Batista: Worcester Police Reform Continues After DOJ Investigation
What Comes Next for Worcester Police?
By-Hank Stolz
Graphic-Radio Worcester
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Editors Note – While Worcester officials state that the DOJ has closed its investigation, the Justice Department’s public Special Litigation case page continued to list the Worcester Police Department matter as an ‘Investigation’ as of Aug. 14.
Worcester, MA- The U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the Worcester Police Department may be coming to an end, but City Manager Eric Batista says the city’s work to reform the department is continuing.
Appearing on Talk of the Commonwealth on Radio Worcester, Batista discussed changes made within the Worcester Police Department following the DOJ’s December 2024 findings, as well as the administration’s plans for accountability, accreditation and rebuilding trust with the community.
The DOJ opened its pattern-or-practice investigation in November 2022 to examine allegations involving excessive force and discriminatory policing. Its 2024 report raised concerns involving excessive force, sexual misconduct, racial disparities and the department’s systems for investigating and addressing misconduct.
Batista Points to Changes in Worcester Police Policies
Batista said Worcester has strengthened a number of department policies and practices over the past year.
“We’ve strengthened our policy. We’ve strengthened our sexual harassment policy. We’ve strengthened our policy on this level of work… And again, one of the biggest components of that now is body cameras.”
He also pointed to changes involving use of force and increased supervision.
“We’ve strengthened our use of force policies as well and made sure there’s more oversight of leadership in that department.”
The city previously released a detailed response outlining changes made following the DOJ report, including reforms involving sexual assault investigations and other police practices.
Rebuilding Trust Will Take More Than Body Cameras
Batista acknowledged that changes in policy do not erase the impact of the DOJ findings.
“We know that the fact remains that our community has been tremendously impacted by the findings issued in 2024. And we know that that will never change, that impact will never change.”
He said body cameras and other individual reforms can help, but argued that rebuilding trust ultimately depends on consistent leadership.
“Building trust with community is not just implementing one tool and hoping that that tool is going to be the piece that’s going to help build community trust.”
Batista said the larger challenge is changing institutional culture.
“Culture change in different organizations takes time. And so we’re committed to that.”
Why Batista Opposes a Civilian Review Board
The city manager also addressed the continuing debate over whether Worcester should establish a Civilian Review Board to provide additional oversight of the police department.
Batista remains opposed to creating one.
Instead, he pointed in part to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission, or POST Commission, and argued that its authority is sometimes overlooked in discussions about police accountability.
“POST, what POST has that nobody else has is they have the ability to decertify an officer. Nobody has that ability other than POST.”
Batista said Worcester has itself referred officers to POST for potential decertification.
“We as a city, we’ve made recommendations to POST to decertify officers. We’ve done that proactively and intentionally.”
The POST Commission was created under Massachusetts’ 2020 police reform law and oversees certification, discipline and training of peace officers. Its authority includes suspending, limiting, conditioning or revoking an officer’s certification.
The Civilian Review Board question remains contentious. Residents and advocates have continued to push for independent civilian oversight, while Batista’s administration argues Worcester’s existing oversight structure makes another board unnecessary.
Worcester Police Pursuing Accreditation
Batista said one of the most significant pieces of the department’s next phase is accreditation.
“I think one of the biggest things is the department’s going through an accreditation process. And that accreditation process requires the departments to strengthen policies, to strengthen practices.”
According to Batista, Worcester has completed the first phase and is continuing through the process.
“For us to obtain that accreditation, there’s ongoing work where we’ve gone through the first phase, we’re onto the next one, and we’re going to continue until we are fully accredited as a department.”
For Batista, the end of the federal investigation does not mean the end of scrutiny or reform.
The challenge now is whether the changes in policy, oversight and leadership translate into the long-term cultural change — and community trust — he says the administration is committed to achieving.
Statement from City Manager Eric D. Batista Regarding U.S. DOJ Investigation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 8/14/2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Kiernan Dunlop, DunlopK@worcesterma.gov
WORCESTER, Mass. – I understand that the decision by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to close its investigation into the Worcester Police Department without further action has elicited a strong reaction across the city. My Administration felt it necessary to share such an important update with the community when we were notified by the DOJ. It’s unfortunate that our announcement has been mischaracterized, which distracts from the collective improvements and progress made since the 2024 report was released.
As I said at the time of the report’s release, the findings were both shocking and unacceptable. The report will leave a lasting impact on our community, and I acknowledge the hurt of those affected by such conduct and the concerns community members have. At the same time, I acknowledge the experiences of the men and women of the Worcester Police Department and how the perception of their dedication to protecting public safety was damaged by the report. While damaging, the report also pushed us to further enhance policies and systems of accountability.
As referenced in the DOJ’s letter, we were informed that the matter was being closed with no further action, based in part on a lack of current allegations concerning the conduct that was subject to the original investigation. The municipality’s announcement did not state that the DOJ retracted its findings, nor did it imply that the 2024 allegations were unfounded. To state otherwise only serves to further divide us.
I also want to reiterate my own commitment to accountability and reinforce the work of the Worcester Police Department and my Administration even before the 2024 DOJ report was released. To imply that I am aligned with any dismantling of civil rights protections is a gross distortion of the truth. In fact, the opposite is true, and the DOJ letter announcing the closure directly cites the accountability initiatives my Administration has implemented, including updated policies, training materials, body-worn cameras, and strengthened use of force review.
Since being appointed City Manager I have led with my core values of honesty and integrity. The closure of the DOJ investigation is not vindication, but it does reflect our progress and should be recognized. It also does not mark the end of our continuous improvement efforts, which will evolve for years to come. I promise you that I will not stop identifying ways to work as a community to keep building trust in our Police Department and in my Administration. I have been meeting with community members to discuss challenges, concerns, and solutions, and that work will continue. It is up to us to follow through on corrective action, and I look forward to discussing that further at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
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What Is the Massachusetts POST Commission?
The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission is an independent state agency created as part of Massachusetts’ 2020 police reform law. It oversees certification, discipline and training standards for law enforcement officers throughout Massachusetts.
Unlike a municipal Civilian Review Board, POST has statewide authority over an officer’s professional certification. The commission can suspend, limit, condition or revoke certification and order retraining. Revocation of an officer’s certification is commonly referred to as decertification.
That distinction is central to Batista’s argument: Worcester can investigate or discipline its employees and can refer matters to POST, while POST has the power to prevent a decertified officer from continuing to serve as a police officer in Massachusetts.
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