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Boston Globe
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
New Bedford names outsider as police chief amid scrutiny of its past practices
Mitchell said Thody's leadership style emphasizes accountability and transparency. 'It is essential that the NBPD sustain the improvements it has made in recent years,' Mitchell said, 'and Chief Thody is particularly well-suited to make that happen and to fortify the public's trust and confidence in its police.' The move comes in the wake of a Globe Spotlight Team investigation, ' Advertisement The Spotlight series and podcast, In the wake of the reports, the mayor asked the FBI to review the Globe's findings. The city also hired 21st Century Policing Solutions, a firm that specializes in law enforcement training, to examine the department's use of informants, as well as its internal affairs process. Advertisement City officials have declined to share details of that contract. A final report from the firm, including reform recommendations, is expected to be provided to the city later this summer. Thody will be officially sworn in once the terms of his contract have been finalized, Mitchell said. New Bedford assistant deputy chief Derek Belong is serving as acting chief in the interim. 'I promise to listen, engage, and bring relentless attention to the things that matter most to the people of New Bedford,' Thody said Tuesday at an introductory press conference. 'We may face challenges, we may face mistakes, but we will be open and honest about how we deal with those mistakes.' Thody's selection, which was guided by a nine-member search committee, came as a surprise to many in the department. New Bedford police union president Lorenzo Gonzalez said he learned of Thody's selection only during a Tuesday press conference to announce the appointment. Gonzalez called the lack of communication with the union 'disappointing.' 'We would've liked to do our homework on the matter just to see, 'Hey, who are the finalists, what are they about, what's their backstory, their history?'' said Gonzalez. 'Unfortunately, we were kind of kept in the land of rumors.' The decision to look outside for a new leader is typically indicative of a city's desire for fresh perspective to change the culture, said Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Washington D.C.-based Police Executive Research Forum. Advertisement 'A new chief comes in knowing that there is a series of documented problems and there is a mandate to fix them,' Wexler told the Globe. 'Anyone coming into that department knows they are coming in to make changes, but [they] still want to make changes in a way that the organization feels like they are part of it.' The last outsider to serve as New Bedford police chief was Arthur J. Kelly III, who also learned how to be a cop in Hartford, where he rose through the police department ranks. Unlike Thody, Kelly served as chief for four other police departments – from Sanford, Maine, to St. Joseph, Missouri – before Police departments are insular organizations, Kelly said, and New Bedford is more provincial than most. 'If this is the first city you're going to, that makes your learning curve exceedingly sharp,' Kelly said Wednesday. 'You know that you're being viewed as an outsider because you are.' Thody began his career in Hartford as a patrol cadet in 1996. Through the years, he served as commander of the crime scene division, supervisor of the emergency response team, and commander of accreditation. He also worked as the department's 'special advocate,' a position responsible for prosecuting major cases of police misconduct, according to a city press release. His tenure in Hartford was marked by several controversies. A 2010 internal affairs investigation found that Thody, who was then a lieutenant, was the aggressor in a fight outside a bar while off-duty, according to a Advertisement An internal investigator recommended two internal charges against Thody for conduct unbecoming an officer, as well as a separate count of making a false report or record, the Courant reported. In 2020, shortly after being named chief, Thody was disciplined after he struck a guardrail while driving a department-issued vehicle, resulting in more than $3,000 in damage. Thody told investigators he was driving distractedly at the time of the crash after spending the afternoon at a local marina. According to 'He's going like a bat out of hell,' the caller told dispatchers, according to a recording of the call published by the Courant. 'I watched him bounce off the guardrail at about 60 miles an hour.' Two Hartford City Council members called for Thody's firing because they argued there were several discrepancies in his account of the crash, the Hartford Courant Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin backed Thody at the time, saying the incident didn't rise to the level of suspension or Thody's removal as chief. He also said Thody had failed to follow city policy regarding take-home vehicles and also made inadequate efforts to report the incident. Like Oliveira in New Bedford, Thody was also the subject of a no-confidence vote by the Hartford police union during his tenure as chief. Thody retired from his previous post in March of 2024, saying he hoped to spend more time with family and pursue a healthier lifestyle. He said at the time he had no plans to run another police department. Advertisement Dugan Arnett can be reached at
Boston Globe
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
New Bedford's embattled police department gets a new chief
