“A Boston man was arrested and charged today for allegedly masturbating and exposing himself within the view of a 14-year-old female seated next to him onboard a flight from Honolulu to Boston in May 2022.

Dr. Sudipta Mohanty, 33, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States. Mohanty was arrested today and was released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Boston.

“Everyone, especially children, has the absolute right to not be exposed to lewd conduct when they are traveling,” said Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy. “If you engage in the type of illicit behavior alleged here, you will be caught and held accountable wherever it happens.”

“What Dr. Mohanty is accused of doing in front of a fourteen-year-old girl is reprehensible,” said Christopher DiMenna, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division. “Today’s arrest should make it crystal clear that the FBI takes crimes aboard aircraft seriously, everything from sexual misconduct as alleged in this case, to assault, interfering with the flight crew, and theft. If you’ve been the victim of a crime aboard an aircraft or have witnessed one take place, we ask you to report it to both your flight crew and the FBI.”

According to the charging documents, Mohanty is an internal medicine and primary care doctor with a practice in Boston. It is alleged that, on May 27, 2022, Mohanty was a passenger aboard a Hawaiian Airlines Flight enroute from Honolulu to Boston with a female companion. Mohanty was allegedly seated next to a 14-year-old minor travelling with her grandparents, who were seated nearby.

About half-way through the flight, the minor allegedly observed that Mohanty had covered himself with a blanket up to his neck and that Mohanty’s leg was bouncing up and down. Shortly thereafter, the minor observed that the blanket was on the floor, no longer covering Mohanty, and that Mohanty was masturbating. The minor moved herself to an empty seat in a different row for the remainder of the flight.

After arriving in Boston, the minor informed members of her family about the incident and law enforcement was notified.

The charge of lewd, indecent and obscene acts while in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States provides for a sentence of up to 90 days in prison, up to one year of supervised release and a fine of up to $5,000. Sentences are imposed by a federal district court judge based upon the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and statutes which govern the determination of a sentence in a criminal case.

Acting U.S. Attorney Levy and FBI Acting SAC DiMenna made the announcement today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elianna J. Nuzum of the Major Crimes Unit is prosecuting the case.

The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”-Massachusetts Department of Justice.

The Brockton Police Department and Massachusetts State Police are cracking down on crime with “Operation Hot August Nights”. They are taking a zero tolerance approach against crime using multiple helicopters to track down criminals and make arrests.

OPERATION HOT AUGUST NIGHTS’ — A JOINT-AGENCY ZERO-TOLERANCE ENFORCMENT MISSION

The Brockton Police Department and Massachusetts State Police last night conducted “Operation Hot August Nights,” a zero-tolerance mission to interdict offenders responsible for violent crimes and narcotics dealing, as well as those negatively impacting quality of life for Brockton residents.

Numerous Massachusetts State Police units — including Troop D patrols and Community Action Team, the Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section, Gang Unit, High Risk Victims Unit, Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team, State Police Detective Unit for Plymouth County, and Traffic Programs Section – teamed up with Brockton Officers to proactively patrol the city.

Two helicopters from the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing were on station over the city to track any suspect vehicles who tried to flee ground units. Massachusetts Environmental Police Officers on dirt bikes assisted MSP and Brockton patrols.

“Operation Hot August Nights” began in the late afternoon yesterday as patrols engaged operators of several dirt bikes and scooters who were riding erratically, causing a public safety threat to other motorists and pedestrians.

Patrol Troopers and Officers, with the assistance of the MSP Air Wing flight crews and the Environmental Police bike officers, tracked and apprehended seven such offenders.

The MSP Air Wing was also instrumental in two other arrests. One involved a driver who fled from a Trooper in Brockton and was tracked to Bridgewater, where ground units pursued the vehicle with overwatch assistance from the helicopter until the vehicle drove up to a dead end. The driver was there apprehended by Bridgewater Police and turned over to State Police for booking.

The other arrest was the capture of a man wanted for a parole violation. Troopers from the MSP Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section working the operation spotted the suspect in a vehicle and followed him with assistance from the Air Wing. Again, the suspect tried to flee but drove into a dead end, where he was apprehended by VFAS Troopers.

Troopers and Officers also made several narcotics arrests. Members of the Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction and Enforcement Team – an MSP-led drug enforcement task force – made three arrests, including one for Fentanyl possession and another for possession of a Class B narcotic with intent to distribute. MSP Gang Unit Troopers made an arrest for possession of a Class B drug, as did a Trooper from the State Police Troop D Community Action Team.

