Independent Investigation Into Needham PD: No Racial Profiling

NEEDHAM, MA — An independent investigation into the actions of officers in the Needham Police Department who stopped and detained a Black man they suspected of shoplifting last year found that there was no racial profiling.

The independent investigation comes a month after the police department's internal investigation exonerated the officers of racial profiling. Both investigations found issue with the officers reporting methods and stressed that operational and procedural changes be made in the department.

Marvin Henry was detained by Needham police for questioning in January 2020 by four officers in a parking lot off a main road, relating to an alleged shoplifting incident at a CVS. Henry, a Black man who had been inside the CVS store during the alleged incident, was stopped and detained by officers outside the CVS. Henry was handcuffed and detained for half an hour in the lot before officers removed the cuffs and let him show them his CVS receipt.

Henry, a father of four from Boston, works as a massage therapist in Needham. Henry wrote a letter to the department in July accusing the officers of racial profiling and asking for an apology from the department.

The independent investigation was run by attorney Natashia Tidwell and the 44-page report found that officers had "reasonable suspicion to stop Henry," but that the search of Henry was against the department's policy.

"The weight of the available evidence does not support a finding that the officers engaged in racial profiling when they stopped Mr. Henry; and NPD should consider implementing efforts to address several areas for improvement in its general policies and internal investigations moving forward," the report reads.

The Needham Select Board issued a statement acknowledging the impact of the incident on Henry and apologizing, saying, "Mr. Henry did nothing wrong."

The statement went on to support the Needham Police Department and pledged to work alongside the Needham police chief to "consider opportunities for improvements to practices and policies" recommended in the report.

Lawyers for Civil Rights, the firm representing Henry pro bono, issued a statement as well.

"Although we disagree with several of Attorney Tidwell's conclusions, especially and including the absence of racial profiling, we note that the report specifically rejects any idea that Mr. Henry experienced a mere "petty indignity," said Lauren Sampson, Staff Attorney at Lawyers for Civil Rights, who is representing Mr. Henry. "Her report, and its very specific recommendations, make clear what Mr. Henry and other people of color who live and work in Needham have long known: the police department is unable to police itself. Reform is necessary and it can't wait."