If you’ve been abused, beaten, or harassed by the police, we recommend filing a police complaint. By filing a complaint, you are creating an official public record of police abuse that can be used by public officials or a lawyer in court. While we don’t believe that abusive cops will be fired, our struggle for justice must be fought on every level—through official channels and through grassroots organizing.
What is considered abuse?
The police are allowed to use force in proportion to the force used by the suspect, and only in order to restrain the suspect during a lawful detention or arrest. The use of racial or ethnic slurs, anti-gay epithets or profanity against the public is frowned upon officially.
Holyoke
File a police complaint in Holyoke: http://holyokepd.org/complaint.html#officer
Springfield
File a police complaint in Springfield: http://springfieldpolice.net/departments/iiu/IIU.htm
Racial profiling hotline
If you feel you’ve been the target of racial profiling, call the state hotline to report it: 1 (866) 6 - RACIAL
Contact us
Copwatch works to collect stories of police brutality and abuse. Please contact us if you’d like to share your story. Email us at info@westernmasscopwatch.net or call (413) 559-8823.