Worcester Residents Push for Independent Police Review Board at Council Meeting

A Worcester residents' group and allies are pushing to establish an independent civilian review board to oversee the Worcester Police Department. 

The recent call for an independent investigative body follows a report issued last fall by the nonprofit Worcester Regional Research Bureau, which concluded that a civilian review board would increase police accountability and rebuild trust in the department.

This push follows a 2024 U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) report that detailed excessive force, racial targeting, and misconduct by Worcester officers, including inappropriate undercover conduct with women involved in the sex trade.

After the report's release, City Manager Eric Batista stated he would introduce the topic of a civilian review board before the City Council for more discussion. As of Friday, Jan. 16, this conversation has not happened.

GBH News reported that during a City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 13, more than a dozen people called for Worcester leaders to act on the research bureau's findings. According to GBH News, city councilors did not respond to residents' calls for the oversight board. 

Once the meeting concluded, the offices of Batista and Mayor Joseph Petty, who chairs the City Council, told GBH News they still plan to bring up the research bureau's report to the City Council, but did not elaborate further.

Petty and several councilors have questioned the need for a civilian oversight board. They note mechanisms for review are already in place, such as the Worcester Human Rights Commission and the Bureau of Professional Standards.

Police Chief Paul Saucier has also expressed skepticism about the board's effectiveness, citing reforms in training and accountability following a federal DOJ investigation.

“It's unacceptable that a publicly funded institution is not accountable to the public,” Sarah Bertrand stated to GBH News. “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.”