The Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT) in Boston has been navigating a turbulent path since its inception in 2020. Created by the Boston City Council, and spearheaded by Councilor Michelle Wu, the office was officially signed into law by Mayor Marty Walsh in January 2021. However, it wasn’t until August 2022 that the office held its first meeting concerning cases brought before its board members, who are appointed by the mayor.
The office has faced significant challenges since its establishment. As reported by the Globe in April, it has encountered high turnover rates, staffing vacancies, and a failure to conduct public meetings. Additionally, the office’s website went dark for several months, and only two of its recommended disciplinary actions against officers were upheld by Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox, both resulting in mere oral reprimands.
Recently, the situation became even more complicated with the dismissal of two City Hall aides following an alleged domestic dispute. Adding to the embarrassment, it was revealed that one aide, who faced charges for assaulting a police officer, was the chief of staff at OPAT itself — the very office tasked with overseeing police accountability.
Amidst controversies, Carvalho, a former assistant district attorney and state representative, has taken charge of the office and asserts that it is experiencing newfound momentum. To foster visibility and rebuild trust within the community, Carvalho has initiated biweekly coffee hours in various Boston neighborhoods. He has also hired a community engagement officer and established a monthly open office day at the Nubian Square headquarters to encourage public interaction with staff members.
Since Carvalho’s leadership began, the board members of OPAT have been meeting regularly, in accordance with legal requirements. There have already been four full quorum meetings since he took over, a marked improvement compared to the mere six meetings held in the two years prior, of which three were without a quorum.
The OPAT website, alongside its dashboard, has also seen significant updates and is operational again. Nevertheless, the most recent report, dated February 7, 2024, addresses findings from July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023. Carvalho is committed to filing another report in July to coincide with the close of the current fiscal year.
Despite these advancements, quantifying the office’s effectiveness in investigating complaints remains a challenge. During a budget presentation to the Boston City Council on May 5, it was noted that OPAT received 144 complaints in 2024. The Civilian Review Board, which operates under OPAT, has processed 29 cases during this timeframe, with some cases involving multiple officers and allegations. Among the nine cases that were upheld—indicating sufficient evidence to support the allegations—24 instances of misconduct allegations were also confirmed.
Notably, OPAT has not utilized its subpoena power nor has it referred any Boston police officers to the state Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission. Carvalho emphasized that the absence of these actions does not equate to a failure of the office. “This is an agency in infancy. We need to understand where we are in the history of police reform,” he commented, acknowledging that there will undoubtedly be challenges ahead.
Addressing further obstacles, Carvalho recognized the resistance to external oversight of police activities. Responding to a recent statement from the Boston Police Detectives Union that characterized OPAT as a “third and redundant level of police oversight,” Carvalho articulated the complexity involved in implementing police reform. “The movement of police reform, having to create this office, it’s a struggle, it’s a challenge,” he said. He reinforced the importance of the office’s existence, framing the need for accountability through a civil rights and human rights lens.
In light of these developments, the editorial board has noted instances in which the Police Department seems to be delaying internal affairs investigations and lacking transparency about their findings. A prominent example includes an ongoing investigation into a Boston police pursuit linked to a fatal car crash in January 2024 that claimed the lives of three teenagers, which has remained unresolved for several months. The Boston Police Department has also not complied with a court order to release findings regarding one officer involved in the pursuit.
The leadership of Mayor Michelle Wu becomes crucial during these trying times. Initially, Wu pledged to prioritize police accountability during her mayoral campaign, yet her current public discourse on the issue has diminished. As the election year progresses, she has gained the endorsement of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Union, marking a historic shift as it is the first time in over 30 years that this union has backed a mayor for reelection. While fostering harmony between the mayor’s office and police, it remains vital for Wu to uphold demands for increased accountability and transparency from her city’s law enforcement and for OPAT to play a critical role in that endeavor.
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