Statement of Support for the Establishment of a Civilian Review Board in the City of Worcester

The Coalition for a Healthy Greater Worcester expresses clear support for the establishment of a Civilian Review Board, as this proposal represents a public health issue and aligns with our mission. The Coalition’s mission emphasizes shared learning, reflection, broad engagement, community decision-making, health, and well-being. A Civilian Review Board puts these principles into practice by creating a structured opportunity for residents to have a meaningful voice in evaluating police conduct and informing policies that directly affect community safety, health, and well-being.

As a coalition, our role is to provide a space where public health issues are examined through multiple forms of evidence and community perspectives. This necessarily includes understanding the relationship between community members and public institutions, including law enforcement. The recommendation for a Civilian Review Board emerged from sustained public input and is supported by evidence, including findings from the Worcester Research Bureau. In this context, there is a strong and well-founded rationale for the Coalition to publicly support this initiative