holyoke police corruptionholyoke police corruption
Nine of those 12 are in specialized assignments other than patrol operations. The other officer was chosen specifically due to his extensive knowledge and expertise in firearms, he is assigned to the ATF task force, he said. He expressed frustration that former Mayor Alex Morse did not do enough to address issues of racism during his tenure. Though he mentioned no names in the video, one incident Roca referred to occurred in September 2011, when police Sgt. He said that the officer had allegedly been instructed to give him remedial training on how to apply a tourniquet. This, he said, was a result of an incident in late January in which he had responded to an incident that resulted in a stabbing and been praised by his coworkers. It's that point in the year READ THE REST, We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Reminders Publishing. A newly released independent audit of the Holyoke Police Department found the HPD poses a "substantial risk" to the city it serves. He also alleged gross negligence by Febo and his "favorites.". Roca said he was suspended for violating the departments social media policy, which bars officers from criticizing the department on social media platforms. NEPM also obtained a handwritten log tracking all 156 investigations of its own officers the department conducted during those 10 years, including those initiated not by civilian complaints but by superior officers. Sgts. Officer Rafael Roca posted a 43-minute video early Sunday morning that drew a wave of online attention after Roca accused Febo of being corrupt by looking the other way from certain officers misbehavior, while remaining intent on punishing others. No civilian complaints data obtained for this agency. That decision was made after aHolyoke police officer publicly alleged corruptionwithin the HPD and aDaily Hampshire Gazetteinvestigation found whatsome characterized as excessive overtimein the department, including among some of its highest-paid officers. On March 9, spokesperson for the Holyoke Police Department Matthew Moriarty confirmed that Roca was on paid leave while an internal investigation was completed regarding the matter. HOLYOKE Mayor Joshua Garcia announced this week that the city has hired a firm to conduct an audit of the Holyoke Police Department. In an interview with the Republican, Febo disputed Rocas claims. They put him in handcuffs at his home, but Monsalve ultimately decided to place the driver in protective custody instead of arresting him, declining to give the driver a breathalyzer, according to testimony included in the commissions decision. I stand by the integrity of the men and women of the Holyoke Police Department and I welcome any outside agency that would like to look into any of the alleged allegations from the video, he said in a statement. Read the rules you agree to by using this website in our Terms He says he was consistently singled out for vocalizing his opposition to the police chief, made to repeat pieces of training and attacked via email for not supporting one supervisors protest against police reform. Internal affairs is corrupt as can be, Roca said in his video. In an interview last week, Garcia said he planned to follow through with an assessment of the police department, later adding: This is not an investigation, its an assessment.. Here is the list of officers: Devon Bones, Holyoke Police Department. Roca said he had performed consistently in his role as a police officer and engaged in crime fighting when others were allegedly sleeping in their police cruisers and ignoring crime. He went on to say there had been officers he knew of that were allegedly involved in drunk driving incidents, who had assaulted people with their boats who have been labeled as racist and officers who had stolen money. He went on to say there were police officers who allegedly have made an excess of $260,000 a year and no one had questioned the situation. I think the common response is, Why bother? she said. var currentLocation = window.location; During the mayoral campaign, Garcias opponent, At-large City Councilor Michael Sullivan, responded to the Gazettes reporting by calling for an audit of the police departments handling of state and federal grant programs, calling the use of overtime excessive. Garcia responded to say that he, too, would support an audit. When you speak up and when you expose corruption, thats what they do. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) { When Romero put his hand on the boys shoulder and told him to go back to his classroom, Reyes said the boy smacked the officer's hand and swore at him. He said he was in the hospital due to stress from the situation. Subscribe Today, Amherst Police Chief Livingstone stepping down in May, Unions: UMass putting 100 jobs in jeopardy with privatization plan, Murdaughs fall from grace ends in life sentence for murder, Biden leaving room to change his mind on reelection. HOLYOKE, MA (WGGB/WSHM) - Nearly two dozen people have been arrested following an operation in Holyoke that police said is aimed at addressing the needs of the city and its residents. Its a problem within our commonwealth and it will continue to be a problem until we have an administrative agency that has teeth, that has enforcement power, that can punish municipalities and agencies when they withhold records improperly, Pyle said. HOLYOKE, Mass. I already knew they were going to wait until the last minute, he said. Murphy said that Roca had been on paid leave for eight months, and that the city needed to resolve that matter. Schedule