Andrew Ryan

And after a long series of back and forth, the city said that there were a number of those files that no longer existed.

And after a long series of back and forth, the city said that there were a number of those files that no longer existed.

It stuck out to me because I couldn't understand why they would get rid of files for an active duty officer. So I went digging. And in Massachusetts, to legally get rid of public records, you actually have to apply for a permit. And that's exactly what the police department did. Chief Oliveira signs a form that looks like any other kind of bureaucratic document that he might sign.

It stuck out to me because I couldn't understand why they would get rid of files for an active duty officer. So I went digging. And in Massachusetts, to legally get rid of public records, you actually have to apply for a permit. And that's exactly what the police department did. Chief Oliveira signs a form that looks like any other kind of bureaucratic document that he might sign.

But this one was called an Application for Destruction Permission. And we can still see his signature because we got a copy of the document.

But this one was called an Application for Destruction Permission. And we can still see his signature because we got a copy of the document.

This included his own cases. But here's the interesting thing. They did it just three months after Paul Oliveira became police chief. And we should say that this is perfectly legal at this point.

This included his own cases. But here's the interesting thing. They did it just three months after Paul Oliveira became police chief. And we should say that this is perfectly legal at this point.

At the state archives, they have records going back 60 plus years. And I asked for all records like that that had been filed by the police department. And this was the only time in at least the last 60 years that the New Bedford Police Department has ever asked to get rid of internal investigative files.

At the state archives, they have records going back 60 plus years. And I asked for all records like that that had been filed by the police department. And this was the only time in at least the last 60 years that the New Bedford Police Department has ever asked to get rid of internal investigative files.