Concepcion is not the first to allege that the HPD resisted taking his complaint. (They) never investigated any of my allegations to see if I was lying, he said. var currentheadline = document.getElementById("headline").innerText; Holyoke police officer parks in the train station on Main Street on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Youre supposed to act a certain way, talk a certain way. HOLYOKE, Mass. //LBtag_id.innerHTML = ''; "whether the employee has been guilty of substantial misconduct which adversely affects the public interest by impairing the efficiency of public service." School Comm. Speaking to the Gazette, he alleged he has worked on grant-funded shifts during which supervisors who were supposed to be working were nowhere to be found the entire shift.. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Coughlin has been living large on his State Police pension of $131,961 a year. John Hart was suspended and fined for losing a department-issued sniper rifle. The 69 complaints that NEPM obtained are just the ones that civilians managed to file with the HPD in the first place. In fact, a year later, Valentin filed a civilian complaint against an HPD officer over his rudeness to her at the scene of a car crash involving her wife treatment Valentin alleged was related to her political stances. ", Police departments in America have a lot of unnecessary military hardware, thanks to sweetheart deals between legislators and arms dealers that allow for layers of creative financial accounting as long READ THE REST, Here's how creator Johnny Damm explains the project: Can policing be reformed? Its not clear and it doesnt exist. . HOLYOKE, Mass. The father said in his complaint that his boys had been through a lot of trauma made worse by now living in a homeless shelter, and that as a result they didnt always react to what they were told to do. And thats the ultimate way of holding police accountable from the commissions perspective.. Roca said he has already appealed that decision to the states Civil Service Commission. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising Murphy said that Roca had been on paid leave for eight months, and that the city needed to resolve that matter. Service, a Creative Commons Others, he added, have managed to escape from serious instances of misconduct without any disciplinary action. Nine of those 12 are in specialized assignments other than patrol operations. Roca said he was suspended for violating the departments social media policy, which bars officers from criticizing the department on social media platforms. Though he mentioned no names in the video, one incident Roca referred to occurred in September 2011, when police Sgt. In my view, the violation of Rule 3 of the Holyoke Police Department rules alone is just cause for the five-day suspension and termination because police officers must follow lawful orders, Degnan wrote. The comments are concerning, erroneous, harmful, but most importantly divisive, Capt. "I'm here to make this video to expose the corruption, and the lies, and the injustice that is taking place within the police department in Holyoke, Massachusetts," he says at the start of the video. But the police reform bill changed that, clarifying that those investigations are not personnel records. She wrotethat she believed Rocas public statements to be untruthful and self-serving, and that he made them with the intent to defame the Holyoke Police Department.. 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. I think the common response is, Why bother? she said. N/A civilian complaints of police misconduct. Holyoke St. Patrick's Committee holds 67th Grand Video / Feb 18, 2023 / 10:41 PM EST The 70th annual Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade is now nearly a month away and at the Log Cabin Saturday . OSHA, cannabis company reach $14k settlement in Holyoke worker's death . The suspected shooter is in custody. 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. Leon Davis, Springfield Police Department. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. . Based on the report, Police Chief David Pratt suspended Roca for five days and recommended that the citys mayor terminate him. 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. When you are someone who speaks up about injustice and about corrupt police officers, they label you as a liar, they label you as a dirty police officer, they label you as someone who is untrustworthy, he said. Neiswanger said that a tipster found the gun in an alley, and that the mayors presence was a coincidence. Tensions soared last fall between some Holyoke residents and the HPD amid a debate in the City Council over the departments desire to purchase the controversial gunfire-location technology ShotSpotter. In his own time, he said that he witnessed classmates incarcerated as part of the school-to-prison pipeline.. After Customers Paid Large Deposits for Home Projects, Contractor Files for Bankruptcy, How Much Snow Has Fallen in Your Area So Far, The House Where JonBenet Ramsey Was Found Dead Is Listed for Sale at Nearly $7M, FIRST ALERT: Wintry Mix Keeps Falling as Storm Hits New England (Live Radar). Ill probably lose my job, but Im good. 