Massachusetts

Suspended Lawrence police chief violated state laws and agency policies, report finds

Acting Chief William Castro has been suspended amid an investigation into a chase he engaged in with a suspect who was wanted for writing a bad check

NBC Universal, Inc.

An independent investigation released by the Essex District Attorney’s Office sustained several allegations against acting Lawrence Police Chief William Castro and recommended he be fired.

The suspended acting police chief in Lawrence, Massachusetts, violated agency policies and state law and should be fired, according to the conclusion of a report by a firm hired to investigate the allegations and obtained by the NBC10 Investigators.   

William Castro was named as the city’s acting police chief in October 2023. Just months later, the Massachusetts POST Commission suspended Castro's certification after he engaged in the vehicle chase of a suspect who was wanted for writing a bad check, according to the law enforcement oversight agency. At the time he was placed on administrative leave.

The city hired Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting (CIC), an outside company, to conduct an investigation. But as reported by the NBC10 Investigators, for months, local police union leaders fought to get a copy of the final report, which was completed in October.

On Tuesday, the police union received that report via a public records request to the Essex County District Attorney’s office. The names of witnesses interviewed by investigators were redacted in the documents.

Daniel Bennett, the state’s former secretary of public safety, authored the report and concluded that Castro violated agency policy by engaging in that pursuit, then attempted to lie about it.

According to the report, the chase happened in the middle of the day last February. Video reviewed by investigators showed Castro pursuing a suspect vehicle onto a sidewalk and into oncoming lanes of traffic with his lights and sirens engaged. The fleeing vehicle eventually crashed and officers arrested the suspects. 

In his report, Castro wrote that he thought it was a bank robbery.

“Acting Chief Castro broke the law in an effort to cover up a mistake that he made,” Bennett wrote. “Instead of accepting the consequences for his actions, he fabricated a false report. As the leader of the Lawrence Police Department, this conduct is unacceptable.”

Paul MacMillan, the president of the Lawrence police patrolmen’s union, called the report a black eye for the city.

“The investigation shows how political ties, mismanagement and unethical behavior can destroy a department,” MacMillan said. “This investigation should not reflect on the rank and file officers, but  show the lack of leadership from the chief's office all the way to City Hall.” 

CIC was also asked to investigate allegations of unethical hiring processes, reports of intimidation and retaliation. The report sustained the allegations that Castro violated state hiring laws and may have engaged in intimidation, recommending termination based on his behavior, but did not sustain the allegations of retaliation.

According to the report, Castro engaged in unethical hiring and recruiting practices on three separate occasions. In one instance, Castro tried to hire an unqualified candidate when he had knowledge of a history of serious disciplinary problems.

The report also found instances where Castro broke the law by continuing to carry out his police chief duties after he had been suspended by POST, including an April meeting with the mayor at City Hall.

Despite the conclusions of the CIC report, Mayor DePeña told us that he retained another firm to do a second investigation to show that the city was taking the allegations seriously and promote transparency.

Both investigations cost $50,000 each, according to the agreements with the city. 

Our previous NBC10 investigation also found that found that Castro continued to collect his $210,000 salary while he was on leave. 

Lawrence's provisional police chief, a political ally of the mayor, is being paid six figures despite the state's oversight board suspending his credentials last March.

City Attorney Timothy Houten told NBC10 that as of Tuesday, Castro is no longer being paid as a police chief. According to the terms of his contract, Castro will now return to his previous job as chief of staff.

Houten said he has urged the mayor to release the report to the public as soon as possible.

NBC10 reached out to Castro and his attorney for comment about the report’s findings and is awaiting a response.

According to the report, Castro did not show up for his scheduled interview last October. Shortly after that, an aide to the mayor asked CIC to cease the investigation.

Prior to the release of the report, elected leaders in Lawrence said they were glad the ongoing controversy is getting scrutiny.

“We are happy for the report that you put together because it’s given the community an answer,” said City Councilor Wendy Luzon.

Council President Jeovanny Rodriguez said he and his colleagues have struggled to get answers from City Hall. They have expressed concern about taxpayers shelling out more than $1 million in police chief salaries over the past two years. 

“It’s very frustrating,” Rodriguez said. “It’s important for the public to know that what is happening in Lawrence is not a good thing.”

A spokesperson with the Essex County DA said the office is aware of the ongoing POST investigation into Castro’s certification and will allow that probe to take its course.

Mike Simard, the president of the Lawrence superior officers police union, said the DA should undertake a criminal investigation.

“Our biggest fear now is that our members will be subjected to retaliation by this administration for simply cooperating with the investigation,” Simard said.

Contact Us