Dugan Arnett

That was going forward until I got in trouble.

That was going forward until I got in trouble.

That's when Bob Richards came walking to his car with a bag of meat.

That's when Bob Richards came walking to his car with a bag of meat.

He wasn't bad. I didn't really have much complaints about him. I think he was more of a pawn for Paul than anything. And then that's when I asked, you know, I said, look, can we talk? You know, I showed, I lifted up my shirt, everything, showed him I wasn't wearing a wire.

He wasn't bad. I didn't really have much complaints about him. I think he was more of a pawn for Paul than anything. And then that's when I asked, you know, I said, look, can we talk? You know, I showed, I lifted up my shirt, everything, showed him I wasn't wearing a wire.

And then, I mean, I want to say it was three to five days later, if that, is when my lawyer called me and said they offered me a plea bargain. Mm-hmm.

And then, I mean, I want to say it was three to five days later, if that, is when my lawyer called me and said they offered me a plea bargain. Mm-hmm.

Before we begin, this story includes strong language. Please take care when listening.

Before we begin, this story includes strong language. Please take care when listening.

This major shift in local law enforcement took place one afternoon in the spring of 2021.

This major shift in local law enforcement took place one afternoon in the spring of 2021.

In a portrait-lined room at the New Bedford Public Library, Mayor John Mitchell stepped forward to address the gathered crowd.

In a portrait-lined room at the New Bedford Public Library, Mayor John Mitchell stepped forward to address the gathered crowd.

Beside him stood Paul Oliveira.

Beside him stood Paul Oliveira.

Chief Oliveira is handsome. A heftier Matt Damon could play him in a movie. He's in his 50s, but he still looks like he could lead a team of detectives through a drug house door.

Chief Oliveira is handsome. A heftier Matt Damon could play him in a movie. He's in his 50s, but he still looks like he could lead a team of detectives through a drug house door.

To understand New Bedford's policing problem and why federal authorities have had their eyes on the department for years, you need to understand Paul Oliveira. To some degree, it started with him. And it only grew from there. At least according to three of Oliveira's former colleagues in the drug unit. I talked to more than a dozen other cops who worked for Oliveira.

To understand New Bedford's policing problem and why federal authorities have had their eyes on the department for years, you need to understand Paul Oliveira. To some degree, it started with him. And it only grew from there. At least according to three of Oliveira's former colleagues in the drug unit. I talked to more than a dozen other cops who worked for Oliveira.