Worcester Police present annual report to Human Rights Commission; department details complaints, reforms and community programs

Worcester Police Department leaders presented an annual report to the Human Rights Commission at the commission’s June monthly meeting, addressing complaint patterns, use‑of‑force oversight, language access, interactions with federal agents during an ICE‑related incident on Eureka Street, ShotSpotter activations, and recruitment and training initiatives.

Public comments at the start of the meeting framed the conversation: Ashley Spring Wister told the commission, “despite several months passing since the Department of Justice investigation was completed … we have yet to see any meaningful change from the Worcester Police Department,” and asked commissioners to consider that when hearing the police report.

Chief Paul Sarsi, accompanied by multiple deputy chiefs, captains and the department’s diversity officer, reviewed data the department supplied. Chief Sarsi and other senior leaders said the department’s records-management and internal‑affairs software presently limit the ability to automatically disaggregate complaint types over a 15‑year span; they said older systems grouped many complaint types under administrative labels such as “submitting reports,” so a manual review would be required to identify bias‑related complaints from earlier years.

On case counts and complaints, the department reported that in 2024 it received 39 total complaints that generated 91 individual allegations across categories captured in the Bureau of Professional Standards reports. The department said 54.95% of allegations in that year’s reports were sustained (50 sustained allegations reported in the BOPS spreadsheet provided). Officials noted that the number of complaints is small compared with the volume of incidents police respond to; one presentation line stated there were roughly 143,065 incidents in 2024 and 39 complaints tied to that volume.

Use of force and taser data: the department provided detailed counts for electronic-control device (TASER) incidents and other higher‑level force events. In 2024 there were 86 TASER displays, 11 drive‑stun contacts and 8 probe deployments reported in the attachments. The department said drive‑stun contacts in 2024 were recorded as conducted on males, of which 8 were identified as non‑Hispanic white and 3 as Black. Chief Sarsi said the agency increased supervisory review of use‑of‑force events and created a use‑of‑force review committee that includes certified instructors to identify training gaps.

Software and data collection: WPD told the commission it is pursuing modern records‑management and investigative platforms that would make officer‑level and incident‑level trend analysis much easier. The department said PowerDMS adoption was authorized in the city’s July 1 budget and that a larger RMS/analytics platform (hexagon) is expected to take 12–16 months for implementation; the department said improved software will allow better automated tracking of complaint types, demographic breakdowns and links between incidents.

Bias‑free policy and training: Deputy Chief Ken Davenport reviewed the department’s bias‑free policy and training. He said the policy is relatively recent and that prior systems did not include a dedicated “bias” label; as a result, older complaints often had to be read individually to determine whether a bias component existed. Davenport described training and curriculum in the academy and in annual in‑service that includes implicit‑bias and DEI material. Captain Chris Murphy, commander of the training division, said recruits receive DEI and integrated behavioral‑health training in the academy, and that the department provides required annual training including use‑of‑force and first‑responder medical content.

Language access: the department provided its Limited English Proficiency (LEP) policy and said language services are used when officers identify a person is not proficient in English. A sector telephone and a video/audio interpretation app are in use; WPD reported the language application was used 1,822 times in 2024. The department said in some incidents officers who speak the needed language (the department cited a Portuguese‑speaking officer during the Eureka Street matter) were able to communicate directly.

Eureka Street / federal agents: commissioners pressed police leadership about an ICE‑involved incident on Eureka Street. Chief Sarsi said WPD received calls from federal agents and civilians and that first supervisors on scene spoke with an ICE agent who identified themselves. The department described “deconfliction” protocols (advance notification from outside agencies when possible) and said officers observed federal agents wearing vests and carrying standard law‑enforcement equipment; WPD said it did not provide assistance to federal agents’ law‑enforcement activity and that its role on scene was to preserve the peace and clear roadways for safety. Chief Sarsi said the department has since worked to identify points of contact within federal agencies and to improve on‑scene communications, including a plan to use an identifiable on‑scene point of contact (lanyard) to direct public questions.

ShotSpotter and the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit: WPD said it responded to 344 ShotSpotter activations and confirmed physical evidence in 105 activations during the period cited; the department said it could not yet automatically link specific activations to subsequent arrests or convictions without additional RMS extraction, but that ShotSpotter combined with a targeted crime‑gun intelligence unit was a major element of the department’s strategy. Officials said comparing 2024 to early 2025 statistics shows a downward trend in gunfire events and homicides, which the department attributes in part to the crime‑gun intelligence work and to the deterrent effect of focused officer presence in algorithmically selected “shot‑spotter boxes.”

Hate crimes and community liaison work: WPD reported nine incidents classified as hate crimes in 2024; investigative reports were provided and redacted versions were attached for commission review. The department said three incidents involved the removal or vandalism of Pride flags; others involved graffiti or epithets and ranged across neighborhoods. The department highlighted assignment of a full‑time LGBTQ liaison officer and named additional DEI/recruiting contacts who conduct outreach.

Bureau of Professional Standards and discipline: the department described BOPS reporting and dispositions. For 2024 the BOPS spreadsheet included a mix of dispositions (sustained, not sustained, exonerated, unfounded, etc.). Chief Sarsi said some older complaints required manual review to determine bias content, and he committed to returning additional details on specific historic sustained findings if the commission requested them in writing.

Recruitment and diversity: WPD presented workforce demographics and recent academy class composition. Leadership reported active recruitment efforts in schools and community venues and said the current academy class numbered 22 recruits (2 Asian, 5 Black, 9 Hispanic, 5 White, 1 other). The department said it planned mentoring and preparatory work to expand candidacies for promotional exams and senior‑level opportunities. Staff noted approximately 90 officers would be eligible for retirement in the next two years, and that recruitment aims to address those upcoming vacancies.

Behavioral‑health response and CIT: WPD described use of its Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and said clinicians now ride alongside officers for many responses; the department reported a multi‑agency crisis response pilot funded by grants and that the city maintains a jail‑diversion grant and other resources. WPD said it has roughly 85 CIT‑trained officers and currently deploys two clinicians on extended shifts to support street responses.

Data transparency and next steps: department leaders said many requested data attachments and redacted investigative reports had been provided to the commission, that some historic disaggregation will require manual review or new software, and that PowerDMS and a new RMS are expected to improve transparency and data extraction. Leaders told commissioners they will follow up on specific written information requests (for example, precise counts of past sustained untruthfulness BOPS findings and detailed cross‑tabulations of use‑of‑force by race) once those queries are prioritized and run in the records systems.

Ending: Commissioners thanked department leaders for the report, pressed for follow‑up on items that affect community trust (data disaggregation, timing on software rollout, and after‑action communication protocols for federal agent incidents), and asked the department to provide additional requested data in writing.