Contributing writer
Sarah Girma
Latest Content
Harvard Police Chief Discusses New Union Contract, Department Reform Efforts
Harvard University and its police officers’ union agreed to a new contract after nearly two years of negotiations, police chief Victor A. Clay said in an interview Tuesday.
Neo-Nazi Group Threatens Residents in Harvard Square
Members of a neo-Nazi group harassed and threatened residents in Cambridge Sunday, lunging and shouting at people across the street from Quincy House.
Over 100 Protesters Oppose Brazilian Election in Harvard Square, Drawing Counter-Protest
Draped in Brazilian flags and holding signs alleging fraud, more than 100 protesters gathered in Harvard Square Sunday to oppose the results of the Brazilian presidential election.
Boston Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Fentanyl, Cocaine Delivered to Harvard Biology Lab
A Boston man was sentenced on Oct. 5 to 10 years in prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine — some of which was delivered to a Harvard biology lab.
Cambridge Activists Protest Police Brutality at City Hall Demonstration
A coalition of Cambridge-area activists rallied against police violence and mass incarceration during a protest in front of Cambridge City Hall on Saturday.
Harvard Campus Crime Rate Drops to 10-Year Low
Crime on Harvard’s campus dropped to its lowest level in over a decade last year, with 37 fewer Clery Act crimes reported than in 2020, according to a report released by the University on Friday.
Police Investigating Death of 32-Year-Old Woman After Body Recovered from Charles River
A 32-year-old woman’s body was recovered from the Charles River on Wednesday after a three-hour search, according to the Massachusetts State Police.
Can HUPD Reform?
Nearly a year after HUPD Chief Victor A. Clay took over the department on a pledge to reform, he faces fundamental questions about the department’s role on campus.
Harvard Police Department to Prepare Proposal for Five New Unarmed Campus Support Officers
Harvard University Police Department Chief Victor A. Clay plans to develop a proposal that would create five new unarmed “Campus Support Officer” positions, he said in an interview last week.
Cambridge Advances $3M Community Safety Department Proposal Seeking to Provide Non-Police Public Safety Alternatives
The Cambridge City Council Finance Committee unanimously voted on Tuesday to advance a $3 million proposal for a planned Community Safety Department.
At Harvard Legacy of Slavery Event, HUPD Chief Says Modern Law Enforcement Practices are ‘Outdated’
Harvard University Police Department Chief Victor A. Clay said current law enforcement recruitment and training practices are “outdated and ineffective," calling for police departments to reform during a webinar hosted Thursday by the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
Harvard Police Union and University to Enter Federal Mediation in Contract Negotiations
More than a year after Harvard’s contract with its police union expired, the two sides are set to enter federal mediation in their negotiations over a new contract.
Harvard Police Department Sees Senior Leadership Shakeup in Clay’s First Year
When longtime Harvard University Police Chief Francis D. “Bud” Riley retired in 2020, he left behind a department roiled by allegations of racism, sexism, and favoritism — part of a toxic work environment some current and former officers alleged he created.
Harvard Police Arrest Suspect in String of Yard Burglaries
The Harvard University Police Department has identified a suspect who will be charged with three burglaries in a string of five that struck Harvard Yard in less than two weeks.
Three Freshman Dorms Burglarized, Prompting HUPD Advisory
Harvard Yard was struck by three burglaries in nine days, with students in Canaday Hall, Mower Hall, and Wigglesworth Hall reporting trespassers and stolen laptops.