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Police Oversight and Civilian Review Board

Context

Whether Worcester should create a municipal civilian review board for the police. The City Manager's communication with a report and recommendation was held under privilege by Khrystian E. King (July 21) and Joseph M. Petty (August 18) before being taken up September 8, when the Chief Equity Officer (Kevin Lovaincy) presented the administration's recommendation not to proceed. King cited the Worcester Regional Research Bureau report "Overdue for Civilian Oversight: A Pathway for Lasting Police Reform" (his motion to request a copy was withdrawn). Related items: Luis A. Ojeda's order on the rise in arrests, Satya B. Mitra's biannual WPD goals and misconduct report, Kathleen M. Toomey's order on the closed Department of Justice investigation of the Worcester Police Department, and Tom Marino's "A Proposal for Police Reform in Worcester" (petition 7z on 9/15, held by Robert A. Bilotta). Tabled items on how the DOJ report differs from the city's account, an equity audit, and systemic racism and public safety hearings also remain on the tabled list.

Status

The civilian review board communication was placed on file 8-3 on 2026-09-08 (Bilotta, King, Ojeda opposed). Ojeda's and Mitra's report orders were adopted 11-0. The DOJ-closure discussion order was placed on file 8-3 and reconsideration denied. On 2026-09-15 King's request for an executive session on a police officer's conduct failed 4-6 (reconsideration 1-9). Marino's proposal was still held under privilege after 9/15; it was referred to Public Safety on 2026-09-22 per the 9/22 minutes.

Log

  • 2026-09-15 - City Council — King's motion for an executive session on a police officer's improper conduct denied 4-6 (Toomey recused); reconsideration denied 1-9. Marino's police reform proposal held by Bilotta. Ojeda and Mitra report orders recorded as adopted.
  • 2026-09-14 - Board of Health - Agenda only: 'City Council Civilian Review Board Update' (meeting reportedly adjourned without deliberations; rescheduled to Sept 30).
  • 2026-09-08 - City Council — Chief Equity Officer presented the administration's recommendation against a Civilian Review Board; after debate Rosen's motion to place on file passed 8-3. Ojeda (arrests report) and Mitra (biannual SMART goals/misconduct report) orders adopted 11-0; motion to let King exceed 10 minutes failed 5-6. Toomey's DOJ-closure order placed on file 8-3.
  • 2026-08-18 - City Council — Item 23f: held under privilege a second time, 8-0 (King, Economou, Ojeda absent), in Petty's name. Same night, Kathleen M. Toomey held her order for a Public Safety discussion of the DOJ investigation closure (item 13l) and the tabled City Manager communication on the DOJ report saw no action.
  • 2026-08-03 - Board of Health - Chair Anthes noted Council was again considering a civilian review board; Board voted 4-0 to put it on the next agenda, asked staff for its 2020-2021 minutes, and unanimously voted to tell the City Manager it wants to engage the Human Rights Commission.
  • 2026-07-21 - City Council — Item 10.5A CM: about 50 public speakers, nearly all opposed (one in favor; the journal does not say what the report recommended); King held it under privilege. Tabled DOJ-report communication (27f) saw no action.