King Says DOJ Closure Does Not Erase Worcester Police Findings, Renews Call for Civilian Oversight
By Jerry Filmore
WORCESTER, MA — The federal investigation into the Worcester Police Department may be ending without additional action, but a debate over what accountability should look like locally is continuing at City Hall.
Worcester City Council Vice Chairman and Councilor-at-Large Khrystian E. King is renewing his call for an independent civilian review board following the federal government’s decision to close its investigation into Worcester police.
In an Aug. 11 statement, King said the decision should not be interpreted as a reversal of the U.S. Department of Justice’s findings or as evidence that concerns raised during the investigation were unfounded.
“Inaction is not exoneration, and an abandoned federal process is not vindication,” King said in the statement.
King’s comments are part of an ongoing disagreement over how Worcester officials should describe the conclusion of a federal civil rights investigation that began in 2022 and resulted in extensive findings against the city and Worcester Police Department in 2024.
What the DOJ found
The U.S. Department of Justice opened its investigation in November 2022 to determine whether Worcester police engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force or discriminatory policing based on race or sex.
In December 2024, the Justice Department released its findings, concluding there was reasonable cause to believe Worcester and its police department engaged in a pattern or practice of conduct that violated constitutional and federal rights.
Federal investigators found that Worcester police used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment, including unjustified uses of Tasers, police dogs and strikes to the head. The DOJ also found constitutional violations involving sexual contact by certain officers with women suspected of involvement in the commercial sex trade during undercover operations.
The department additionally raised concerns about reports of sexual misconduct by officers, the handling of complaints and investigations, racially discriminatory policing, and deficiencies in policies, training, supervision and accountability.
Those findings have not been publicly withdrawn by the Justice Department. The DOJ’s current Special Litigation Section webpage continues to display Worcester Police Department under the category “Investigation” and links to the 2024 findings.
King disputes how the closure has been described
King’s statement followed comments from City Manager Eric D. Batista concerning the federal government’s decision to close the matter.
King accused the administration of mischaracterizing the DOJ’s letter and argued that the federal government’s decision to take no further action should not be treated as vindication. Those descriptions represent King’s position on the city’s response.
Batista subsequently issued a statement on Aug. 14 providing his own clarification.
Batista said the city’s announcement did not claim the DOJ had retracted its findings and did not imply that the allegations addressed in the 2024 investigation were unfounded.
“The closure of the DOJ investigation is not vindication,” Batista said, while adding that he believes the decision reflects progress made by the city and police department.
Batista also acknowledged the impact of the DOJ findings on people affected by the conduct described in the report and on community members concerned about policing. He said the report led the city to strengthen policies and accountability systems.
According to Batista, the DOJ’s closure letter cited initiatives implemented by the city, including updated policies and training materials, body-worn cameras and strengthened review of police use of force.
King renews call for a Civilian Review Board
Beyond the disagreement over how the federal decision should be characterized, King’s statement raises a broader question for Worcester: whether police oversight should include an independent civilian body.
King is calling for what he describes as a permanent, independent Civilian Review Board with subpoena power and access to evidence.
“When Washington changes direction or walks away, Worcester residents should not lose accountability with it,” King said.
King argued that progress within the Worcester Police Department and independent oversight are not mutually exclusive. He said local accountability should continue regardless of changes in federal enforcement priorities.
A civilian oversight body has previously been discussed in Worcester.
The city’s racial equity audit of the Worcester Police Department includes a recommendation that WPD and the city formally discuss establishing a civilian oversight body. According to the city’s published response to that recommendation, the City Manager and City Council have discussed the issue, and the Worcester Regional Research Bureau was expected to conduct an independent review of civilian review board models.
The same city document notes that complaints and resulting investigations are also forwarded to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission for outside review.
King’s proposal, however, specifically calls for an independent local board with subpoena authority and meaningful access to evidence. His Aug. 11 statement does not provide proposed legislation establishing the board, details about its membership, a budget or a timetable for creating it.
What happens next
The federal investigation and Worcester’s local police oversight debate are related but separate issues.
The Justice Department’s 2024 findings remain publicly available. The city says it has been informed that the federal matter is being closed without further action, while both King and Batista now agree publicly that the closure should not be described as a retraction of those findings or as vindication.
Where they differ is on how Worcester should respond and what additional accountability structures are necessary.
Batista has said the administration will continue its improvement efforts and meetings with community members.
King is calling for the city to move toward permanent independent civilian oversight. His statement does not establish such a board, and the source material reviewed by What’s Up Worcester does not identify a scheduled City Council vote on his proposal.
Residents can follow City Council agendas, pending items and meeting records through the City of Worcester’s public meeting portal. The city says current agendas and archived meeting materials are available through its public meeting system.
🔎 W.U.W. Verification Box
• Project / Topic: U.S. Department of Justice investigation into the Worcester Police Department and Councilor Khrystian King’s call for an independent Civilian Review Board.
• Current Status: The City of Worcester says the DOJ has informed officials that the federal matter is being closed without further action. The DOJ’s 2024 findings have not been publicly retracted. King is calling for a permanent civilian oversight board, but his Aug. 11 statement does not itself create one.
• Key Dates or Decisions: The DOJ opened its Worcester investigation on Nov. 15, 2022 and announced its findings on Dec. 9, 2024. King issued his statement on Aug. 11, 2026. Batista issued a subsequent clarification on Aug. 14, 2026.
• Estimated Cost: King’s statement does not provide an estimated cost for establishing or operating the proposed Civilian Review Board.
• Timeline: No timetable for establishing a Civilian Review Board is provided in King’s statement. The federal investigation began in 2022, findings were announced in 2024, and the city says it was notified in 2026 that the matter would close without further action.
• Immediate Next Steps: King is calling for local action on independent civilian oversight. Batista has said the administration will continue accountability and improvement efforts and discussions with community members. The materials reviewed do not identify a confirmed City Council vote on a Civilian Review Board.
• Primary Sources: Aug. 11 statement from Vice Chairman Khrystian E. King; Aug. 14 statement from City Manager Eric D. Batista; U.S. Department of Justice 2022 investigation announcement and 2024 findings; City of Worcester racial equity audit materials.
• What We Do Not Yet Know: King’s statement does not provide a proposed membership structure, budget, governing authority, subpoena process or implementation timeline for the Civilian Review Board. The source material reviewed also does not identify a scheduled Council vote on establishing the board.
This coverage is supported by our sponsor, Worcester EV’s, Embedded Counsel, Body Vybes by Reanna, and W.S.R & Wellness Coaching
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