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. In January, Holyoke settled the police brutality suit against the city and officers for $65,000. "I'll probably lose my job, but I'm good. Jorge Monsalve. Because when you speak up and you expose corruption, he said in the video, thats what they do.. The report, which Roca shared with the Gazette, was completed on July 2. How do cops view themselves and their work? None of them provided comment on the civilian complaints they faced or the departments investigation of them, and the heads of both the patrol officers union and supervisors union did not respond to questions from NEPM. and affiliate links. 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. On Nov. 10, then acting mayor Terence Murphy followed that recommendation after a city lawyer determined there was just cause for firing Roca. NEPM also contacted all of the police officers mentioned in this story via email or phone. 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. var sellablestring = "GAZETTE STAFF"; One of our detectives who is assigned to a task force had his task force vehicle broken into, he said. Boing Boing is published under a Creative Commons 540K subscribers in the Bad_Cop_No_Donut community. Holyoke Massachusetts & Pennsylvania Legal Representation. In one 2013 complaint, for example, a civilian alleged they watched police officer Charles Monfett pull up next to his brother in his police cruiser and hand him a bag of pot., We also overheard how it was just recovered from someone at Jones Point, the complaint alleges. No probable cause, there was no weapons, there was no reason to assume there were weapons., An officer told him to shut my mouth or much more than my rights would be violated, Concepcion wrote in a complaint he later filed with the police department. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 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. I stand behind the video and what I said in it. A second, by the Firearm Review Board, lists Roca as exonerated.. var photocredit = photocredit.toUpperCase(); Amid Pandemic, Boston Loses Title as Country's Worst City for Traffic, Biden Hopes to Boost Offshore Wind as Mass. Graduated from 36th Massachusetts Police Officer . But that work hasnt fully gotten off the ground yet. In 1894 the New York State Senate launched the first comprehensive investigation of corruption in the NYPD. 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. HOLYOKE A Holyoke police officer recently released a YouTube video accusing the Holyoke Police Department of corruption. of designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated Some complaints involve allegations that police officers broke the law. ", He calls out corrupt officers, including the "corrupt police chief, and he is out to get me" He also talks about the "vast misrepresentation when it comes to minority police officers. So Romero arrested him for assault and battery on a police officer. 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). Holyoke Officer Rafael Roca, a former Marine hired in 2016, said in the 43-minute video posted on YouTube that Chief Manny Febo is "corrupt" and plays favorites, and he argued that members of. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. 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. The so-called Lexow Committee revealed to the city and nation in unprecedented detail. delays new police misconduct database, Dusty Christensen, New England Public Media. 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 officer alleges corruption within, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Holyoke police officer alleges corruption within department, Many ambulances roll for excessive drinking at UMass Amhersts Blarney Blowout, Vermont bishop testifies against clergy reporting bill, All about eagle nest cameras in Massachusetts, Massachusetts charity helps save thousands of animals in need in war-torn Ukraine, 'Significant burst' of heavy snow possible for areas of Massachusetts, up to 12 inches potential in spots, Alex Murdaugh killed wife, son to buy time, prosecutor says, Boston employee payroll data shows more big-money employees than ever. In an interview with the Republican, Febo disputed Rocas claims. In August, the city of Holyoke hired a firm to audit its police department, including its internal affairs processes. And often, legal protections and collective bargaining agreements with police unions prevent those boards from interviewing officers, he added. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated Saturday against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's contentious plan to overhaul the country's legal system, as the governm Roca also suggests the state attorney general or the FBI should look into his claims against Febo and the department. //var LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBHolyokePD-hg031021,ph1'); Holyoke Officer Rafael Roca, a former Marine hired in 2016, said in the 43-minute video . Nobody should get away with taking the law into their own hands and being above it, he said. Matthew Moriarty, who handles communications for the department, all failed to answer numerous email and phone messages. More Local News to Love Start today for 50% off Expires 3/6/23. Notes. 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.. Mayor Alex Morse said in a statement that he could not comment on a personnel matter. Holyoke Police Department | Holyoke MA 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 LBtag_id = document.getElementById('buylinkLBRocaHolyokeFiring-hg-111721,ph2'); While on the ground, [redacted] placed his hands under him refusing to place his hands behind him forcing Officer Romero to again employ more force to force his hands behind him, Reyes wrote. list of candidates for Holyoke police officer. I said Im sorry but, respectfully, I refuse to take it down.. Thats what police was for. He expressed frustration that former Mayor Alex Morse did not do enough to address issues of racism during his tenure. 