Medford officials press police on ICE/FBI presence at station; police cite limits on federal notification
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Summary
Medford councillors and residents pressed the police on May 7 after reports that federal agents were briefly at the police department earlier in the week; the police chief said federal agencies notify the department only to "deconflict," and he declined to promise routine advance notice to city leaders.
City councillors and residents pressed the Medford Police Department on May 7 about reports that federal agents were present at the police station earlier in the week. Councillor Singh and other members said residents reported seeing federal vehicles and agents in the police lot and, in one instance, an agent walking through secured interior areas.
Chief Buckley told the Public Health and Community Safety Committee that the department received an early‑morning notification from a federal immigration enforcement office that they would be in the city; he described the department’s practice of being informed only to "deconflict" operations and said the department often receives similar notices from multiple federal agencies. "We were notified yesterday morning from, immigration ERO, that they would be in the city of Medford," he said. He added he had "no knowledge" of operational details—when asked whether federal agents entered secured spaces or used police facilities, the chief said his staff’s check found agents quickly parked, talked and left and that he did not know whether any arrests were made.
Councillors and public commenters raised two linked concerns: (1) whether use of city facilities or staff to support federal civil immigration enforcement would violate Medford’s Welcoming City ordinance, and (2) whether city leaders should receive proactive notification that federal enforcement agencies are active in town. Chief Buckley said the department seeks interoperability with other agencies to avoid operational conflicts but that federal agencies do not routinely provide more than minimal notice. "That's not gonna happen," he said, describing the practical limit on providing detailed notification to city officials without jeopardizing future federal cooperation.
Councillor Singh noted the city’s Welcoming City ordinance restricts use of city funds, resources, facilities, equipment or personnel to assist civil immigration enforcement, and she asked whether the police department would notify the mayor’s office or councilors when it learns federal agents will be present. Chief Buckley said he had asked his command staff to review the incident and could not promise that the department would give advance notices to the mayor or council in future because doing so could jeopardize officer safety and future interagency communication.
Vice President Collins and other councilors said they understood the operational sensitivities but urged a local conversation about whether a limited, law‑enforcement‑sensitive notification protocol could be developed so city leadership could take measured steps to inform residents and reduce panic. No policy change or formal vote on notification practices occurred at the meeting; councilors asked for additional internal review and recommended further discussion between the council, the mayor’s office and the police.
Public commenters expressed concern about federal enforcement action near schools and public spaces and asked the city to weigh notification options carefully. The committee did not receive any record requests from federal agencies for BWC footage from 2025 at the time of the meeting; Lieutenant Joe Casey told the committee the only outside agency to request footage in 2025 was the Department of Children and Families for child protection cases.