Troopers and Officers made nine additional arrests of persons who were the subjects of warrants, including one for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and another for armed robbery while masked. An additional 22 people were arrested for motor vehicle violations, including one for Operating Under the Influence 4th Offense and another for operating a motor vehicle with a license that had been suspended for a prior OUI.

For the entirety of “Operation Hot August Nights,” combined enforcement by Brockton Police, Massachusetts State Police, and Massachusetts Environmental Police resulted in 35 arrests of criminal offenders, the issuance of criminal summonses to five additional offenders, and the seizure of seven dirt bikes and scooters.

All photos by the Massachusetts State Police:

New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira addressed the timeline of officer worn body cameras within the New Bedford Police Department on Thursday August 10th. Chief Oliveira noted,

“It really depends on the company (Axon), I have a meeting with them next week so it is tough to say. But you’re probably looking sometime early 2024.”

It was announced on July 12th 2023 that bodycams will be coming to the department. After months of negotiation, the City and the New Bedford Police Union entered a new collective bargaining agreement which increased police wages, benefits, and paved the way for the use of body-worn cameras by all officers.

Chief Oliveira went on stating,

“I’ve done a lot of speaking with the Fall River police chief who recently implemented (body-cams) out there and its not one of those things that you can just pass out 250 cameras, turn the switch on and go live. Theres quite a bit of training and expertise thats going to be needed before the switch gets activated.”

Along with body-cams, Mayor Mitchell has noted that they are investing in new weapons, tasers, cameras, cruisers, and we will see more of that in the weeks and months ahead.

“Global Learning Charter Public School (GLCPS), a tuition-free public charter school that currently services 500 students in grades 5-12, has been awarded $17,500 through the Healey-Driscoll Administration Awards to improve public school safety.

GLCPS was one of 42 Massachusetts school districts to receive grant funds for priority safety upgrades. The school will use the funds to purchase additional cameras for the building and also invest in a school pass program which will digitally monitor traffic throughout the building and track guests.

The administration awarded $2,910,000 in federal grant funds through the Safer Schools and Communities Initiative. The federal funds are managed in Massachusetts by the Office of Grants and Research (OGR), a state agency that is part of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The funding will be used to make school safety infrastructure improvements, including security enhancements at building entrances, installation of new interior doors and the addition or upgrading of central communication systems to support staff communication in cases of emergency.

“These grants will provide schools with the resources necessary to foster safe learning environments for students and educators. Our administration is committed to collaborating across federal, state and local governments and leveraging every possible tool to enhance safety across Massachusetts and within our schools,” said Governor Maura Healey.

“This grant program is designed to provide school officials with the resources needed to address strengthen security infrastructure and enhance school safety. When students have confidence in the safety of their schools, they’re better able to learn, grow and thrive,” said Lt. Governor Kimberley Driscoll.

“We are pleased to have been chosen to receive this grant money to purchase state of the art security systems and training for our staff,” said Dr. Stephen Furtado, Executive Director of GLCPS. “Safety and security are part of creating a great learning environment for our students.”

GLCPS is a tuition-free public charter school serving 500 New Bedford students in Grades 5-12. Students are enrolled through a blind lottery. Additional information is available on the school’s website, www.glcps.org. For more information, please contact the school at (508) 991-4105.”

“The City of New Bedford has roadwork sites for the upcoming week of August 14, 2023 – August 18, 2023, and they are as follows:

Eversource will be working on gas main relays and services on:

• Main relay on Brownell Ave from Hawthorn St to Clarendon St
• Main relay on Church St from Carlisle St to Shaw St
• Main relay on Gaywood St from Brownell Ave to Town Line
• Main relay on Rockdale Ave from Allen St to Bluefield St
• Regulator work on Potter St at Rockdale Ave headed east towards Nashua St.

Other:

