Meetings Held to Discuss Bias Complaint Against Springfield Police -- Black School Principal Beaten by Cops

City officials met twice this week with investigators for the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination as part of the agency's probe of a racial bias complaint filed against the Police Department. Representatives of the Police and Law departments took part in both meetings, with more meetings to follow, said Edward M. Pikula, the city's chief of litigation. The racial bias complaint was filed by the Pastors' Council of Greater Springfield. The complaint stems from a Nov. 4 incident when Douglas G. Greer, a black school principal, accused white police officers of beating him as he suffered a diabetic attack while parked at a South End gas station-convenience store. Police denied any abuse, saying they were forced to extricate Greer from his locked car by breaking the windows, and that he was incoherent and thrashing about violently. The Police Commission voted 3-2 on Jan. 31, not to pursue disciplinary charges against the officers. The pastors' council, a predominantly black organization consisting of about 30 pastors, said it chose to file the complaint after hearing from church members who were disturbed by the Police Commission ruling. Pikula was joined by Associate City Solicitor Peter M. Murphy at both meetings this week along with Police Department representatives. The conferences are confidential, and Pikula declined disclosing the types of information being sought and provided. MCAD Commissioner Cynthia A. Tucker announced Feb. 9, that the investigation was a priority for the agency. Officials will try to speed the investigation and have it completed within three to four months, Tucker said. The U.S. Justice Department confirmed this week that it is investigating Greer's complaint. Also pending is a federal lawsuit filed by Greer, acting principal of Robert M. Hughes Academy Charter School. The pastors' complaint states that Greer's experience is part of the Police Department's "ongoing" pattern of discrimination to which their parishioners and other blacks have been subjected. [more]