Dugan Arnett

Today, Carly and her original partner, Stephen Ortiz, are back together, engaged again. And Stephen's lawyers are heading to court in a few weeks to argue that the evidence against him should also be dismissed. Of course, prosecutors don't want to drop the case against a man they say is at the center of a major drug trafficking ring. But if it does go forward, it could reveal even more misconduct.

Today, Carly and her original partner, Stephen Ortiz, are back together, engaged again. And Stephen's lawyers are heading to court in a few weeks to argue that the evidence against him should also be dismissed. Of course, prosecutors don't want to drop the case against a man they say is at the center of a major drug trafficking ring. But if it does go forward, it could reveal even more misconduct.

When Stephen Ortiz's next court date comes up, the Globe will be there. The man in charge when Jared Lucas retired was Police Chief Paul Oliveira. Oliveira condemned Lucas' behavior as disappointing and unethical.

When Stephen Ortiz's next court date comes up, the Globe will be there. The man in charge when Jared Lucas retired was Police Chief Paul Oliveira. Oliveira condemned Lucas' behavior as disappointing and unethical.

In a statement back in 2023, he said, quote, Lucas's egregious behavior while in our employment is an anomaly and does not reflect the true caliber of the men and women of the New Bedford Police Department. But Oliveira said then that his hands were tied, that disciplining Lucas was impossible because he'd already left the department.

In a statement back in 2023, he said, quote, Lucas's egregious behavior while in our employment is an anomaly and does not reflect the true caliber of the men and women of the New Bedford Police Department. But Oliveira said then that his hands were tied, that disciplining Lucas was impossible because he'd already left the department.

I've been trying for nearly three years to get an interview with Paul Oliveira. Yeah, my name is Dugan Arnett. I'm a writer at the Boston Globe. Sent him an email yesterday about a story that we're preparing to publish. Before this podcast dropped, I tried multiple times to reach the police chief. All right, Westport, Massachusetts, home of Paul Oliveira.

I've been trying for nearly three years to get an interview with Paul Oliveira. Yeah, my name is Dugan Arnett. I'm a writer at the Boston Globe. Sent him an email yesterday about a story that we're preparing to publish. Before this podcast dropped, I tried multiple times to reach the police chief. All right, Westport, Massachusetts, home of Paul Oliveira.

It's the fifth day that we've tried to reach out. Haven't heard anything. Sent a detailed list of questions the other day. Oliveira lives a few miles outside New Bedford in a sprawling house at the end of a dead-end street. So obviously just giving him the chance to respond, we're stopping by his house to see if he wants to talk.

It's the fifth day that we've tried to reach out. Haven't heard anything. Sent a detailed list of questions the other day. Oliveira lives a few miles outside New Bedford in a sprawling house at the end of a dead-end street. So obviously just giving him the chance to respond, we're stopping by his house to see if he wants to talk.

After all the official channels failed, my colleague Andrew Ryan and I went straight to the source.

After all the official channels failed, my colleague Andrew Ryan and I went straight to the source.

No one answered. Andrew's been a huge part of this investigation. He's been especially focused on documents.

No one answered. Andrew's been a huge part of this investigation. He's been especially focused on documents.

Andrew tried like hell to get records about Paul Oliveira.

Andrew tried like hell to get records about Paul Oliveira.

In fact, almost all of Oliveira's internal affairs files have been destroyed.

In fact, almost all of Oliveira's internal affairs files have been destroyed.

The piece of paper sought permission to destroy five file cabinets worth of documents, which included 25 years worth of internal affairs records.

The piece of paper sought permission to destroy five file cabinets worth of documents, which included 25 years worth of internal affairs records.