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POST Commission Clarifies Role, Importance of Local Police Oversight

WORCESTER – The Worcester City Council will debate creating a civilian review board in the current term, which began at the start of this year. The council meets for the first time on Tuesday, Jan. 13. No items related to a civilian oversight board or police reform appear on the agenda.

Based on the previous public statements of current city councilors during the 2025 campaign and previously, it appears at least a majority of councilors will not support establishing such a board. Three Worcester City Councilors have cited the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission in their arguments that the current systems for investigating allegations of police misconduct in Worcester are adequate and no further reform is necessary.

This Week in Worcester asked an official spokesperson for the POST Commission to clarify the commission’s relationship to local oversight and the role of local government in police policy enforcement after the establishment of POST. The inquiry included a direct question asking whether the establishment of the POST commission replaces any functions of municipalities in managing police discipline for misconduct.

According to the spokesperson, “the POST Commission has not replaced any functions of local law enforcement agencies in managing the disciplinary process.”

In October, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB) released a report on establishing a civilian review board requested by City Manager Eric Batista. In the report, the WRRB recommended the city establish a civilian review board. Within the report, the bureau provides a brief history of resident advocacy for a civilian review board over the last 30 years, beginning in 1994.

The council says it will wait for a subsequent report from the city manager about the WRRB’s findings before any discussion about its report or establishing a civilian review board in Worcester. The city manager’s office has announced no timeline for presenting the report.

The Role of the POST Commission

State law established the POST Commission through “An Act Relative to Justice, Equity and Accountability in Law Enforcement in the Commonwealth,” passed by the legislature and signed by then-Governor Charlie Baker in 2020. The POST Commission says on its website that its mission is “to improve policing and enhance public confidence in law enforcement by implementing a fair process for mandatory certification, discipline, and training for all peace officers in the Commonwealth.”

The POST Commission accepts complaints directly from residents, but it also says on the page that holds the online complaint form that it sends those complaints to the law enforcement agency where the accused officer works for investigation.

The 2024 annual report of the POST Commission, released in March 2025, says it has 49 staff members.

The law that created the POST commission creates a requirement for all law enforcement officers in the state to receive certification from the commission. According to the POST Commission website, it has certified 19,734 officers across the state.

According to the POST Commission spokesperson, the law that established it enabled it to create new standards for policing and requirements for agencies in enforcing those standards. POST became “an independent statewide oversight system that oversees and operates alongside strengthened local processes.”

Agencies must report credible complaints and incidents to POST that are within the jurisdiction of the commission within a required reporting timeline.

Matters within POST jurisdiction include:

  • Matters alleging bias;
  • Excessive use of force;
  • Serious bodily injury or death; and
  • Unprofessional conduct

Agencies are also required to inform POST throughout the process of investigating misconduct, including:

  • Reporting the investigation outcome;
  • Associated developments; and
  • Final disposition and discipline

POST reviews reports of each internal investigation and has the option to accept the agency’s conclusions and associated discipline or open a preliminary inquiry (the first stage of its investigations) into the matter. That inquiry may lead to additional proceedings.

With 49 employees, the commission operates six internal divisions. Those divisions are:

  • Division of Certification
  • Division of Standards
  • Legal Division
  • Finance and Administration
  • Information Technology
  • Communications and Community Engagement

According to the POST Commission 2024 annual report, its division of standards investigates allegations of police misconduct, makes disciplinary recommendations to the
Commission and conducts adjudicatory hearings on behalf of the Commission.” The 2024 report says that the division has 16 employees.

The POST Commission has jurisdiction for oversight of law enforcement agencies across the state’s 351 municipalities and the Massachusetts State Police’s 2500 troopers.

According to the 2024 report, staff brought 80 preliminary inquiries (the first stage of its investigations) before the Commission for approval in 2024, with 21 advancing to adjudicatory hearing (decision-making hearing). Just seven preliminary inquiries closed without action.

The commission had 52 preliminary inquiries remaining open at the end of 2024 that it initiated that year. When including cases from prior years, the commission had a total of 77 cases open at the end of 2024. It decertified 30 officers across the state that year.

According to the POST Commission spokesperson, in 2024 the commission concluded proceedings for 47 officers, leading to 35 decertifications, six suspensions, three retraining orders, two public reprimands and one agreement not to reapply for certification. The commission ordered other suspensions in 2025, but the process in those cases is ongoing and not yet complete.

The POST Commission spokesperson also said that “local law enforcement agencies continue to play an important role in the disciplinary process and fact finding relative to complaints and officer conduct, but POST can and does have the authority to initiate its own investigations.”

