WORCESTER – Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Tim Murray has resigned from the Worcester Regional Research Bureau’s (WRRB) Board of Directors in response to its report released on Oct. 14, “Overdue for Civilian Oversight.”
Worcester City Manager Eric Batista requested the WRRB produce the report, which covers civilian review boards as an oversight mechanism for police departments, and the need for such a board in Worcester to provide oversight of the Worcester Police Department.
Multiple sources confirmed Murray’s resignation related directly to the WRRB report on Thursday, Oct. 23.
This Week in Worcester sent multiple questions to Murray on Thursday. Those questions included asking if his objections were political or factual objections to the content of the report.
Murray did not response to those inquiries.
Multiple sources also confirmed that Murray has discussed pressuring financial supporters of the WRRB for reasons that are unclear, It is unclear if those efforts have been enacted.
The WRRB 2024 annual report lists 12 foundations and over 80 other organizations as financial supporters.
In a statement released Friday, Murray said, ” To issue a report and recommendation three weeks before a competitive municipal election was, in my judgment, a mistake that does a disservice to the important discussion and debate this issue warrants.”
Murray’s statement does not explain his views on how the WRRB holding the report for weeks, until after the election, would not be a political decision.
Murray also says that the WRRB board of directors “does not receive notice about when reports are being issued, nor are we solicited for input on potential research topics.”
Many of the board members have interest in businesses affected by public policy.
During his time in city government, Murray opposed additional police oversight. The independent expenditure PAC he helped launch in 2023, Progress Worcester, only spent funds supporting candidates that oppose a civilian review board in Worcester.
In 1999, while Murray served as a city councilor, the Human Rights Commission conducted a series of listening sessions with residents. The WRRB report says that the commission reported many residents said they felt resident complaints made directly to the police department were not taken seriously. Some residents also called for a form of civilian review.
Murray was unmoved.
The U.S. Department of Justice pattern and practice investigation report, released in December 2024, included criticism that the Worcester Police Department Bureau of Professional Standards, the internal investigation unit of the department, failed to conduct meaningful investigations.
WRRB Executive Director Paul Matthews declined to comment when reached by This Week in Worcester. The WRRB said it will release a statement on Friday. This report will be updated at that time.
Although Murray left his last government position over a decade ago and now leads a special interest group that advocates for business interests, including lowering the commercial tax rate by raising the residential tax rate, he continues to exert influence over city government.
Murray’s Influence in Worcester Government
Murray served as a Worcester City Councilor from 1998 to 2007, and concurrently as Mayor of Worcester from 2002 to 2007.
In Worcester, the mayor serves as chair of the city council and school committee while fulfilling the ceremonial duties of a traditional manager. The city manager, who the city council appoints, serves as the chief executive of the administrative branch of city government.
Murray later served as Lt. governor of Massachusetts from 2007 to 2013, during the administration of Governor Deval Patrick. He resigned as Lt. governor to take the top position at the local Chamber of Commerce in 2013.
Murray is a member of the city manager’s Economic Development Coordinating Committee (EDCC), which includes City Manager Batista, Mayor Joe Petty, Worcester Business Development Corporation (WBDC) President Craig Blais, who served within former City Manager Mike O’Brien’s administration, and others.
Despite Murray’s position being an advocate for the interests of the Chamber’s business members, this exclusive meeting with the highest-ranking city officials makes no reports of its proceedings public or available to the city council.
In 2014, the Worcester City Council searched for the city’s next city manager after the resignation of Mike O’Brien from the position. The city hired Ed Augustus for nine months as an interim manager, but said he would not accept the position long-term. Augustus also signed a document acknowledging he would not be selected for the long-term role.
Despite three finalists being selected for the position, Joe Petty, then a city councilor at-large, raised a motion to appoint Augustus and offer him a long-term contract.
Multiple sources, both former and current city officials, and including one member of the committee which conducted the search in 2014, told This Week in Worcester that it was Murray who negotiated with Augustus to take the position and pressured Petty to make the motion after another councilor on the committee refused.
At that time, Murray was in his current position as the CEO of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce, a special interest group.
“Overdue for Civilian Oversight” by the WRRB
A broad range of individuals within Worcester and across central Massachusetts respect the WRRB for its policy research and reports. During City Manager Batista’s State of the City Address in May, he said:
“Thank you to the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, Executive Director Paul Matthews, and the entire board and staff, for partnering with us again. Your non-partisan research and data analysis has proven critical in breaking down the issues affecting greater Worcester – including your highly expected report on Civilian Review Boards.”
The WRRB, founded in 1985, is a non-profit organization that conducts independent, non-partisan research and analysis of public policy issues. It says its goals are to promote good governance and informed decision making. Its research reports aim to reach both citizens of the region and public officials.
The WRRB report directly recommends the city establish a civilian review board as a means of oversight of the Worcester Police Department. The researchers noted Worcester is the 114th largest city in the United States. More than half of the 200 largest American cities have a civilian review board or comparable oversight structure.
The report also covers the range of different models of civilian review boards used by cities across the country and provides 14 “minimum features of effective oversight.”
One section of the WRRB report surveys attempts by residents, community organizations, and efforts of individual city councilors to push for a civilian review board in Worcester for over 50 years. This includes efforts in 1998 and 1999, when Murray served as a Worcester City Councilor.
Both attempts proved unsuccessful in establishing police oversight. Murray opposed both efforts. The city has paid millions in taxpayer funds to those affected by civil and constitutional rights violations since Murray’s tenure.
DOJ Report
City Manager Batista requested the WRRB report on civilian review boards after the release of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) pattern and practice report in December 2024.
The DOJ investigation reviewed police reports and other documentation within the police department. It also interviewed “many current and former officers, City employees, and WPD officials, including Bureau of Investigative Services captains and Vice Unit supervisors.” Investigators also interviewed “nearly 150 citizens and local organizations.”
The DOJ report highlighted several cases of shocking behavior within the Worcester Police Department, which the DOJ said it had reasonable cause to believe. Those findings include the unlawful use of force using tasers, head strikes, escalation, and police dogs.
The investigation also found alleged sexual assault by officers against commercial sex workers and that officers engaged in sexual contact while undercover.
The DOJ also said that the department has inadequate supervision, which contributes to unreasonable force. The Bureau of Professional Standards (BOPS), the internal investigation team inside the police department, received criticism for not conducting meaningful investigations.
