The Worcester YWCA.Google Maps
A community meeting will be held Wednesday night at the Worcester YWCA regarding the Department of Justice investigation and explosive findings at the Worcester Police Department, according to an email from the U.S. Attorney’s office.
The 41-page report, released Dec. 9, found that WPD officers used excessive force, engaged in discriminatory enforcement practices and engage in illegal sexual acts with vulnerable women, especially those who work in the sex trade.
The US Attorney’s Office and DOJ’s Civil Rights Division are inviting stakeholders from Worcester to attend the meeting, where the findings of the investigation and remedies will be discussed, according to a handout attached to the email.
The report was the result of a two-year civil investigation by the Department of Justice.
The Department of Justice is also seeking input and feedback from the community to determine what reforms should be considered for the Worcester Police Department.
During a 45-minute virtual meeting on the night of the report’s releaseU.S. Attorney Joshua Levy and members of the Justice Department told a group of about 100 people that there are plans to hold face-to-face meetings with community members to answer questions and gather feedback on reforms related to practices and police policies
“The problems we found are fixable,” Levy said. “These recommendations (at the end of the report) are just the beginning. We need to hear from community members about what you want your police department to look like.”
The Department of Justice explained 19 recommendations for the police department, ranging from improvements in use of force and escalation standards to “a complete ban on sexual contact for law enforcement purposes.”
The meeting at the YWCA’s Central Mass at 1 Salem Square in Worcester will be held on Dec. 18 from 6 to 7:30 p.m., according to the flyer.
Members of the public can also email their recommendations to community.wpd@usdoj.gov or by phone at 617-275-8756, according to the department.