Audit finds Holyoke Police Department poses 'substantial risk' to city of We reenter the clubhouse, as we go back to the pool table the brother that just received the pot starts to brag about having a brother as a Holyoke police officer and that he gets stuff like pot and can make some money that way., In its investigation, the HPD found the allegations against Monfett not sustained because there was insufficient evidence to either prove or disprove the allegation.. 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.. 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. A newly released independent audit of the Holyoke Police Department found the HPD poses a "substantial risk" to the city it serves. Published: 11/16/2021 9:42:49 PM HOLYOKE Last week, the city's acting mayor fired a police officer who earlier this year posted a viral video on social media alleging corruption and. According to the commissions decision, it had been Rocas first solo patrol in October 2016 when he pulled over a driver who had been driving down the street in the opposite direction. Roca then went on to accuse current Holyoke Police Chief, Manny Febo, of being a corrupt police officer. In 1894 the New York State Senate launched the first comprehensive investigation of corruption in the NYPD. Febo did not use any names in his statement, but addressed an incident 10 years ago where rifles were lost. He said he was in the hospital due to stress from the situation. Here is the list of officers: Devon Bones, Holyoke Police Department. Manuel Febo, a Holyoke native who grew up in the. Roca also said that other officers have not been fired after breaking the law driving drunk, for example losing firearms and other misconduct. There were obviously violations of police procedures, Murphy said. 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. According to the Holyoke Fire Department, at approximately 8:30 p.m . }, Holyoke police officer Rafael Roca. In August, the city of Holyoke hired a firm to audit its police department, including its internal affairs processes. //LBtag_id.innerHTML = ' Buy this Image'; The suspended officers are listed below: Devon Bones, Holyoke Police Department Bryan Custadio, Fall River Police Department Leon Davis, Springfield Police Department Ernest Fontaine,. He said that currently, there were 46 total patrolmen with eight years or more of full-time experience on the job., Out of those 46, 12 are minority officers. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected the youngest mayor of Holyoke at age 22. Two of the civilian complaints that NEPM obtained alleged that police violently arrested students in the citys schools. Graduated from 36th Massachusetts Police Officer . Not to stop anyone., Terrill said the best practice is to allow civilians to file complaints against officers in multiple venues in-person oronline, like the POST Commission now allows on its website and to be able to do so anonymously. Yeah they didnt waste any time. 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. The complaints allege HPD officers engaged in misconduct ranging from brutality and bullying to discourtesy and dishonesty. program Police misconduct: Discipline records for thousands of cops uncovered He said the promoted individual allegedly lost two weapons as an officer. He went on to say that one weapon had allegedly been lost and another had been stolen from the officers home, an incident which Roca claimed was covered up.. I did exactly what I was trained and paid to do but people on my watch had a problem with that because they like to sleep in their cruisers overnight; they dont want to work.. (WWLP) - Holyoke's Chief of Police responded to the allegations of corruption within the department, made by an officer in a widely-circulated YouTube video. But the police reform bill changed that, clarifying that those investigations are not personnel records. 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). During the debate, City Councilor Jos Maldonado Velez referred to the police as a gang., It literally is, he said in the meeting. He attested that state troopers consistently call him to translate for them, as they do not have enough Spanish speakers on the force. 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 Bryan Custadio, Fall River Police Department. He also mentioned that he was fired right before Joshua Garcia was sworn in as Holyokes mayor on Monday. If you need to reach our office by phone, contact us at 413-538-7118. Of the remaining 34 non-minority officers in this group, 18 are in a specialized assignment. On December 24, 2015 and January 25, 2016, HRD, at the request of the City, sent A Massachusetts police officer who posted a video online alleging corruption within his department says he has been placed on paid administrative leave after refusing to take. Good Cop Predicts His Video Exposing Crimes in Dept Will Get Him OSHA, cannabis company reach $14k settlement in Holyoke worker's death . Holyoke police officer accuses 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 called for the FBI or the state attorney generals office to investigate the department. That transparency has been slow to arrive, however. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Read about what we do with the data we gather in our Privacy Policy. Police Scorecard: Holyoke, MA Holyoke police officer alleges corruption within department (AP) A Massachusetts police officer who posted a video online alleging corruption within his department says he has been placed on paid administrative leave after refusing to take it down and will probably lose his job. Roca said in his report that the driver attempted to back into a state trooper, at which point he fired his gun three times at the driver. But that work hasnt fully gotten off the ground yet. At the time, then-Police Chief James Neiswanger said the weapon had fallen out of Harts pickup truck. He said: The chief saw your video and hes ordering you to take it down, Roca said. Irving Concepcion filed a complaint against the Holyoke, Massachusetts, police in 2016, saying they pulled him over with their guns drawn, yanked him out of his car and slammed him down on the hood. 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. Rafael Roca, a former US Marine who became a Holyoke, MA police officer in 2016, released this 43-minute video on Sunday exposing the corruption in his department. It was not there to help me.. 540K subscribers in the Bad_Cop_No_Donut community. 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. The reality is my community policing cops got a tip and they followed up on it, Neiswanger told The Republican at the time. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO He saidthat ultimately there was sufficient cause to terminate Roca. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Reminders Publishing. In other words, having the power to question the suspect, having the power to question the officer.. 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. 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. Rocas video has reached over 50,000 views. 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. They pick and choose who they want to discipline and who they dont want to discipline.. 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. Degnan said in her report that she offered him the ability to participate via telephone and that she did not receive a physicians note with sufficient detail to verify that he could not participate in the hearing. 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. There are only two officers in this group that are assigned to specialized units. The HPDs log of complaints and internal investigations contains no evidence the department ever opened an internal investigation into the incident. Within the department, he said he had been shamed. The five-year Holyoke Police officer who posted the video, Rafael Roca, explained in the beginning, that he wanted to expose the corruption and the lies and the injustice he felt was taking place within the department. 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. Screenshot from YouTube. Holyoke police officer Rafael Roca. 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.. The rollout hasnot been smooth, with commissioners sparring overinternal rulesandavailable resources. In January, Holyoke settled the police brutality suit against the city and officers for $65,000. In this still from a video Roca posted to YouTube on March 7, 2021, Roca alleges there is corruption and racism in the Holyoke Police Department. I said Im sorry but, respectfully, I refuse to take it down.. Carla Sinclair 11:00 am Tue Mar 9, 2021. Ernest Fontaine, Fitchburg State . Its not clear and it doesnt exist. 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. Theyre there to protect each other, to look out for each other, and to come out with force in our community. There are white people who try to make it difficult for us, make it difficult for the people who have done the right thing, make it difficult for the people who want to stand up for whats right, he said. Mass. police officer alleges corruption within his department - Boston.com Some people who filed a complaint with the HPD said that officers actions impacted their lives long after the alleged misconduct took place. Holyoke Officer Rafael Roca, a former Marine hired in 2016, said in the 43-minute video . The classic response to demonstrated police corruption Step 1: Shoot the messenger. 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 minority groups are passed over for plum assignments and that discipline is handed out selectively. One is a female who is being trained to investigate sensitive crimes involving children, females and domestic violence.

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