an appointment online for a New LTC / Firearms license. Roca mentioned the incident in his video over the weekend. }. That part of the commissions work has yet to materialize either. This followed years of battles between the mayor and City Council over control of the department and the effectiveness of a previous advisory panel, the Civilian Community Police Hearing Board. He was suspended for violating the departments social media policy, which prohibits officers from criticizing the department on social media platforms. Youre immediately going into this intimidating environment and youre having to go up to the desk sergeant asking for this, and then youre put on ice and made to sit there, Terrill said. That is roughly 75 percent of minority officers with eight years or more in specialized assignments, he said. I want to ensure the citizens of Holyoke that they can continue to have confidence in the men and women of the Holyoke Police Department and the great work that they do every day, he wrote. In the video, Roca also alleged that department leadership has covered up the facts surrounding several instances when weapons have gone missing from the department. The backlash was swift from the citys two police unions, which called on Maldonado Velez to apologize or recuse himself from votes related to the police department. And the department has yet to turn over a single investigation initiated by department supervisors or other agencies, which include allegations of everything from untruthfulness to an intercepted phone conversation revealing possible misconduct from the Hampden County jail, according to the HPDs log. Reyes, Police Chief David Pratt and Capt. In a nearly 45-minute speech, he alleges that superior officers in the department falsify overtime pay, have protected each other from punishment from misconduct and have fostered a culture of favoritism and racism when it comes to promotion. Ill probably lose my job, but Im good. MASSACHUSETTS-In early March, two police sergeants were suspended without pay for speaking with a reporter about mismanagement, corruption and racism within the Holyoke Police Department, and for providing him with internal documents. Academic studies have shown its fairly common for police departments to sustain a small percentage of civilian complaints. '"; var sellablestring = "GAZETTE STAFF"; Current Police Chief David Pratt suspended Roca in March and then recommended that the mayor terminate Roca. When told of NEPMs findings that only three officers had civilian complaints sustained against them over a decade, Valentin said shes not surprised. Mr. Terrill said that often, complaints arent sustained because civilians have a misperception about what is, and isnt, a violation of department policy. Iowa Police Chief arrested after selling black market military machine guns, "I'm a Cop" is a classic horror comic using real-life quotes from police departments, Transform your ideas into unique art with this CES-featured, AI art tool, now on sale for $49.99, Safely organize your devices and chargers with the CES-featured Bento Stack Charge 8000, Start your musical journey with the Populele Smart Ukulele, now only $159.99, Terms Moriarty, the president of the HPDs supervisors union, said at a press conference held specifically to address Maldonado Velezs comments. He attested that state troopers consistently call him to translate for them, as they do not have enough Spanish speakers on the force. I dont think the mayors office is the right place to do a criminal investigation of the police, Murphy said when asked whether the city had investigated Rocas claims. I said Im sorry but, respectfully, I refuse to take it down.. School Holyoke Community College; Course Title ENGLISH 1301; Type. John Hart was suspended and fined for losing a department-issued sniper rifle. Mayor Alex Morse said in a statement that he could not comment on a personnel matter. But that work hasnt fully gotten off the ground yet. Roca said he has already appealed that decision to the states Civil Service Commission. Holyoke Police Department Friday: 03/25/2022 Juvenile (16) from Springfield is charged with: Possession of Class A Possession of Class A to Distribute Possession of Ammunition without a FID. of To tackle these questions,"I'm a Cop"directly examines the words of READ THE REST, The Boston Globe recently printed an op-ed by former Ithaca, NY mayor Svante Myrick, who talks about his own city's approach to police reform. With that said, I will not be commenting on the internal personnel matter that is ongoing.. The complaints allege HPD officers engaged in misconduct ranging from brutality and bullying to discourtesy and dishonesty. Murphy said in a phone interview Monday that he felt no pressure from anyone to terminate Roca before he left office. And often, legal protections and collective bargaining agreements with police unions prevent those boards from interviewing officers, he added. In his own time, he said that he witnessed classmates incarcerated as part of the school-to-prison pipeline.. Holyoke Police Officer Rafael Roca Fired Over Video Accusing Department Of Corruption And Racism November 23, 2021 | No Comments Last week, Holyoke's acting mayor fired Rafael Roca, a police officer who posted a video to YouTube making allegations of corruption and racism within the Holyoke Police Department, Daily Hampshire Gazette reported. Theyre there to protect each other, to look out for each other, and to come out with force in our community. Febo addresses the allegation that minority officers are not given opportunity for specialized assignments, as