'His leadership, which emphasizes accountability, data-driven decision making and transparency, produced objective accomplishments: a 31 percent decrease in violent crime, the department's removal from judicial oversight, and national and state accreditation, all while navigating the challenges of the pandemic and the civil unrest that followed,' Mitchell's statement said. Advertisement The changes come in the wake of a Globe Spotlight Team investigation, ' The Spotlight Team series and podcast, Much of the abuse occurred under Oliveria's watch during the period he served as head of internal affairs, deputy chief, and later, chief. Oliveira, who became the police chief in 2021, announced his retirement in February shortly after the Globe began promoting its series. He declined multiple requests for interviews from the Globe, but Advertisement Oliveira's replacement, Thody, began his career in Hartford as a patrol cadet in 1996. Over the years, he served as commander of the crime scene division, supervisor of the emergency response team, commander of accreditation, and the department's 'special advocate,' a position responsible for prosecuting major cases of police misconduct, according to Mitchell's statement. After retiring, Thody founded a law enforcement consulting firm to advise clients on public safety leadership, training, and organizational operations, according to the statement. 'It is essential that the NBPD sustain the improvements it has made in recent years, and Chief Thody is particularly well-suited to make that happen and to fortify the public's trust and confidence in its police,' Mitchell said in his statement. Thody said he was 'honored' to accept the role in New Bedford. 'I'm looking forward to meeting the men and women of the NBPD to listen to their ideas, engaging with the residents of New Bedford on how the department can work hand-in-hand with them, and connecting with critics and supporters to make New Bedford a safer city,' Thody said in the statement. After Oliveira's retirement, Mayor Mitchell appointed a screening committee to review and interview applicants and recommend finalists for the mayor's consideration. Thody was selected from 21 applicants. 'I wish to thank the committee for their thoughtful and conscientious vetting of the candidates, which strengthened the credibility of the process in the eyes of the public, the candidates and the members of the police department alike,' Mitchell's statement said. Advertisement The terms of Thody's contract are being completed. When that is done, he will be sworn in, Mitchell said. In the meantime, Assistant Deputy Chief Derek Belong will continue to serve as acting chief. Thody also serves as program director for Connecticut's Division of Criminal Justice. He earned a bachelor's degree from Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, Conn., and a master's degree in public safety from the University of Virginia. Thody is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and the Police Executive Research Forum's Senior Management Institute for Police. Violent crime in New Bedford has dropped 60 percent over the last decade, and property crime is down 52 percent over the same period, according to the FBI, Mitchell's statement said. The agency also is continuing to implement reforms recommended by a nationally renowned law enforcement consulting firm, Mitchell said. The police department brought in the Boston-based firm, Jensen Hughes, 'to perform a top-to-bottom assessment in an effort to improve and better serve the residents of New Bedford,' Mitchell's statement said. The city also hired, 21st Century Policing Solutions, which specializes in law enforcement training, to examine the department's use of informants, as well as its internal affairs process. A final report from the firm, including reform recommendations, is expected to be provided to the city later this summer. Messages left with Thody and Mitchell's office weren't immediately returned Tuesday. Tonya Alanez can be reached at
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Stolen license plate leads to fentanyl, heroin, and meth in Neptune Beach, police say
A stolen license plate in Neptune Beach and License Plate Reader (LPR) technology led to the arrest of an accused drug dealer. According to a social media post by the Neptune Beach Police Department, the license plate was stolen on May 25. An LPR found the plate on the suspect's car on May 28. When officers tried to stop the car, they said the suspect tried to drive away. Once they caught up with the car, they arrested Jordon Robert Tindal. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Police said a search of the car led to the discovery of two guns, fentanyl, heroin and meth. Tindal was booked into the Duval County jail on several charges, including armed drug possession with intent to sell, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and petit theft. The NBPD said it is "committed to enforcing the laws and removing dangerous drugs/illegal firearms from our streets. They have no place in our community." [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Dashcam video shows police open fire on motorcyclist in Orange County
Officials in Newport Beach have released footage of the fatal police shooting of a 45-year-old motorcyclist who was the brother of a former 'Real Housewives of Orange County' star. Geoffrey Stirling, a resident of Laguna Niguel, was pulled over by police on April 17 at around 9:15 p.m. on Pacific Coast Highway, west of Superior Avenue, for reportedly running a red light, police said. Police officials stated the 45-year-old quickly became 'uncooperative' and 'assaulted the officer.' Police dashcam footage shows the two men engaged in a physical altercation, in which Stirling is able to get ahold of the officer's taser. 'During the ensuing violent altercation, Stirling managed to remove the department-issued taser from the officer's duty belt and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer,' NBPD said in a news release. 