The political heat in Lawrence just got cranked up. The union representing Lawrence police officers is demanding that Mayor Brian A. DePeña resign immediately after the New England Police Benevolent Association said “secret” audio recordings appear to have captured conversations inside City Hall. The uproar follows the release of a hallway video that shows a heated exchange between the mayor’s chief of staff, William Castro, and airport manager Francisco A. Ureña.
The mayor’s office has since announced that Castro is out. City councilors and union leaders say that move alone does not explain who recorded the footage, how audio was captured, or whether anyone crossed a legal line.
Union Demands Answers, Preservation Of Evidence
In a sharply worded public release, the New England Police Benevolent Association urged Mayor DePeña to step down and demanded that the city secure all recordings, metadata, and related materials as potential evidence.
“We are calling for the immediate resignation of Mayor Brian A. DePeña,” the union wrote, warning that any secret recording of conversations inside City Hall “may constitute a criminal offense” under state law. The release also warns that failure to preserve or produce the material could bring prohibited-practice charges and other legal action. The full statement is available from NEPBA.
Video Appears To Come From City Hall Camera
The controversy centers on a video first aired by local Spanish-language radio show Despierta Lawrence. The clip shows a tense back-and-forth in a City Hall hallway between Castro and Ureña, reportedly over snow plowing and city resources. The footage and its audio appear to come from a camera mounted in the corridor.
The union has signaled it may ask the Essex District Attorney’s office to investigate, according to reporting by CBS Boston. The DA’s office declined to comment for that report. CBS Boston also notes that Castro has been involved in prior controversy, including a past suspension of his law enforcement credentials.
Mayor Accepts Castro’s Departure, Names Replacements
Mayor DePeña, in a letter, said that “Mr. William Castro and the City will be parting ways, effective immediately.” The administration quickly announced staffing shifts that include appointing Johnny Guillermo as the new chief of staff, according to WCVB.
The mayor’s statement did not address how an audio-capable device came to record the hallway confrontation. When reporters looked for more answers, City Hall was shut for the Good Friday holiday, leaving key questions hanging for at least one more news cycle.
What The Law Says
Massachusetts’ wiretap statute, M.G.L. c. 272, § 99, generally bans the secret interception or recording of oral communications without the consent of all parties. The law defines “interception” to include secretly hearing or recording conversations and makes unauthorized audio capture a potential criminal offense, while also giving aggrieved individuals civil remedies. The full statute can be found at M.G.L. c. 272, § 99.
Council President Says He Was Blindsided
City Council President Jeovanny Rodriguez said he was never told that any kind of voice recording was in use at City Hall and added that he recently saw signage warning only of cameras, not audio, according to CBS Boston.
Rodriguez and other councilors said they welcome Castro’s departure but insist the mayor still needs to clarify whether any recordings captured private or protected conversations and why staffing decisions tied to the controversy were not disclosed sooner.
What’s Next
The union has ordered the city to preserve original footage and all associated metadata and warned it will “pursue all available remedies” if officials fail to comply. The NEPBA release says that any refusal to turn over materials “will result in appropriate legal action, including the filing of a prohibited practice charge,” keeping the door open to labor or criminal inquiries. The union’s full statement is posted at NEPBA.