Roca said in his video that minorities are underrepresented in specialized positions. Roca, a five-year veteran of the police force who served in the U.S. Marines before that, said he refused to remove the video upon Febos orders on Sunday. Uploaded By Greenpalace1. ", He calls outgoing Police Chief Manny Febo "corrupt," contending minorities are routinely passed over for upper-tier assignments and disciplined at higher rates. Daily Hampshire Gazette Contests & Promotions, Daily Hampshire Gazette Evening Top Reads, Daily Hampshire Gazette Weekly Top Stories, Daily Hampshire Gazette Dining & Entertainment, Support the An officer ripped his work ID off his neck, he alleged, throwing it to the ground and saying, F--- your program.. Neiswanger said that a tipster found the gun in an alley, and that the mayors presence was a coincidence. As part. When Massachusetts lawmakers passed a sweeping police reform law in late 2020, one of the bills provisions opened up law enforcement misconduct investigations to greater scrutiny under the states public records law. HOLYOKE Last week, the citys acting mayor fired a police officer who earlier this year posted a viral video on social media alleging corruption and racism within the Holyoke Police Department. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. There are only two officers in this group that are assigned to specialized units. Each police department documented the incident and can be retrieved easily., Febo then addressed the incident in which Roca referred to an officer involving an alleged intentional boat accident. Febo said a detectives vehicle was broken into and taken from that vehicle was 2 ballistic vests with 2 magazines in the pouches, along with some K9 gear, and a first aid bag. Some, but not all, of those items were later found in a vehicle stolen from Granby that was recovered in Hartford, according to Febo. In 2014, the president of the patrol-officer union wrote a scathing letter to the City Council denouncing Councilors Rebecca Lisi and Jossie Valentin for marching in a Black Lives Matter protest where he said some protesters used anti-police rhetoric., Since that moment, it was very evident to me that some members of the Holyoke Police Department were not happy with me and with Rebecca, Valentin told NEPM in an interview from Puerto Rico, where she now lives. The 69 complaints that NEPM obtained are just the ones that civilians managed to file with the HPD in the first place. If youre in the police department, you have to obey orders.. var photocredit = "'GAZETTE FILE PHOTO' 'Holyoke police officer parks in the train station on Main Street on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Febo, according to Roca, allegedly promoted a friend to the position of provisional lieutenant. Daily Hampshire Gazette. And he said that when he would leave the station during those three weeks, police would pull his car over. Amid Pandemic, Boston Loses Title as Country's Worst City for Traffic, Biden Hopes to Boost Offshore Wind as Mass. They want to send a message to other officers: Dont be like Roca, because this is exactly whats going to happen to you., Febo said in a statement released Tuesday that it is not standard practice for police departments to comment on issues that have an ongoing personnel investigation for violations of policy. We dont have that today.. As of March 9, Roca has been suspended from the department due to his violation of a rule prohibiting officers from criticizing the department on social media platforms. And thats the ultimate way of holding police accountable from the commissions perspective.. The man, whose name the department redacted, said Leahy accused him of raising a handgun as he crossed the street in front of Leahys cruiser. Myrick was originally elected when he READ THE REST, We thank our sponsor for making this content possible; it is not written by the editorial staff nor does it necessarily reflect its views. According to Roca, supervisors in the department have lied on the stand. But for Concepcion, the man who alleged police abused their authority pulling him over in 2016, thats exactly the kind of work Holyoke and other cities should be doing. Holyoke Police Department's 24 hour anonymous "TEXT-A-TIP" Dial CRIMES (533-TIPS or 533-8477). var sellablestring = "GAZETTE STAFF"; Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. In his 2016 study in the journalPolice Quarterly, Terrill and fellow researcher Jason Ingram found that in cities that had police conducting internal investigations, but where an external civilian oversight agency reviewed their decisions, the department was "significantly more likely to sustain complaints." In 2016, Irving Concepcion says the Holyoke police pulled him over with their guns drawn, yanked him out of his car and slammed him down on the hood. Valentin, who went on to work as a staffer for U.S. Sens. If you go behind the curtain of law enforcement, oftentimes youll hear officers say the surest way not to get a complaint is not to interact with the public, he said. var tag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkRocaHolyokeFiring-hg-111721,ph2'); For example, he characterized it as a workplace where now-former Police Chief Manny Febo favorites were not disciplined despite losing weapons and facing restraining orders, according to the accusations. var photocredit = photocredit.toUpperCase(); And cities where complaints of police misconduct are rarely ruled in favor of civilians could benefit from creating an oversight structure to independently investigate these complaints. Holyoke police officer Rafael