Massachusetts

On February 28, 2009, Boston police officers Lenane and Holt went to the public way behind the Pine Street Inn to “broom” the area of homeless people. When the officers approached, everyone fled except for Mr. Medina. Defendants incorrectly assumed that Mr. Medina had drugs. Lenane grabbed Mr. Medina’s throat and looked inside his mouth for drugs. Holt hit Mr. Medina on the nose with a hard metal object, breaking his nose. Both attacked Mr. Medina, kicking and punching him while he was on the ground. Defendants did not find any drugs and did not arrest Mr.

On Jan 30, 2010, Mr. Conforti traveled to Westport to help his sister, who is confined to a wheelchair. Mr. Conforti made arrangements with his sister’s neighbor to collect fallen branches from the neighbor’s yard, in order to heat his sister’s home. As Mr. Conforti drove through the neighborhood, he was followed by off-duty officer Napert. Napert arrested Mr. Conforti for larceny of wood, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Witnesses heard Mr. Conforti, a cancer survivor who had tracheal resection surgery, plead for help because he had wires in his chest and he had trouble breathing.

On May 19, 2010, Boston police officers arrested Ms. Wernikoff, a male-to-female transgender woman, because she was using the women’s bathroom at a homeless shelter. Ms. Wernikoff’s use of the bathroom based on her gender identity was entirely appropriate, as both BPHC policy and a Boston city ordinance make clear. Officers took Ms. Wernikoff to the police station, where male officers including forced her to remove her shirt and bra, exposing her breasts, and to jump up and down, causing her breasts to jiggle. The officers laughed at Ms. Wernikoff. She felt humiliated and degraded.

On January 13, 2013, Alyssa was arrested. She was unconscious when police officers carried her into a cell. Police should know alcohol intoxication can cause death. The officers did not have Alyssa evaluated and when an officer checked on her later that night, she had died of alcohol poisoning. Her life could have been saved by prompt medical treatment. Video from the station documented the actions of the police officers. Alyssa’s only heir at law was her estranged husband who was incarcerated when the incident took place.

21 y.o. college senior, survived by parents, killed when she was struck in the eye by a pepper ball shot by police during riot after Boston Red Sox won the World Series.