Mayor announces outside agency to evaluate New Bedford Police Department

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) — New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell announced that the police department will be subject to an independent evaluation by 21st Century Policing Solutions regarding its practices and policies.

According a spokesperson for Mitchell, 21CP will review the New Bedford Police Department’s use of confidential informants and the conduct of internal affairs investigations, as well as continue developing “a roadmap for improvements.”

“We share the Mayor’s view that effective police departments must embrace an ethos of strong values and continuous improvement,” 21CP partner Kathleen O’Toole said. “We welcome this opportunity to assist Mayor Mitchell, the New Bedford Police Department, and those they serve.”

Additionally, the spokesperson said 21CP will “consider recent reporting about allegations that certain officers mishandled informants.”

On March 14, Mitchell released a statement following a series of articles published by the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team on alleged misconduct members of the department took part in.

In the statement, Mitchell said that the articles were “materially incomplete and relies on the accounts of convicted criminals and others of dubious credibility.”