The sun had set on a February night in 2022 when three teenage boys wrapped up a basketball game at the Harbor Point Apartments in Dorchester Bay. As they walked home, an unmarked black Ford Explorer began following them. Nervous, they slipped into a nearby basement — only to be cornered by three more black cars when they emerged.

According to a report by Boston’s Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT), officers jumped out with guns drawn, shouting, “Do not move or we will shoot you.” One teen said an officer tackled him, leaving a deep cut over his eyebrow. Later, on body camera audio, Officer Matthew Conley admitted: “I literally had the gun in my hand, so I punched him in the face with it.”

The oversight agency recommended Conley’s termination. Instead, Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox declined to fire him. Two years later, in December 2023, Conley was promoted to detective.

City records and public documents obtained by WBUR show that Cox has repeatedly rejected OPAT’s recommendations, sparking concerns about the office’s ability to enforce accountability within the Boston Police Department.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Incident: Teenagers wrongfully detained in Harbor Point, one injured by officer.

• Officer Involved: Matthew Conley admitted hitting teen with gun; promoted later.

• OPAT Role: Recommended termination; Commissioner Cox rejected.

• Commissioner’s Stance: Prefers internal investigations over civilian oversight findings.

• Discipline Record: 18 sustained complaints since 2020, only one acted upon fully.

• Bigger Picture: Police reform efforts post-George Floyd now appear to be losing momentum.

An Office to Dismantle Systemic Racism

Formed in 2020 amid nationwide calls for reform following George Floyd’s murder, OPAT was designed to review complaints against Boston police and recommend discipline through a nine-member civilian review board. The board includes civil rights advocates, neighborhood representatives, and a youth delegate.

Then-Mayor Marty Walsh said the goal was to “dismantle systemic racism across our city.” However, critics warned from the start that the ordinance lacked enforcement power.

Those concerns now appear justified. For example, OPAT recommended retraining for the department’s media team after they posted a juvenile homicide victim’s name online. Cox refused, arguing privacy rights end after death.

In another case, OPAT recommended a five-day suspension for Officer Louisimond Vertyl, accused of injuring a disabled man during a traffic stop. Cox rejected that as well, citing insufficient evidence.

Pattern of Resistance

Since 2020, OPAT sustained 18 complaints against officers and recommended disciplinary actions. Cox fully accepted just one — a verbal reprimand for profanity directed at a delivery driver. In eight cases, the commissioner never responded.

Cox told WBUR that Boston police conduct their own thorough and fair investigations. “We have a duty to investigate all allegations of misconduct,” he said, adding that the oversight office can offer feedback but does not dictate discipline.

Cox declined to comment on the Conley case specifically.

The Harbor Point Sting Gone Wrong

Conley led a Youth Violence Strike Force operation in Dorchester that night in 2022. Officers were searching for a gang associate in a powder-blue Nike sweatshirt. Conley tackled one of the boys — who was wearing navy blue Polo gear — and struck him in the face. Later, Conley admitted in body cam audio that he hit the teen with his gun.

OPAT called the incident a “significant mistake” that could have “resulted in death.” It recommended termination. Cox refused, waiting for an internal review. That review concluded there was no way to confirm or disprove the allegation.

Conley received only a written reprimand for failing to wear his body camera. In 2024, he earned $330,000, including overtime.

Police Reform Momentum Fading

Community activists say Boston’s struggle reflects a national trend of retreating police reforms. Federal oversight agreements have been rolled back, and states like California are revisiting earlier reform laws.

Mayor Michelle Wu, once an advocate for cutting the police budget, has softened her stance. She now supports intelligence operations and has gained the backing of the city’s largest police union ahead of her re-election bid.

Meanwhile, OPAT logged a record 139 complaints in 2024, signaling growing community distrust.

“Five years ago, police reform was all the rage,” said Roxbury activist Jamarhl Crawford. “Now, it seems like the fix is in.”

The Harbor Point incident and the promotion of an officer involved in a violent wrongful detention highlight deep flaws in Boston’s police accountability system. While OPAT was created to ensure transparency and restore public trust, its lack of enforcement power has left disciplinary decisions in the hands of the very department it is meant to oversee. With only one recommendation fully implemented out of 18 sustained complaints, critics argue that Boston’s police reform promises are failing. As national momentum for reform wanes and internal investigations continue to override civilian oversight, questions remain: Can Boston deliver true accountability, or will this remain another unfulfilled reform effort?

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