40 years ago this month, Fred Clay was arrested for a crime he didn’t commit. After 38 years behind bars, he’s telling his story and writing another chapter.
CONSULTANTS TOLD STATE POLICE HOW TO AVOID TURMOIL. THE DEPARTMENT IGNORED THE ADVICE AND SPENT THE FOLLOWING DECADES SPIRALING TOWARD CORRUPTION.
From several dozen troopers facing criminal charges in an expansive payroll fiasco, to drunk-driving drill instructors and other one-offs, the follies continue.
TOO MANY COPS
Some thoughts about last Saturday’s counterprotest It’s Labor Day as I start this column and I don’t want to labor too much on it, but I think it’s important to reflect upon a particular aspect of Saturday’s counterprotest against an ultra right-wing “parade” that hasn’t gotten nearly as much press attention as it […]
SOME BACKGROUND ON THE WAR ON RACHAEL ROLLINS
Other than some Trump-supporting scoundrels and police who get paid lavishly to make appearances in court after arresting people on small crimes, I don’t know anybody else who thinks the legal system ought to regress. In Suffolk or anyplace else.
GROSS POINTS BLANK: BOSTON’S TOP COP SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE BASHING THE ACLU
BPD Commissioner William Gross has had a bad few days. Last week, ACLU Massachusetts sued the city of Boston for using “a system—nicknamed the ‘gang packet’—which awards points for choice of clothes and social media selfies, and [is] used to designate ‘gang affiliation’ without any accompanying allegations of criminal activity,” according a Guardian article […]
UNRESPONSIVE: THE MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC RECORDS LAW FAILS THREE OUT OF THREE TIMES
That’s what’s happening with all three agencies in this case, with each one putting their own unique spin on how to circumvent the rules.
SPECIAL FEATURE: CRIPPLED EPISTEMOLOGY
Boston researchers have spent years helping government agencies plan and simulate operations to troll potential terrorists. Despite controversial practices and lackluster results, the covert operations continue.
BRIC OF ICE: FEEBLE STATE RECORDS LAW AIDS ICE IN MA
What’s less known is that here in Massachusetts, our feeble public records law is helping to bolster these efforts by obscuring the process through which local officials share information with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
PROPS FOR THE SHOP THAT DROPPED UBER COP
In the past two weeks alone, the Dig has been excited to see several stories that we first dug into, in some cases with help from the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism, that have since been picked up by the larger mainstream media.
CAUGHT ON CAM-SHARE: BPD SEEKS ACCESS TO PRIVATE SECURITY CAMERAS, EXPERIMENTS WITH NEW SURVEILLANCE NETWORK
For now, the BPD wants to help officers more quickly locate and access footage. However, if the program expands beyond its small introduction—about 13 locations, according to BPD records—it could develop into a centralized surveillance network.
