18 Groups Demand Worcester Civilian Review Board For Police

WORCESTER, MA — Eighteen churches, nonprofits and activist groups in Worcester are renewing calls for a civilian-led board to review complaints about police misconduct.

In a letter Wednesday to the mayor, City Council and City Manager Edward Augustus Jr., the groups said new reforms around race and policing in Worcester don't go far enough — especially after recent publicized incidents of alleged police misconduct.

"Through the years, and over the past six months specifically, we have watched and suffered with the City’s inability to respond to complaints from diverse community groups, faith leaders and even elected officials struggling to find resolution to incidents of systemic racism and police excessive force," said the letter signed by groups ranging from the YWCA of Central Massachusetts to the Latino Empowerment Organizing Network (LEON).

Related: Worcester Has Paid $4M To Settle Police Suits Since 2010: Records

This winter, Augustus sent a slate of policy proposals to the City Council. Those included removing police from city schools, banning facial recognition technology and the creation of a division in city government to handle complaints about city employees — including police.

But the reforms did not include a civilian-led board to review police activity. Many cities in the U.S. have them, but many police departments and police unions resist outside oversight. In Worcester, the Bureau of Professional Standards oversees misconduct, but the city has gone to court to prevent the release of those records.

Meanwhile, Worcester has been sued more than a dozen times in recent years over police conduct. The letter sent to officials Wednesday highlighted recent events, like the suspension of officer Ryan Joyal and resulting sick-out.

"We therefore do not believe that any real accountability has happened, and justice remains stymied," the letter continued. "Because of our experiences, not only from past years, but also from recent months, we renew our public call to you to immediately begin efforts to work with us on the creation of a civilian review board with subpoena power in Worcester."

Read the full letter: