex trade, according to the staff at the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Levy said he looked forward to drafting a binding agreement with the city. Pattern or practice investigations usually result in binding court agreements, called consent decrees, aimed at forcing reforms.
Levy also said he had confidence in Interim Worcester Police Chief Paul B. Saucier, saying he was “a good partner for sustainable reform.”
The Monday webinar did not include a portion where community members or media could give feedback or ask questions. Recordings of the webinar were also not allowed.
Levy said near the end there would be future opportunities for community members to give feedback.
Early morning Monday, Brian T. Kelly, an outside lawyer hired by the city, slammed the investigation as “unfair, inaccurate and biased.” Kelly alleged the report was “riddled with factual inaccuracies” and “ignores information provided by the City which debunks many of the anonymous claims.”
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: US Attorney seeks binding agreement after Worcester police probe