Worcester Police Union Leaders Respond to DOJ Report on WPD Allegations

Rick Cipro, President, Anthony Petrone, VP of Police Officials Local 504 responded to the DOJ report on the WPD on the Talk of the Commonwealth. Cipro says “We are about accountability and I think we’ve proven that over the last several years.” Cipro says changes have been made since the equity report came out. He says more accountability came through the last contract with the city including GPS and body cameras. He says they are about transparency but the union is calling into question many of the findings of the DOJ report. When asked about Worcester Police coercing women into having sex, Petrone said, that they need to see evidence based reporting.

The credibility of the DOJ, he says, hinges on a 41 page report with no facts and no evidence. He says all they have is allegations and if they are true they need to be able to bring them forward. He says a number of years ago an officer, and the report does mention it, was put in jail and served 7 years for a sexual crime. Cipro said the DOJ did say that it was going to be a civil review, but, they also stated that if they found anything criminal it would be moved over to the criminal investigations bureau. Cipro asks why that is not happening. That those officers need to be removed.

Cipro does not agree that there would be retribution on anyone who would come forward. Petrone said he was present at every meeting with the DOJ. He says the questioning was not in depth.