LAWRENCE — After calling for the mayor’s resignation, a police union has now doubled down and filed a complaint with the state attorney general over clandestine video- and audio-recording at City Hall.
The New England Police Benevolent Association, which represents Lawrence police officers, asked Attorney General Andrea Campbell to “initiate an independent investigation into serious and credible allegations involving the potential recording of audio and/or video communications within Lawrence City Hall without the knowledge or consent of those being recorded.”
Officials this week confirmed Campbell’s office is investigating after state troopers served a search warrant at City Hall on Tuesday. The recording device was seized, City Attorney Timothy Houten said.
The device was installed in 2023 initially with the audio disabled. However, the audio was later turned on and the recording device fed into former Chief of Staff William Castro’s office, according to a city email.
The questionable practices came to light recently when recording of Castro and Francisco Urena, Lawrence airport director, was leaked to the public. Castro was fired and there were calls for Mayor Brian DePena to resign.
It’s unclear if Urena has been interviewed by investigators. On Friday, he referred questions to his Boston attorney George Vien who couldn’t be reached for comment.
DePena, as he has with previous controversy, launched what he a described as an “independent investigation” hiring Cooney Investigations. The mayor wouldn’t comment on the cost of the investigation or the scope of services.
As they did in a previous letter to DePena, the NEPBA reminded under state law Massachusetts is “a two-party consent state.”
“The intentional interception of oral communications without consent may constitute illegal wiretapping, a criminal offense under state law,” NEPBA Executive Director Thomas Turco and President Christopher Ryan wrote in the complaint to the attorney general.
“Reports suggesting that such recordings may have occurred within City Hall, including in areas where individuals reasonably believed their conversations to be private, raise significant legal and constitutional concerns.”
They said “of particular concern is the possibility that communications involving NEPBA members and union representatives may have been captured.”
“These communications often involve protected activity under M.G.L. c. 150E, including collective bargaining discussions, grievance matters, and other confidential union-related conversations. Any unauthorized recording of such communications would not only implicate criminal statutes, but also represent a serious intrusion into legally protected labor activity. NEPBA is not a neutral observer in this matter,” according to the complaint.
The labor union officials indicated that its members may be among those directly affected by the recordings, which would make the union a potential victim of any unlawful surveillance practices at City Hall.
They request Campbell look into the following allegations:
The existence, scope, and use of any audio and/or video surveillance systems within Lawrence City Hall.
Whether any oral communications were recorded without the knowledge and consent of all parties.
Whether any such recordings captured protected union activity or confidential communications.
The preservation, storage, access, and dissemination of any such recordings.
DePena, through a spokesperson, has said concerns about the “recently surfaced audio recordings from within City Hall” are being taken seriously.
“… Our priority remains strengthening accountability, professionalism, and public trust across all areas of City operations,” according to a prepared statement.
Follow staff reporter Jill Harmacinski on Twitter/X @EagleTribJill and on Threads at jillyharma.