Worcester Police Forum Collides With New Police Reform Proposal

WORCESTER, MA — Following a turbulent week that saw a new lawsuit over alleged police misconduct, an investigation into an officer "sick out" and a major police reform proposal, Worcester police leaders will host a forum Monday about a controversial new law enforcement tool that purportedly predicts crime.

Worcester police want to buy new software called ShotSpotter Connect, but have faced opposition from local activists. The forum will feature representatives from ShotSpotter — a company that mainly sells acoustic devices that detect gunshots — answering questions about the software and its ability to forecast crime.

The meeting comes after Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. on Friday released a long-anticipated police reform proposal, which was sparked by the summer reckoning over racism and police brutality. The proposal, which is subject to City Council approval, would remove police from public schools, ban facial recognition technology and create a cabinet-level Division of Investigations to handle complaints from residents, among other measures.

"It is undeniable that structural and institutional racism permeate our entire society, at all levels of government, and in all institutions," Augustus wrote in a letter to the City Council. "To dismantle it, we must do more than give lip service, we must reimagine our ideals and take the necessary steps to achieve them. That means real reform that gives voice to those who have too often felt left out of them conversation."

Reaction to the proposal from one of the city's police unions, IBPO Local 504, was negative, with a key leader insinuating police would hold a demonstration on opening day of the Worcester Red Sox season.

"Looks like some good old fashion 'bare knuckled' union action will be forthcoming!!" Local 504 leader and Worcester police Sgt. Richard Cipro wrote in a Facebook post Friday. "Too bad the last 30 years of good relations with the city is ruined by someone who 'stole' the job from a person of color!!!!"

Groups that have been advocating for police reform were pleased with some of Augustus' proposals, especially removing police from schools. The Worcester Branch NAACP asked the removal to happen at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year, earlier than Augustus' January 2022 proposal.

The Worcester Interfaith group highlighted two points it would like to see strengthened in Augustus' proposal: the addition of a civilian-led police review board and body cameras for officers in the department's drug unit.

"We believe this is a start however, moving forward with any police reform must include a true and genuine community process as communities of color are disproportionally impacted by structural and institutional racism," Worcester Interfaith said in a statement. "Plans to address these issues cannot be created without inviting those groups, organizations and individuals in the city who have been fighting racism for decades."

Augustus' new proposal came after his office confirmed an investigation into a police "sick out." More than a dozen officers may have participated in the protest over an officer's suspension following an altercation with a man who was strapped to a stretcher. Augustus and several police officers were also sued this week by a former Uber driver who said he was assaulted by police — with one officer using racist language — for filming an arrest in 2018. It's the fourth lawsuit over the past year alleging misconduct by Worcester police.

The forum with Worcester police begins Monday at 6 p.m. on Zoom. Meanwhile, Augustus' reform proposal will go before the City Council at its Tuesday meeting.