Worcester residents demand accountability after Eureka Street ICE incident; council requests reports, body‑cam review and policy work

Dozens of Worcester residents told the City Council on Zoom that police and federal immigration agents violated residents’ rights during an incident on Eureka Street, and called for immediate steps including release of body‑worn camera footage and the creation of an independent civilian review process.

The public comments, largely during the meeting’s extended public‑participation period, pressed Mayor Petty and City Manager Batista to “show the city” how the Worcester Police Department (WPD) handled the encounter and whether officers cooperated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Rose Derico, a Worcester resident, said, “I support a civilian review board of the police.”

The comments underscored what speakers called a pattern of misconduct described in a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) report cited repeatedly during testimony. Residents urged the council to release footage and to establish mechanisms to protect families and children they said were traumatized by the incident. David Webb, identifying himself as a Worcester resident, urged the council to “release … the body camera footage of…