Straight Pride Parade Report Outlines SPD Policy Changes

SOMERVILLE, MA — The Somerville Police Department this week released its after-action report about the Straight Pride Parade held in Boston over Labor Day Weekend. Somerville police officers assisted the Boston Police Department as part of a Cops On Bikes For Regional Assistance (COBRA) mutual aid unit, a decision that angered some residents.

In the aftermath of the event, during which dozens of counter-protesters were arrested, city officials said Somerville officers did not carry out any arrests themselves but assisted Boston officers in taking people into custody. Some residents disputed the city's claim with photos from the parade that appeared to show Somerville officers making arrests, and the department invited the public to submit photos and videos from the parade as it reviewed its officers' actions.

Prior to the event, police received intelligence that 200-300 marchers were expected to participate, and an estimated 1,800-10,000 people were expected to counter-protest. Both sides were "expecting and hoping for violent confrontation," according to intelligence gathered by law enforcement.

Parade participants were organizing their own "security," consisting of batons and pepper spray, and were associated with white nationalist groups that have promoted and engaged in violence, according to the after-action report. Social media posts also indicated some individuals planned to carry concealed weapons, and one of the organizers "provided guidance to its participants that their event would be confrontational and include violence," the intelligence stated.

Additionally, counter-protesters planned to block the parade route, and it was "highly likely that some individuals attending would attempt to engage in disruptive and/or criminal behavior targeting the opposing side and law enforcement," according to the report.

State mutual aid policy dictates that a community's law enforcement agency can withhold resources if they believe it could endanger public safety in the agency's home community. The Somerville Police Department did not believe that would be the case, and accepted Boston's request, as the BPD was concerned about the number of protesters in attendance and intelligence regarding potential violence, the report stated.

Video showed Somerville officers' involvement at the following locations:

• Arlington and Boylston – detaining a person
• Corner of Boylston – SPD assisting BPD
• Corner of Boylston – assisting in an arrest
• Boylston towards Tremont - Officers attempting to confiscate weapons
• Emerson College – assisting with arrest

"The entire Command Staff reviewed the downloaded video," the report stated. "The Department could find no evidence of SPD officers violating the Policy or Procedures of the Somerville Police Department. We investigated all allegations of misconduct or excessive use of force and
were unable to support any violation of policy by our officers."

Despite not finding evidence of misconduct, the department stated it would enact the following changes:

- In acknowledgment of lessons learned during the “Straight Pride Parade” and
counter-protest and in an effort to increase transparency both internally and
externally, the Somerville Police Department is making important changes to Policy
Number 106 (Incident Reporting Guideline). The changes include updating language
under "Incidents Requiring Additional Reports" to include verbiage requiring that
officers working outside the city in an official capacity, who take someone into custody or assist other officers in taking someone into custody, must file a timely report documenting their actions and observations.

- SPD is also working to train and assign more first-line supervisors to the COBRA Unit.
The supervisors will be tasked with providing direct supervision, monitoring officers
for signs of stress during events, and debriefing officers under their command at the
conclusion of each event.

- In an effort to ensure and promote officer wellness, we will offer peer support after
each event and also send letters offering support to officers’ families who now
witness these events in real time via the 24-hour news cycle and social media.

- Again, as noted above, the SPD leadership supports body-worn cameras and will
continue to engage the SPD unions regarding the implementation of body-worn
cameras.

Read the full report below: