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Worcester council schedules special meeting to review DOJ police report after residents raise constable enforcement concerns
Summary
City council agreed to hold a special meeting to review the U.S. Department of Justice report and the Worcester Police Department response after multiple residents raised concerns about license constables, use of force and internal investigations.
The Worcester City Council agreed to dedicate a special meeting two weeks from Feb. 25 to review the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) report on the Worcester Police Department and the department’s response, after several residents raised concerns about constables and internal investigations during public comment.
The council’s decision to hold a focused session came after public commenters urged the council to make the full DOJ report available and to take stronger action on enforcement of the city’s directives to licensed constables. “A letter was sent out, and Angel Santana still thinks he can use police force,” resident Sherry Stanley said, describing three eviction notices she said were delivered to her home. Grace Ross and other speakers echoed the call for enforcement of the city’s prior guidance to constables.
Why it matters: residents told the council they face threats when constables or other individuals present eviction notices with the implication of police power. Multiple speakers warned that without clearer enforcement the city’s public-safety message and department morale suffer.
In public comments, speakers also criticized internal investigatory practices. Tom Marino and others lauded aspects of the department’s reform work but said internal investigations remain “not credible” because they are performed by divisions of the department. Marino said past internal reviews conflicted with video evidence in high-profile cases and urged the council to press for stronger outside review mechanisms.
City Manager and council discussion: Mayor Petty and members of the council agreed the full DOJ report and the police response should be included in the forthcoming special meeting. Councilor Russell placed two agenda items on hold (9.11a and 9.13a) so the council could focus on the DOJ materials; the council then instructed the city manager to provide the actual DOJ report at the special meeting. The mayor and several councilors described the session as a special council meeting rather than a committee meeting and allowed public input at the start of that meeting if residents wish to attend.
Public sentiment and next steps: speakers asking the council for action said the council should not rely solely on internal reviews and should consider structural changes to oversight. Several residents urged transparency and named specific constables and incidents. Councilors asked the city manager to make the report available to the council and public before the special meeting. Mayor Petty and council leaders said the meeting will be scheduled and advertised, and the council directed the manager to return the DOJ document and related materials for committee and council review.
The council did not adopt policy changes or take a formal disciplinary action at the Feb. 25 meeting. The forthcoming special session will be the venue for public presentation and council questions on the DOJ material and the police department’s response.
