Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno. (Adam Frenier/NEPM)
A hearing will be held on Tuesday in Hampden Superior Court on the City Council s lawsuit against Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.
The council has twice passed ordinances changing the leadership structure of the police department only to have the mayor ignore the measure each time. The disagreement centers on who should control what the ACLU of Massachusetts has called “one of the worst police departments in the country.”
Springfield has paid millions to settle police brutality and misconduct claims in recent years. Officers have faced criminal indictments for their actions more than a few caught on video. And the U.S. Justice Department has released a scathing report about the department s narcotics division.
State asks police to probe racist screed broadcast during virtual Worcester court hearing for Black Lives Matter protesters
WORCESTER Court officials have asked police to probe a racist video “Zoom bomb” that interrupted Central District Court on Friday during a virtual hearing for people charged during a Black Lives Matter protest June 1 in the city.
Lawyers representing nine people accused of failing to disperse after the protest got out of hand were arguing motions on Zoom around noon, when the online disruption occurred.
The N-word could be heard repeatedly on the broadcast. One person wrote “Heeil Hitleer (sic)” on the chat, while another laughed. A pornographic video was also cast on the screen briefly.