Needham To Hire Outside Investigator For Racial Profiling Claims

NEEDHAM, MA — Needham is bringing an independent investigator in to review allegations of racial profiling from Needham police officers and Chief John Schlittler. The chief and three officers are being accused of racial profiling during an incident back in January — the attorney representing the man in the incident claims the officers violated their client's Fourth Amendment right by conducting an unlawful search and seizure.

The town announced on Friday that it would hire "an independent investigator to examine the facts and circumstances of claims made this week against members of the Needham Police Department." The town did not name who the independent investigator would be, but added that it would ask for recommendations on "any changes that may be necessary to improve police practices, policies or procedures related to this incident."

On January 25, Marvin Henry was detained by Needham police for questioning relating to an alleged shoplifting incident at a CVS. Henry, a Black man who had been inside the CVS store during the alleged incident, was stopped and detained by officers outside the CVS. Henry's lawyer claims he was detained for more than half an hour as a suspected shoplifter and never read his Miranda rights or given an explanation as to why he was being detained.

Police released Henry, "concluding there was not enough evidence to arrest him," and he was not charged and is not a suspect in any investigations.

Henry’s attorneys sent a letter to the town on July 20 detailing his claims against the department. In response, the town released the January incident report that Wednesday as well as additional materials, including records requests and a recording of the January 25th phone call placed by the CVS employee.

In a notice to the community, the town said it will make the findings of the investigation public once it is completed.