WORCESTER, MA — A significant legal dispute is currently unfolding in Worcester Superior Court, pitting the president of the city’s largest police union against an independent local news organization. The civil case, Duffy v. Marino, raises questions regarding investigative journalism, police accountability, and the limits of press freedom.
The Legal Complaint
On December 29, 2025, Thomas B. Duffy II, the President of the New England Police Benevolent Association (NEPBA) Local 911, filed a verified complaint against Thomas Marino and the news outlet This Week in Worcester (TWIW).
Duffy, a 28-year veteran of the Worcester Police Department, alleges that TWIW published “provably false and defamatory” articles in mid-2025. According to the court filing, the disputed reporting claimed that Duffy:
- Was included on a “Brady List” of officers with credibility issues (a claim the District Attorney’s office has reportedly denied).
- Had been the subject of 27 internal investigations involving allegations of unreasonable force.
- Confronted the Chief of Police to pressure the department into filing criminal charges against a city official.
Duffy’s legal team asserts these statements were made with “actual malice” to damage his reputation.
Connection to the Eureka Street Incident
The tension stems from a May 8, 2025, incident on Eureka Street involving federal immigration agents. Former City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj was charged with assault and battery on a police officer and interfering with police during the confrontation.
While a judge recently denied Haxhiaj’s motion to dismiss these charges, setting a trial date for February 15, 2026, TWIW’s reporting focused on the internal police politics behind the decision to prosecute.
Broader Context: DOJ Scrutiny
The lawsuit follows a landmark December 2024 report from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which found a “pattern or practice” of civil rights violations within the Worcester Police Department, including excessive force and inadequate oversight.
TWIW has launched a public fundraising campaign to cover its legal defense, arguing that the lawsuit is an attempt to silence independent reporting on law enforcement. Duffy, however, maintains that the case is strictly about the accuracy of the facts reported about his professional record.
The case remains pending, and a jury trial has been requested.
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