Criticism of BOPS

The police department, the two unions that represent officers and officials within the police department, and a majority of the Worcester City Council have focussed on criticism of the first part of the DOJ report on the pattern or practice investigation of the Worcester Police Department. In that section, the DOJ articulates testimony related to incidents it says it has “reasonable cause to believe.” The section included summaries of cases it found where Worcester Police officers used unreasonable force.

Little public discussion about the second part of the report, titled “Contributing Causes of Violations,” has taken place in over a year since the release of the report.

The outline of section headings in this section is:

  • Contributing Causes of Violations
    • WPD Fails to Hold Officers Accountable
      • WPD’s Intake Process May Discourage Complaints
      • Supervisors, Not BOPS Investigators, Investigate Some Serious Complaints, Including Complaints of Excessive Force
      • BOPS Investigators Reach Improper Conclusions and Fail to Interview Key Witnesses
      • WPD Officers are Rarely Disciplined for Misconduct
    • Deficient Policies and Training
    • WPD Does Not Adequately Supervise Officers

Nearly all the public discussion about the report within the Worcester City Council focussed on new policies created by the department, led by Chief of Police Paul Saucier. The parts titled “WPD Fails to Hold Officers Accountable” and “WPD Does Not Adequately Supervise Officers” have received little attention in the council’s public discussions or in the council’s Public Safety Committee.

City Council Opposition to Reform

Multiple city councilors. including Councilor At-Large and Chairperson of the council’s Public Safety Committee Kate Toomey, Councilor At-Large Moe Bergman, and District 5 Councilor Jose Rivera have suggested the establishment of the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, the Worcester Police Department Bureau of Professional Standards (BOPS), the city’s Human Rights Commission, and the investigative division within the city’s Department of Equity and Inclusion make a civilian review board unnecessary.

Mayor Joe Petty has the unilateral authority to appoint councilors to committees of the council. The council announced the mayor’s committee appointments during the week beginning Jan.  5. Mayor Petty reappointed both Councilor Toomey and Councilor Bergman to the public safety committee. Both have stated they do not support a civilian review board and advocate for the current system for investigating police misconduct to continue without change.

Of those entities, only the POST Commission is independent of the control of the administration of City Manager Eric Batista. The city manager sits at the top of the chain of command in Worcester and has the sole authority to appoint the chief of police, who reports directly to the manager.

All three councilors have advocated for no change to the current system where the Worcester Police Department’s BOPS unit conducts investigations of allegations of misconduct against its own officers. These internal investigations have faced significant criticism, including in the summary report of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation of the Worcester Police Department.

No city councilor has proposed an alternative oversight mechanism to a civilian review board.

TWIW Podcast on Committee Assignments and New Council

This Week in Worcester Podcast, Jan. 11, 2026, on:

  • The message Worcester Mayor Joe Petty’s committee appointments sends
  • Preview of the First Meeting of the New City Council
  • Still No Ruling on if the City Auditor Can Audit

 

Old Grumbly Fan’s Wild Card Weekend Patriots Preview vs. the Chargers

Old Grumbly ended the season on a roll! We predicted 38-17, and got 38-10. The Dolphins couldn’t finish the job and fired Mike McDaniel. They sat their best player in De’von Achane so what was already a tough matchup for the Fish got worse. It was a beat down by one team heading in one direction, and another heading in no direction at all.

Part of the reason that the Brady/Belichick thing lasted so long, before it inevitably fell apart, was that the teams in the division never really committed to a plan and then stuck with it for enough time to see if it worked. The Jets came the closest with the Rex Ryan teams, but the Johnson family, as always, blew that team apart by being silly and greedy. The Dolphins rotated QBs and coaches like a carousel and so did the Bills until Josh Allen. While the Pats were starting to fall apart, the Bills got good and pressed on their necks. Once atop the division, they just didn’t have the killer instinct.

This year the Pats finished 14-3, tied for the best record in the NFL with Denver and Seattle, grabbed the #2 seed only by a tiebreaker with the Broncos, and won back the AFC East by 2 games. Drake Maye is 23, and Vrabel is in year one of his plan. While nothing is guaranteed, they are set up for success.

FINAL REGULAR SEASON GRADES

Mike Vrabel – A+

Vrabel set out to establish a new culture and bring grit back to the Pats. He did so while winning his team over. The viral video of Vrabel running alongside Antonio Gibson in Week 2 versus the Dolphins, and the greetings for his players after the games set a public tone that made it Vrabel’s team. We are in a new era of Patriots football, and it looks like we’ve got a good coach.

