Amid continued frustration with past police misconduct in Worcester, residents are renewing decades-old calls for stronger oversight of the Worcester Police Department.
The recent push for an independent investigative body comes after a report last fall by the nonprofit Worcester Regional Research Bureau concluded a civilian review board would increase police accountability and rebuild trust in the department.
The U.S. Department of Justice in 2024 found Worcester officers had used excessive force, disproportionately targeted Black and Latino people, and committed other “outrageous” misconduct that violates people’s rights. That includes engaging in sexual conduct with women suspected of being involved in the commercial sex trade during undercover operations…