Worcester Mayor Suggests New Police Chief Role, But Civil Service May Interfere

WORCESTER, MA — Following the sudden retirement of police chief Steven Sargent on Sept. 1, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty has floated the idea of a new type of department leader as the city begins searching for Sargent's replacement.

Petty released a statement this week suggesting City Manager Eric Batista should consider multiple options when finding a new chief, including hiring a public safety commissioner instead.

"We have had countless dedicated public servants in the chief’s position, including our current acting chief, but that does not preclude us from a review of the process," Petty said.

But the idea of switching from a chief to a commissioner who might be a civilian appointee may run into a blockage: the civil service law.

Batista's office said Thursday the chief position is covered under the civil service process for promotions. Worcester would need to seek a state law change if Batista hired a civilian police superintendent or commissioner, Batista's office said.

"[Batista] is researching both civilian and non-civilian processes, the latter of which would require legislation for the city to remove the position from civil service. While thoroughly reviewing the options, City Manager Batista has trust and faith in the direction of the department and would not rule out a qualified candidate from within regardless of which path the city takes," Batista's office said when asked about Petty's suggestion Thursday.

Worcester's full exit from civil service has been on the table for years. In 2021, the Worcester Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) recommended the city leave civil service after a yearlong study requested by former city manager Edward Augustus Jr. City leaders never moved ahead with the idea, which Sargent had partially opposed.

Asked if Batista supports leaving civil service, his office said Batista has at least raised the issue with the city's two police unions. Batista also told Spectrum News in July he would put together a new commission within six months to study leaving civil service.

"In contract negotiations, the city manager successfully bargained with one of the police unions to establish a committee to review the elimination of civil service," a Batista spokesperson said Thursday.

More than 30 communities in Massachusetts have left civil service, including nearby cities like Marlborough and Framingham.

Many larger cities in the state use other titles for police department leaders, with one key difference being that chiefs often ascend through the ranks of a given department.

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox — who is also referred to as the police chief — was appointed by Mayor Michelle Wu in 2022 after serving as chief in Ann Arbor, Mich., although Cox is from Roxbury and served for decades as a Boston police officer.

A commissioner also oversaw Springfield police until the title was changed to superintendent in 2022; that city also has a five-member civilian board of police commissioners that oversees disciplinary issues. Cambridge has a commissioner and two superintendents who oversee department functions like operations, investigations and administration. Lowell has a superintendent.

Petty's office did not immediately respond to a request Thursday about whether the mayor would formally direct Batista to consider hiring a public safety commissioner at any upcoming city council meeting.

Following Sargent's exit, Deputy Chief Paul Saucier was elevated to interim chief.

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