Roca. Get the latest news on COVID-19 delivered to you. Position Type:Staff Full-time. He went on to say that he had tried to sue, tried speaking with the supervisors, Ive tried my union, Ive tried it all. Roca said he hoped that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Attorney General, along with the FBI, would open an investigation into the department. So Romero arrested him for assault and battery on a police officer. The city of Holyoke is not alone in resisting transparency, and I think thats the only way to describe an 18-month delay in providing access to records that clearly were public, said Jeffrey Pyle, an attorney with the firm Prince Lobel Tye LLP who specializes in media and First Amendment law. Following Rocas allegations, the Gazette obtained and analyzed Holyoke Police Department records tracking overtime pay and hours. HOLYOKE A Holyoke police officer said he has been suspended after posting a lengthy video online alleging widespread corruption and racism within the police department. Daily Hampshire Gazette. I think it just really supports the theory of nothing is going to happen, nothing is going to change, she said. He wrote that because the boy refused several times to place his hand behind his back so that he could be handcuffed, Officer Romero was forced to place him on the ground.. According to the Holyoke Fire Department, at approximately 8:30 p.m . [15] Located 8 miles (13 km) north of Springfield, Holyoke is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Area, one of the two distinct metropolitan areas in Massachusetts." Story about Holyoke police beating a 12 year old Latino boy in 2014 and fallout: "Three Holyoke police officers beat a 12-year . Ill probably lose my job, but Im good. sites. There was no set up.. In 2017, for example, a civilian accused Holyoke police officer Patrick Leahy of putting him through hell for almost a year.. In the almost 45-minute video, Roca recounted favoritism, covering up lost and stolen weapons and other instances of corruption. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). var sellablestring2 = "STAFF PHOTO"; Jorge Monsalve. Wheres my due process in that?. Isaac Holyoke, director of communications at CleanSpark, said the shift made it easier for employees to communicate with each other and that employees value "autonomy and flexibility." "People are used to being at home when they can go on business when they need to, and we have kept that culture here in the office," Holyoke said. Garcia said that a sub-group from the city's Police Relations Advisory Committee reviewed several consulting firms' proposals to conduct the audit. Early on in his tenure with the department, Roca was called to testify in an appeal hearing before the state Civil Service Commission over the suspension of a superior, Sgt. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBRocaHolyokeFiring-hg-111721,ph2'); He said minority candidates get passed over for top positions, as detectives or supervisors. Asked on Monday what he thinks will happen to him after he spoke out against the department and other officers, Roca said he expects to be fired a possibility he mentioned in his video. var currentLocation = window.location; Screenshot from YouTube. As for Roca, he said he doesnt regret posting the video or making the allegations. Ill probably lose my job, but Im good. AMHERST Amherst Police Chief Scott Livingstone will retire in May after nearly 14 years leading a department he joined upon graduating from AMHERST Unions at the University of Massachusetts are contending that more than 100 state jobs, and their accompanying benefits, are being WALTERBORO, S.C. One of the last pieces of a legal dynasty that doled out justice in rural South Carolina for decades crumbled Friday as lawyer WASHINGTON President Joe Biden exudes confidence as the next race for the White House approaches.During last months State of the Union address Holyoke police officer parks in the train station on Main Street on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. The mayors office said it expects the report to be completed in the coming days. Tagged: Holyoke, Rafael Roca, Holyoke Police Department, Manny Febo, YouTube, Ella White, Pioneer Valley, Italian professors departure would mean end of Italian major and minor programs, Students mobilize against the rise in tuition costs/tuition increase, Holyoke police officer suspended after alleging corruption. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Despite the high Puerto Rican population in Holyoke, Roca said there are not enough police officers from the community. //LBtag_id.innerHTML = ''; The attorney generals office declined to comment on Tuesday. Holyoke Police Department | Holyoke MA "Yeah, they didn't waste any time. Febo responded with a statement that noted that, of the total 29 minority officers on the force, there are roughly 75 [percent] of minority officers with [eight] years [of experience] or more who focus on specialized assignments. Of non-minority police officers with eight years or more of experience, 53 percent focus on specialized assignments, according to Febo. I wasnt looking for them to be on my side, but youd think if somebody was making allegations about their city they may have questions themselves.. Two of the civilian complaints that NEPM obtained alleged that police violently arrested students in the citys schools. 