Drake Maye – A+

Maye exceeded any and all expectations. He set a Patriots record with a 72% completion percentage. He made plays with his legs, threw the ball deep, and clearly had a fun time doing it all year. He responded to a late-season loss versus the Bills with a fourth-quarter comeback against the Ravens, on the road in prime time. You can always grow, and the comparisons to Brady will never stop with local sports media. Maye also looks like the real deal. The playoffs are a different animal, so we will see.

Josh McDaniels – B

Now you are all going to yell at me because I am very critical of McDaniels. It would have been worse, but he got away from some of his worst tendencies as the year progressed. They still struggled in the red zone (17th) overall, but big plays offset that a bit. He still calls those dives into the line, which work better with Rhamondre Steven carrying the ball, but are frustrating. The offensive line came together well towards the end of the year, and Maye took fewer sacks. There is a different McDaniels in the playoffs though, and hopefully that is who is here.

Stef Diggs- A+

This was one of the best free agent signings in Patriots history. He was consistent and productive. He led the team in catches, receiving yards, yards after the catch and first downs. Just a baller still less than 18 months removed from an ACL injury. What else can he do?

Defense – B –

D-Coordinator Terrell Williams has missed most of the season recovering from prostate cancer. Linebackers coach Zach Kuhr has become the primary play caller and DC in practice. The team had a strong run earlier in the year against the run, and then slipped as the year went on. Part of that was because of injury, and another part was because of poor tackling. They still finished in the top ten against the run and the pass. They had only 10 interceptions and had only a +3 turnover margin thanks in-part to a mistake-free offense. In the playoffs, that has to change.

Special Teams – B+

Three return touchdowns, the best punt returner in football in Marcus Jones, a great rookie season from Andy Borregales, and pretty consistent kick coverage (except for one really bad game against the Bills). this unit played well.

Old Grumbly Fan Playoff Predictions

The Patriots face an old playoff rival in the Chargers, led by Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert. Herbert has yet to win a playoff game, and has lost badly in both outings. Harbaugh is 5-4 in the playoffs, including 3 NFC title games, and 1 Super Bowl appearance. Vrabel is 3-5, all with the Titans, reaching one AFC title game as a head coach.

Jim had a 2-3 record as a QB in the playoffs, and Vrabel was 15-5. Harbaugh has more experience as a head coach and college coach, but I think those factors are pretty even here.

Josh McDaniels has an 18-8 playoff record as an offensive coordinator and was a part of all six Super Bowl teams. Vrabel was a part of six, so the championship experience runs deep.

Herbert has played hurt most of the year, and the Chargers finished with back-to-back losses. They were in contention for the AFC West crown before those losses, but needed a lot to go right to match up with the Broncos.

I think Vrabel is aggressive, and you see the Patriots build an early lead. The Chargers are a tough team and hang in there, but in the end this Patriots roster is too much for them. Patriots run it on them late and have a quiet fourth quarter for the only boring Wild Card weekend game.

Key play to watch for: a late tipped pass by Herbert off of a wide receiver’s hands. Herbert’s wideouts have had the dropsies this year.

Pats 30 – Chargers 13

See the Neighborhood Meetings This Week in Worcester

WORCESTER – The Worcester Police Department is encouraging residents to attend their neighborhood watch meetings to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in their neighborhoods and to share any concerns or questions they may have. Representatives from the city also regularly attend these neighborhood meetings.

There are over 50 Neighborhood Watch Groups in Worcester. Meetings are held regularly — often once a month in various locations in the city.

Contact the Worcester Police Department’s Neighborhood Response Team at (508) 799-8664 for more information.

Here are the neighborhood meetings this week in Worcester.

Monday, Jan. 11

  • Tatnuck Square Neighborhood Meeting, 1070 Pleasant St. – 6 PM

Wednesday, Jan. 13

  • Mount Carmel Apartments/Shrewsbury St. Neighborhood Monthly Meeting, Mount Carmel Apartments first floor function, 50 Shrewsbury St., 3 PM
  • Saxon Road Neighborhood Meeting, Beth Israel, 15 Jamesbury Dr. – 5:30 PM
  • Lake View Neighborhood Monthly Meeting, Lakeview Congregational Church (basement), 115 Colburn Ave. – 7 PM

Thursday, Jan. 14

  • Mill St Area Neighborhood Meeting, Stearns Tavern, 140 Mill St. – 6 PM

Join this Community Discussion on School Safety in Worcester

WORCESTER – The Worcester Education Justice Alliance (WJA) hosts a discussion on school safety on Sunday, Jan. 11, from 1 PM to 3 PM.

The discussion will focus on what school safety means to members of the community, methods of implementation, and the steps to ensure inclusivity, well-being and community within Worcester schools.