'At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred.' The 45-year-old was taken to nearby Hoag Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Shortly after the deadly police shooting, Lydia McLaughlin Stirling, an alum of RHOC, told People magazine that she and her family were devastated by the incident. 'We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family and the community,' she continued. 'We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn.' Catalytic converter theft ring in California raked in $38M, prosecutors say Their father, Scott Stirling, told the outlet that the 45-year-old was a loving son, brother and uncle and friend, and that he'd worked as a television producer, scriptwriter, actor and model. 'He attended church every Sunday and supported multiple charities. We miss him already,' he added. A day after the deadly shooting, State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that the California Department of Justice would be conducting an independent investigation into the incident. The Newport Beach Police Department is also conducting its own investigation. According to the Los Angeles Times, the 45-year-old had been charged with felony arson in connection with a March 21 fire and was due to appear in court the day after his death. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'RHOC''s' 'Lydia McLaughlin Posts Emotional Tribute to Brother as Police Release Footage of Moment He's Fatally Shot During Traffic Stop
Real Housewives of Orange County alum Lydia McLaughlin Stirling paid an emotional tribute to her brother, Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, on Instagram after he was fatally shot during a traffic stop last month The post came before the Newport Beach Police Department released bodycam footage of the April 17 incident on Wednesday, May 7 "My heart is broken, and the shock still hasn't settled," Lydia said while sharing multiple photos of her late brother and revealing they had laid him to rest earlier this weekReal Housewives of Orange County alum Lydia McLaughlin Stirling is paying tribute to her brother, Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, after he was fatally shot during a traffic stop last month. Lydia, 44, revealed the family had laid Geoffrey to rest earlier this week, sharing multiple photos of her late brother Geoffrey, 45, on Instagram, as well as videos of the family releasing white doves at his funeral. "Yesterday, we laid my brother to rest. Just six months ago, we stood in this same place, grieving the loss of my mom. 🪽," the reality star captioned the Monday, May 5 post, referencing her late mother, Judy Stirling. Judy, who made multiple appearances on RHOC, died on Oct. 8, 2024, of breast cancer. Lydia continued, "My heart is broken, and the shock still hasn't settled. 💔 But even in the sorrow, I cling to what I know is true: God is good. He is in control. I am not." "My brother is now with my mom, and I hold onto the promise that one day, we'll all be reunited. Until then, I will miss them every single day. 💫🕊️🤍🙏🏼," she concluded. The post came before the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) released bodycam footage of the officer-involved shooting, which occurred on Thursday, April 17. The officer in the video, which was released on YouTube on Wednesday, May 7, mentioned Geoffrey had been pulled over after running a red light. The NBPD had previously said in an April 19 Instagram post, "On April 17, 2025, at approximately 9:15 p.m. [local time], a Newport Beach Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a motorcycle on West Coast Highway between Superior Avenue and Hoag Hospital." "The rider, identified as Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, a 45-year-old resident of Laguna Niguel, was stopped for a traffic violation," the post added. "Shortly after being stopped, Stirling became uncooperative and assaulted the officer." "During the ensuing violent altercation, Stirling managed to remove the department-issued taser from the officer's duty belt and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred," police added. "Additional officers responded to the scene and rendered medical aid to Stirling until personnel from the Newport Beach Fire Department arrived. Stirling was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased," the post included. The recently-released bodycam footage showed Geoffrey refusing to sit down on the curb after being instructed to by the officer. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! He said police were "harassing' him, before saying, 'Don't shoot me," as the officer responded, 'I'm not going to shoot you," telling him not to reach for his ID. The officer said that Geoffrey had urinated in his pants, before an altercation broke out between the two in the clip. Geoffrey could be seen attempting to remove the officer's taser from his belt, before the officer said, "Drop it!" is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Gunshots were then fired, and Geoffrey fell to the floor. Police claimed Geoffrey had held the taser to the officer's head and pointed it at him. Additional officers arrived on the scene shortly after the incident. The California Department of Justice is conducting their own independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Paying tribute to Geoffrey, Lydia previously said in a statement shared with PEOPLE, "My family and I are devastated by the loss of my brother. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and the community. We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn." She also has another brother, Jesse. Lydia's father, Scott Stirling, added in a statement to PEOPLE: 'Geoffrey was a loving son, brother, uncle and friend. He was a television producer, script writer, actor and model. He attended church every Sunday and supported multiple charities. We miss him already.' Lydia initially joined RHOC in season 8 and later in season 12. Both of her reality TV stints only lasted one season. Read the original article on People