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. Here is the list of officers: Devon Bones, Holyoke Police Department. The agency still has not released that data because of the need to clean up and validate the massive data set, according to Zuniga. The police are among the very worst offenders under the current Massachusetts public records regime, even after all of the legislative progress that has been made.. The HPDs top brass did not respond to numerous requests for comment on this story. The mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts has appointed a new police chief who will be the first Latino to lead the department. used triad trailer for sale. He also mentioned that he was fired right before Joshua Garcia was sworn in as Holyokes mayor on Monday. Not a single person from City Hall or city government reached out at all, he said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. var sellablestring4 = "GAZETTE FILE PHOTO"; Roca, however, claimed that somebody stole the gun from Harts house during a party. I kept yelling that they were violating our rights and they continued to search my vehicle against my will. Months later, on Nov. 10, then acting mayor Terence Murphy followed Pratts recommendation, firing Roca after a city lawyer determined that there was just cause, the Gazette reported. 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. The mayors office said it expects the report to be completed in the coming days. Becoming a police officer was his "life long dream" but that dream was "quickly affected" and "hurt" by the corruption and racism of police officers, which "goes back to as long as anyone can remember. He said when he spoke out against the alleged injustice, racism and favoritism and nepotism that he had witnessed, he was punished and shunned. Roca said his attempts to transfer to a different police department were allegedly sabotaged by the chief, and cited a single informal complaint made against him that he said ended with no investigation and him working in an administrative role for more than a month. Pictured above: thumbnail of the Youtube video posted by Holyoke police officer Rafael Roca. | 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. All rights reserved (About Us). He has since been suspended for . Ultimately, police found the weapon in February 2012 while Morse was riding along with officers on duty. I stand behind the video and what I said in it.. 'Holyoke police officer Rafael Roca alleges there iscorruption and racism in the Holyoke Police Department. 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. Holyoke, MA Those who are paying attention to the ever-expanding police state in the land of the free know that the system is set up in such a way that it protects bad cops while punishing the good ones. 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. Last August, Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia hired the New Hampshire-based consulting firm Municipal Resources, Inc., to audit the city's police department. Listen Febo said that Roca misportrayed some examples of lost or stolen weapons. Roca has NEVER provided any credible information or documentation to substantiate his claims to the HPD, his union, the FBI, Attorney General or any other investigators that I am aware of, Pratt wrote, adding that Roca was given due process. 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. Police Capt. One officer was accused of using his siren at a drive-thru window to get his ice cream more quickly. HOLYOKE - A Holyoke police officer recently released a YouTube video accusing the Holyoke Police Department of corruption. '"; Now, he said, one of his sons was on pain medication because of the force Romero used to arrest him. Carla Sinclair 11:00 am Tue Mar 9, 2021. Roca also said that other officers have not been fired after breaking the law driving drunk, for example losing firearms and other misconduct. The police are policing themselves., Maldonado Velez is not the first city councilor who has come under fire from Holyokes police unions. They pick and choose who they want to discipline and who they dont want to discipline.. The benefits of learning to play READ THE REST. In response to a public records request, the HPD has now turned over the 69 investigations it conducted from 2010 through 2019 into civilian complaints. Service. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Roca said he retired from the U.S. Marines after a lengthy career in 2016 and pursued his lifelong dream of being a police officer. The attorney generals office declined to comment on Tuesday. He added, I want to [assure] 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.. . It took the HPD more than a year and a half to turn over its 69 internal investigations, all of which the department redacted to remove information about the person alleging misconduct. if (photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring2) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring3) > -1 || photocredit.indexOf(sellablestring4) > -1) {
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