• Contractor (Sealcoating, Inc) will be working on MassDOT project on Rockdale Ave over Rt 140. To work on joint replacements at bridge. Work scheduled to start August 6th and continue to August 18th. Work will be conducted 8:00 PM – 5:00 AM. Lane closures will be required, and police details will be onsite for assistance.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working at varies locations throughout the city on roadway and sidewalk patches.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on a road reconstruction project at Kilburn Street from Belleville Ave to end.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working at the intersection of County St x Union St. Lane closures and detours to be in place.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working at MassDOT project #609201, located at the intersection of Acushnet Ave & Peckham Rd/Sassaquin Ave.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will be working on Elm Street from Pleasant Street to Purchase Street, Purchase Street from Elm Street to Middle Street, Middle Street from Purchase Street to Fredrick Douglass Blvd, and Fredrick Douglass Blvd from Middle Street to Elm Street.
• Contractor (PA Landers) will continue sidewalk work on Phillips Rd from Holly Tree Lane to Monica’s Way. Minor traffic impacts and lane shifts required.
• Contractors (PA Landers and various utility companies) will be working at MassDOT’s Kings Highway project. Minor traffic impacts and lane shifts required.
• Contractor (SCR Constructors) will continue site work at the future South Coast Rail station platform locations in the city. (Church St at Carlisle St and Wamsutta St at Acushnet Ave.) If you have questions, please email the project team at SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us
• Contractor (Middlesex Corp) will be working on Nash Rd between Church St and Mt. Pleasant St. Traffic will be reduced to one lane and will have police details on site to assist with traffic.
• Contractor (SCR Constructors) will continue site work at the future pedestrian bridge across Route 18 impacting parking along Purchase Street between Willis Street and Pearl Street and at the Division of Career Services on Acushnet Avenue. Temporary detours may be in place pending construction activities occurring.  If you have questions, please email the project team at SouthCoastRail@dot.state.ma.us
• Contractor (PA Landers) will continue work at the road reconstruction project on Clifford St from Acushnet Ave to Ashley Blvd.”

“New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira announced the release of a comprehensive review of the City’s Police Department by Jensen Hughes, a global consultancy known for its law enforcement expertise.

Robert Wasserman, one of the nation’s preeminent policing experts and a former Jensen Hughes Senior Vice President, oversaw the preparation of the Department’s review and joined the Chief at today’s announcement.

Background
With New Bedford having seen a sustained general decline in crime rates over the past decade, Chief Oliveira determined that further progress required a fresh, independent assessment of how the Department was functioning. Jensen Hughes was subsequently retained to conduct such a review, identify areas for improvement, and propose practices and policies that are proving effective at leading departments across the nation–with a focus on areas that help strengthen trust between the police and residents.

Key Findings and Recommendations
The review found that, in general, the New Bedford Police Department is performing well, and that the Department should continue to modernize and align its practices with the principles of 21st Century Policing, a policy framework designed to address the erosion of confidence in police departments nationally in the wake of several high-profile police interactions.

The study goes on to identify dozens of potential structural, operational, and policy changes, broken down by functional area, including a redesign of patrol-related responsibilities; hiring of more crime analysts; separate bargaining units for supervisors and line officers; consolidation of Station 3 and Police Headquarters; and a reduction of false alarms.

Findings & Recommendations Underway
In the course of the two-year review period and drafting of the report, Wasserman and his co-authors encouraged the Chief to begin implementation of key reforms ahead of the formal completion of the review. Three examples of these recommendations, now in various stages of implementation, appear in the final report as follows:

• Make salaries more competitive. “The starting salary for new officers should be raised to a current second step and to match what surrounding communities are offering new officers. In doing this, the number of pay steps for an employee to reach a normal maximum salary should be reduced. Salary and benefits should be combined in a way to support higher retention of officers, and consideration should be given to providing incentives to officers having 20 or more years of service to encourage remaining on the job.” (page 26)

• Introduce body cameras. “The City and police department recognizes the importance of body cameras both to build public trust and support officers. The City is attempting to negotiate issues concerning body-worn cameras through collective bargaining.” (page 35)

• Restructure key leadership positions. “The non-union position of superintendent should be established for two senior management positions. One should oversee all field operations and services working from the two police stations. Another position should oversee all other support functions in the development. The deputy chief should remain in charge of internal affairs and use of force reviews.” (page 16)

[Note: In the period during which the report was being finalized, Mayor Jon Mitchell and the Police Union agreed to a substantial increase in salaries and the adoption of body cameras, as part of a new collective bargaining agreement–thus removing a potential impediment to the implementation of these reforms.]

In his remarks Chief Oliveira put the Jensen Hughes review in context, noting “The landscape of the law enforcement profession is fluid, and there has been no time in recent history where changes have occurred so rapidly as in the past few years. Assessments like these provide a fresh set of eyes to address existing problems and foresee those that have yet to be realized.”

The Chief added, “Taking the totality of all circumstances into consideration, we appear to be in good shape. Several recommendations are already being implemented. And while I’m encouraged by the report, as the Chief, it is incumbent on me to ensure that this Department continually works to adapt, evolve, and improve. I see this assessment as a blueprint that will help me, my leadership team, and my officers on the front line, continue to bring positive changes to our Department and the City we serve.”

