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Topic
What happens when officers are accused of breaking the law or the rules, from criminal cases and decertification to the systems meant to catch misconduct.
Video · Bench WatchD. Mass. · No. 1:24-cr-10259-DJC
A federal jury in Boston convicted former Stoughton, Mass., police officer Matthew Farwell on Nov. 10, 2026, of killing Sandra Birchmore, 23, and her unborn son in February 2021. Jurors found him guilty on both counts, of killing a witness and of causing the death of an unborn child. Life in prison is mandatory. Sentencing is Feb. 3, 2027.
Updated November 14, 2026 · 4 min read
Video · Bench WatchS.2743
S.2743, “An Act addressing staged suicides,” is a Massachusetts Senate bill filed by Sen. Rebecca L. Rausch. It would require police training on staged suicides and set rules for investigating suspicious deaths. A committee reported it favorably on May 28, 2026, and sent it to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. As of Nov. 14, 2026, the Legislature's site shows no action since.
Status as of May 28, 2026