The meeting includes a data walk, using data from Worcester schools and examples of school safety practices in other municipalities, along with small group discussions.

All members of the community are invited. Registration is requested.

The event takes place at the Carpenters Local 336 at 29 Endicott St. in Worcester.

Mass General Brigham to Acquire Worcester-Based Fallon Health

WORCESTER – In a joint statement released on Thursday, Jan. 8, Mass General Brigham in Somerville and Worcester-based Fallon Health announced the two companies “are working together to join Fallon Health with Mass General Brigham Health Plan.”

Fallon Health moved its headquarters to the Mercantile Building in Worcester in 2024.

The statement says the plan “reflects the outcome of Fallon Health’s thoughtful and intentional process to identify a long-term partner aligned with its mission and strategic vision—one that ensures members continue to receive the care and support they need now and in the years ahead.”

The plan will require multiple steps and approval from regulators to be completed.

The statement also said that members should not expect any immediate changes. Members will receive updates in the coming months.

 

 

43-Year-Old Uxbridge Police Officer Killed on Rt. 146

UXBRIDGE – An Uxbridge Police officer died overnight while helping a motorist on Route 146. The Uxbridge Police Department identified the officer as Stephen Laporta, 43, of Uxbridge.

LaPorta joined the Uxbridge Police Department as a full-time officer in June 2024. He previously served as a part-time officer and dispatcher. His previous career history included service as a dispatcher in Mendon.

The crash took place on the northbound side of Route 146, near Exit 6.

It is not clear if weather conditions played a role in the crash that led to LaPorta’s death, but officers in Uxbridge reported dangerous travel conditions on Route 146 prior to the crash.

Worcester City Council Committee Assignments Announced

WORCESTER – The Worcester City Council released Mayor Joe Petty’s assignments to Worcester City Council committees.

Each committee of the council has jurisdiction over assigned components of city government. The definition of the jurisdiction of each committee, as provided by the council, may be found below.

In Worcester’s form of government, the Mayor is an at-large councilor who serves as the chair of the city council and school committee. The chief executive officer of the city is the city manager, an appointee of the city council.

The members of the new lineup of the Worcester City Council, elected in November, took the oath of office on Friday, Jan. 2. The elected members of the city council are:

  • Joe Petty – Mayor, Council Chair, City Councilor At-Large
  • Khrystian King – Council Vice-Chair, City Councilor At-Large
  • Kate Toomey – City Councilor At-Large
  • Gary Rosen – City Councilor At-Large
  • Satya Mitra – City Councilor At-Large
  • Moe Bergman – City Councilor At-Large
  • Tony Economou – District 1 City Councilor
  • Robert Billotta – District 2 City Councilor
  • John Fresolo – District 3 City Councilor
  • Luis Ojeda – District 4 City Councilor
  • Jose Rivera – District 5 City Councilor

The city council elected in November meets for the first time on Jan. 13.

Committee Assignments

Committee on Economic Development

To consider matters pertaining to economic development, neighborhood development, housing development, marketing, arts, cultural development, workforce development, zoning, planning and regulatory services functions of the city.

Appointed Members

  • Morris Bergman (Chair)
  • Kathleen Toomey
  • Satya Mitra

Committee on Education

To consider matters pertaining to public education, the public libraries, arts, culture and higher education.

Appointed Members

  • Khrystian King – Chair
  • Tony Economou
  • Gary Rosen – City Councilor At-Large

Committee on Municipal and Legislative Operations

To consider matters involving municipal operations and 26 procedures including: human resources; employee health care; workers compensation and injured on duty; unemployment compensation; the retirement system; taxation, fees, charges, and other revenues; and, the city clerk, city auditor and other municipal support operations. Further, to initiate and review proposals for amendments to the rules of the city council and any other matter affecting or determining the conduct of city council meetings or meetings of any standing or ad hoc committees of the city council and to consider matters pertaining to state and federal legislation affecting Worcester and regional affairs.

Appointed Members

  • Khrystian King (Chair)
  • Tony Economou
  • Gary Rosen

Public Health and Human Services

To consider matters relating to public health, the elderly, the equality of women, youth services, public housing, the disabled and community development block grant funding.

Appointed Members

  • Gary Rosen (Chair)
  • Khrystian King
  • Kate Toomey

Public Safety

To consider matters pertaining to criminal and civil law enforcement, public safety communications services and ambulance, first responder services in the city
and inspections of health, safety and environmental stability of Worcester’s business and residential community.