Background on Jensen Hughes
Jensen Hughes is global consulting company, with a specialized law enforcement practice that evaluates police departments and offers expert counsel on topics ranging from policing strategy, to risk mitigation, and operational best practices. Jensen Hughes recently completed assessments of police departments in Wichita, Kansas, and Columbus, Georgia, as well as a comprehensive review of the Louisville Metro Police Department following the Breonna Taylor shooting. The firm also produced an after-action report of the Minneapolis’ response to civil unrest following the death of George Floyd.

Background on Robert Wasserman
One of the leading policing experts in America, and former Jensen Hughes Senior Vice President, Robert Wasserman served as the lead project manager of the New Bedford Police Department assessment.

Robert Wasserman is a lifelong and internationally recognized expert in law enforcement affairs and community relations. He previously served as a Senior Advisor on International Law Enforcement for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement at the U. S. Department of State and served as Chief of Staff of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

He served in Bosnia following the war, as both Deputy Commissioner for Operations and Acting Commissioner of the United Nations International Police Task Force. Wasserman has had an extensive career in law enforcement, having served as a senior executive in several large American police agencies, including Dayton, Boston and Houston. During the course of his career, he has been the initiator or at the forefront of a number of seminal policing initiatives, including 311 and differential police response, police performance management (CompStat), neighborhood-oriented policing, the Kansas City Patrol Experiments, Dayton Team Policing, the San Diego Beat Profiling initiative, the Boston Community Disorders strategy and the Police Recruit Training Year. Mr. Wasserman did his undergraduate work in sociology at Antioch College and his graduate work in Police Administration at Michigan State University.

The full report is available on the Department’s website: www.newbedfordpd.com”

“New Bedford, Massachusetts – All New Bedford recreational beach areas are reopened to swimming, effective immediately.

Test results reflect safe water quality for swimming at all New Bedford beaches, following heavy rain earlier this week.

New Bedford’s water quality tests are conducted by the city’s Municipal Marine Laboratory and follow Massachusetts Department of Public Health standards. Learn more online at: www.newbedford-ma.gov/health-department/.”

A “Crew of Three” Kimberly Ward, her husband Michael, and daughter Ally embarked on a 2 year adventure aboard a 34 foot boat to Grenada and back! As one could imagine, the family was pushed outside of their comfort zone and gained a collection of fascinating stories that need to be told.

Since this expedition in 2014, Kimberly began writing a book on the adventure titled, “Crew of Three: How Bold Dreams and Detailed Plans Launched Our Family’s Sailing Adventure”.

Kimberly will be launching the highly anticipated book in the first week of September and will begin her book tour at the New Bedford Whaling Museum! Why the Whaling Museum you may ask? That is where Kimberly and her husband Michael were married twenty years ago!

Kimberly noted on social media:

“I am honored to have been invited to speak as part of the Sailors’ Series on Thursday, September 7, at 6:00 pm. I will share some of what went into extricating ourselves from our lives and moving aboard s/v Ally Cat for two years in 2014. After a short program, my Crew of Three will be available for Q&A, followed by a light reception and meet and greet.”

Interested in hearing a first-hand account of this sailing adventure? You can purchase tickets here for the Sailors’ Series on Thursday, September 7, at 6:00 pm.

Kimberly Ward Facebook photo.

At around 11:04 pm Thursday, August 3rd, New Bedford Police received a ‘Shot Spotter’ notification regarding multiple shots fired in the area of 123 County Street. The department also received multiple 911 calls for shots fired and a male victim in the area of 116 County Street.

When first responders arrived on scene, they found evidence of a shooting but no victim. A short time later, a private vehicle arrived at Saint Luke’s Hospital with the victim inside.

The victim, later identified as Amareuito Fernandes, 27, of New Bedford, was pronounced deceased at the hospital at 11:33 pm.

A week later, there has been no word of an arrest or suspect named in the case. There has been speculation that the suspect has been arrested in relation to a separate incident, but we could not get confirmation on that from officials.

New Bedford Police, Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office and Homicide Unit prosecutors are actively investigating and no further information can be released about the case.

“FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM EDT THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING:

* WHAT: Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible.

* WHEN: From 2 PM EDT this afternoon through Friday morning.

* IMPACTS: Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur in poor drainage and urban areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS: Very wet antecedent conditions and one hour flash flood guidance below an inch and a half combined with the potential for an additional 2-4 inches of rain to fall will result in renewed flooding concerns, particularly in communities who received more than 3 inches of rain on Tuesday. – http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
You should monitor later forecasts and be alert for possible Flood Warnings. Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.”