234 were here. In it, he alleged that superior officers falsify overtime pay, have protected each other from punishment for misconduct and have fostered a culture of favoritism and racism when it comes to promotion. Roca also told the newspaper he plans to file a lawsuit over how he was treated. I talked with two police chiefs in Minnesota about what happened when Tyre Nichols was stopped by Memphis police officers and fatally beaten last month. They kept trying to use the grabbing of the genitals to kind of quiet me down as a form of punishment and pain, Concepcion said. Roca said he also plans to file a lawsuit over his treatment. Roca claimed that Manny Febo, the first Latinx police chief in Holyoke, has targeted him and other employees by refusing them positions and recognition for their work. Later that evening, however, Roca and another officer saw the fire department lieutenant drive by in his car again at high speed. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Mayor Joshua Garcia also declined to sit down for an interview with NEPM. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBHolyokePD-hg031021,ph1'); He was deployed in 2009-2010 to Iraq where he assisted military police . Roca said the straw that broke the camels back and resulted in him posting the video was a call from a coworker he received the day the video was posted, March 7. I find that the amount of force used was reasonably necessary under the circumstances, the internal investigation concluded, noting that fellow officers described Hamels initial interaction with the man as peaceful, calm and cooperative.. That outcome police officers facing no discipline after a civilian alleges wrongdoing is hardly unique to Concepcions case. var sellablestring4 = "GAZETTE FILE PHOTO"; He saidthat ultimately there was sufficient cause to terminate Roca. Contained within the civilian complaints against HPD officers are allegations ranging from the mundane to the criminal, including accusations that officers violently beat suspects, swore at civilians, used racial slurs, fabricated charges and abused their power. During the debate, City Councilor Jos Maldonado Velez referred to the police as a gang., It literally is, he said in the meeting. Holyoke Massachusetts & Pennsylvania Legal Representation. The driver, who officers alleged smelled of alcohol and had slurred speech, turned out to be a lieutenant with the Holyoke Fire Department. Roca had been with the department since 2015. As of 2019, the estimated population was 40,117. Pyle represented the WorcesterTelegram & Gazettein the newspapers 2018 lawsuit against the city of Worcester over its police departments illegal withholding of misconduct records. HOLYOKE - A Holyoke police officer recently released a YouTube video accusing the Holyoke Police Department of corruption. | Danielle Eatondeaton@thereminder.com, An officer with the Holyoke Police Deparment recently released a YouTube video, which contained allegations of corruption within the department.Reminder Publishing photo by Danielle Eaton. He also said that academics have struggled to answer the question of whether a complaint against an officer represents a problem officer, a productive officer or some combination of the two. Holyoke police officer parks in the train station on Main Street on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. (They) never investigated any of my allegations to see if I was lying, he said. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The police, for me, was used as a reminder to stay in my place. In court filings, Pagans lawyer called the HPDs process of reviewing civilian complaints baroque, pointing to the fact that James Neiswanger, who was the police chief at the time, said in a deposition that before complaints were investigated, an administrator reviewed them to determine if they had merit., Hernandez Pagan attempted to file a complaint, the lawsuit alleged. It was not there to help me.. That second entry likely relates to an incident in 2017 when Roca fired his gun at a Leeds resident, Dan Guyette, who led officers on a high-speed chase through Holyoke before crashing into parked cars. When presented with NEPMs findings, Maldonado Velez said the lack of discipline resulting from civilian complaints is just not surprising and not unique to Holyoke. program Click here to sign up for our weekly coronavirus newsletter. He said: The chief saw your video and hes ordering you to take it down, Roca said. Thats according to William Terrill, a professor at Arizona State University's School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. But now he finds out if he will be charged with misdemeanor furnishing of alcohol and reckless endangerment of a. Who will be eaten first? 1 Catholic Memorial; roundup/list of scores, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking. . Roca said Monday that he wasnt surprised to have been fired, though he said he was disappointed that no city, state or federal authorities fully investigated his allegations. Roca said that the department is rife with racism. Previously, police departments were able to argue that those documents were personnel records, which are typically exempt from disclosure under the law. Many of those officers all but one of whom are supervisors collected tens of thousands of dollars last year in overtime pay. I think the challenge with that is in most jurisdictions that have a civilian review board or some version of that, its very rare for that board to have investigatory powers, Terrill said. Now that Roca has filed an appeal, the Civil Service Commission will decide whether the termination holds up. Last year, a judge ruled in favor of the newspaper and ordered the city to pay $5,000 in punitive damages and $100,000 in legal fees.
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