Appointed Members

  • Kate Toomey (Chair)
  • Moe Bergman
  • Tony Economou

Public Service and Transportation

To consider matters concerning cable television and telecommunications, public transportation, taxis, and liveries.

Appointed Members

  • Rob Bilotta (Chair)
  • John Fresolo
  • Luis Ojeda

Public Works

To consider matters pertaining to streets, water, sewers, sanitation, recycling, streetlights, snow removal and the construction of public buildings

Appointed Members

  • Tony Economou (Chair)
  • Satya Mitra
  • John Fresolo

Traffic and Parking

To consider matters pertaining to traffic and parking ordinances, off street parking facilities.

Appointed Members

  • Jose Rivera (Chair)
  • Luis Ojeda
  • Rob Bilotta

Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment

To consider matters pertaining to smart city solutions, process engineering, technology, telecommunications, strategic planning, green spaces, blue spaces, urban agricultural, urban trees, climate change and electric aggregation

Appointed Members

  • Luis Ojeda (Chair)
  • Jose Rivera
  • Khrystian King

Veterans’ Memorial, Parks and Recreation

To consider matters pertaining to parks, playgrounds, youth recreation activities, veterans’ services, military and veterans’ monuments, memorial monuments and historical markers and Hope Cemetery.

Appointed Members

  • John Fresolo (Chair)
  • Rob Bilotta
  • Jose Rivera

Old Grumbly Fan’s Week 18 Patriots Preview vs. the Dolphins

There really isn’t much more a team can beat another team then the way the Patriots beat the Jets last week. If only Andy Borregales had hit his 41 yard field goal attempt in the 3rd quarter, then my prediction would have been spot on. 42-10 versus 45-10. Not bad for Old Grumbly.

With last week’s win, the Patriots are your 2025-26 AFC East Division Champs.

Mike Vrabel’s team won this game in the early second quarter with a 7 play 66 yard drive that resulted in a 22-yard pass to Rhamondre Stephenson, putting the Pats up 21-0. There was no chance at all the Jets were coming back. The crowd knew, the Jets knew, and the Pats knew. The only thing was to get out of there healthy.

Drake Maye is very much in the MVP consideration for the season with yet another stellar game. 19 for 21 for 256 and 5 touchdowns. A week after setting his personal yardage high against the Ravens, he set his career touchdown high against the Jets. He also came out of the game in the 3rd quarter. The Jets foolishly tried to rough him up late in the second, which led to Vrabel running up the score. Typical Jets.

Josh McDaniels ialed in all the right plays. Seven players caught passes, all 5 touchdowns went to different players. Stevenson and Henderson continue to complement each other, and Stevenson is really becoming effective in the pass game. The offensive line has not missed a beat and frankly has gotten better since injuries early in December. This offense is playing elite going into the playoffs.

The Jets were not much of a test for the defense. They shut down most of the Jets except for Breece Hall, who is going to get PAID in the offseason by someone. He had almost half of the Jets offense and a long 59 yd TD in the fourth. Without him, the Pats likely shut out the Jets. They might have been if the Pats had left everyone in.

Steffon Diggs continues to be one of the best free agent signings in the NFL, with 5 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. He is 38 yards away from 1,000 on the season. He was hit with some accusations by a personal chef that made all the sports talk shows. Frankly, we live in a country where you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty. I definitely do not see that in the local sports media.

Christian Barmore was also hit with some legal trouble as well. We will wait to talk about it.

Old Grumbly Fan Predictions

The Patriots are 13-3 and have already clinched the division. Denver has caught somewhat of a break in that the Chargers announced that Justin Herbert will not play this Sunday. I doubt that Vrabel will not have his team ready to play against the Dolphins, who have had a huge bounce back after a 1-6 start. They have gone 6-3 in their last nine games, probably saving Mike McDaniels’ job, although they will likely make a change at the QB position.

This is a different team than the one the Patriots beat in Miami in September. So are the Patriots. They have become a heavily run-based team, and De’Von Archane has delivered a career year with 1350 yards and 8 touchdowns on the ground to go with 67 catches, 483 more yards and 4 more touchdowns. He is a fantasy manager’s dream. He is 170 yards or so away from a 2,000 yard in total yards this season. I expect McDaniels to feed him early and often.

The Patriots are getting healthy, and it looks like Milton Williams will be back on D to end the season. I expect a much stouter run defense with him, and I think the offense will look to go up early again and pour it on.

In the Dolphins’ last two losses to Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, and their win last week against Tampa, they gave up 336, 407 and 380 yards. Not exactly a lockdown defense.

This game takes a little longer to get under control, but in the end the Pats roll again into the postseason.

Pats 38 – Dolphins 17