Holyoke councilors call for Police Department review
A Holyoke Police Department cruiser. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Holyoke Police Chief Manny Febo joins protesters in a march, protest and vigil against racial injustice and police brutality, June 2. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Published: 3/15/2021 7:48:29 PM
HOLYOKE Four city councilors are calling for an independent assessment of the Holyoke Police Department after a video of a police officer alleging widespread corruption and racism within the department went viral last week.
At-large City Councilor Rebecca Lisi filed an order for an assessment, which is on the agenda for the City Council’s meeting on Tuesday night. The order proposes that “in an effort to obtain neutral, fact-based data and statistics, the City contract an independent assessment of Holyoke Police Department’s structure, policies, and practices.”
Holyoke Police Department faces call for ‘independent assessment’ after corruption claim
Updated Mar 15, 2021;
HOLYOKE Mayoral candidate and City Councilor Rebecca Lisi filed an order calling for an “independent assessment” of the Police Department after Officer Rafael Roca alleged widespread corruption in a viral YouTube video.
Lisi’s order, which drew the support of Ward 1 Councilor Gladys Lebron-Martinez, Ward 4 Councilor Libby Hernandez, and Ward 6 Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos, will likely go to committee for review. The City Council is scheduled to meet Tuesday at 7 p.m.
“In light of recent conflicting statements made by Officer Rafael Roca in a video posted to YouTube and Chief (Manuel) Febo’s media response, the order seeks to cut through the biased and impartial accounts of personal positions and takes a broader look at the overall management and practices of the Police Department,” according to a Lisi campaign statement.
State Rep.-elect Duffy taps ‘friend, ally’ as legislative aide
Holyoke Ward 6 City Councilor Juan C. Anderson-Burgos attends the first meeting of the new year in the council chambers following an inaugural ceremony held upstairs in the Holyoke City Hall auditorium on Jan. 6, 2020. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO
Modified: 12/18/2020 6:49:41 AM
HOLYOKE The city’s state representative-elect has named her first legislative aide a new hire, but hardly a new name for Holyokers.
Patricia Duffy announced this week that Ward 6 City Councilor Juan Anderson-Burgos will become her aide when she is sworn in on Jan. 6. Currently herself the legislative aide for state Rep. Aaron Vega, Duffy said that Anderson-Burgos is both a friend and ally.