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A class action lawsuit filed in federal court this week accuses Worcester Police of excessive force during a George Floyd protest in the city on June 1, 2020.
The lawsuit names as defendants the city of Worcester, the former city manager, the chief of police and more than a dozen officers.
The suit comes as the Department of Justice is investigating whether Worcester police have a pattern of using excessive force and discriminatory policing.
“I’m extremely disappointed at the cadence with which we — and I include myself — have moved forward on these issues affecting policing and public health reform and schools and it’s not good enough,” said City Councilor-at-Large Khrystian King. “I would absolutely say I’m frustrated.” Others were more explicit. “There has been zero response from the city of Worcester,” said Joseph Hennessey, a retired police officer who now practices law and focuses on police misconduct cases. “If it was such a big priority, they would have acted upon it in May when there was the push ...