Dugan Arnett

I even talked to one of his former informants. When it comes to speaking on the record into a microphone with their names out there, most of them stop short. But not Bobby Richard.

I even talked to one of his former informants. When it comes to speaking on the record into a microphone with their names out there, most of them stop short. But not Bobby Richard.

And I was one of those people. Richard says he's willing to talk because he's off the force and no longer fears retaliation.

And I was one of those people. Richard says he's willing to talk because he's off the force and no longer fears retaliation.

Oliveira first made a name for himself as a headline-generating drug cop. From there, he became a supervisor, then ran internal affairs. He was made deputy chief, then chief. But behind Oliveira's rise to the top, there's a dark backstory.

Oliveira first made a name for himself as a headline-generating drug cop. From there, he became a supervisor, then ran internal affairs. He was made deputy chief, then chief. But behind Oliveira's rise to the top, there's a dark backstory.

Who? Richard and I are talking in the same ornate library where the mayor promoted Oliveira. The chief. Really? Of this car? Richard points out the window.

Who? Richard and I are talking in the same ornate library where the mayor promoted Oliveira. The chief. Really? Of this car? Richard points out the window.

Yeah, so... It's a little eerie. We're talking about Oliveira, and he suddenly appears, as if on command, like he's everywhere. According to Richard, the key to Oliveira's early success was his manipulation of CIs. You live and die in this business on informants, essentially, and information.

Yeah, so... It's a little eerie. We're talking about Oliveira, and he suddenly appears, as if on command, like he's everywhere. According to Richard, the key to Oliveira's early success was his manipulation of CIs. You live and die in this business on informants, essentially, and information.

And my investigation has found that Oliveira misused the CI system and, according to his colleagues, broke the law, paving the way for others to do the same. It changed the informant playbook in terms of what was allowed in terms of controlling an informant. And in the 90s, New Bedford's drug unit was going sideways. Things just had gotten to the point of no control, really.

And my investigation has found that Oliveira misused the CI system and, according to his colleagues, broke the law, paving the way for others to do the same. It changed the informant playbook in terms of what was allowed in terms of controlling an informant. And in the 90s, New Bedford's drug unit was going sideways. Things just had gotten to the point of no control, really.

We could see that the corruption level was just fucking off the hook. It really was. I'm Dugan Arnett, and from the Boston Globe Spotlight team, this is Snitch City. Episode 3, The Chief. Bobby Richard works in private security today, but he was with the New Bedford police for almost 25 years. He's not the big bruiser type I pictured in my mind. He's kind of quiet, thoughtful.

We could see that the corruption level was just fucking off the hook. It really was. I'm Dugan Arnett, and from the Boston Globe Spotlight team, this is Snitch City. Episode 3, The Chief. Bobby Richard works in private security today, but he was with the New Bedford police for almost 25 years. He's not the big bruiser type I pictured in my mind. He's kind of quiet, thoughtful.

Richard and Oliveira met in 1992.

Richard and Oliveira met in 1992.

They start on the lowest rung, working street patrol. Oliveira with a college degree in criminal justice, a rarity that sets him apart. And almost immediately, he makes an impact.

They start on the lowest rung, working street patrol. Oliveira with a college degree in criminal justice, a rarity that sets him apart. And almost immediately, he makes an impact.

As patrol officers, Richard and Oliveira learned to cultivate informants. Typically, it's drug users or sex workers. But Richard didn't want to be a street cop forever.

As patrol officers, Richard and Oliveira learned to cultivate informants. Typically, it's drug users or sex workers. But Richard didn't want to be a street cop forever.