Two Townsend residents filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging police violated state law and their constitutional rights by accessing and disseminating the residents' background information

Kelly Merrill, who was hired last fall as the town administrator's assistant, and boyfriend Adam Cotty are suing the town of Townsend, former Police Chief Robert Eaton and former Police Sgt. Randy Girard. Attorney Timothy Burke filed the suit in U.S. District Court in Worcester.

A former Newton police chief who was fired in 2012 over allegations that he used vulgar and sexist language with female employees is entitled to back pay that an arbitrator previously awarded him, the Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled.

A deputy commissioner with the Department of Correction who was fired for failing to discipline officers involved in the 2009 death of a Bridgewater State Hospital patient can bring a civil rights claim against the former secretary of public safety, a Superior Court judge has ruled

A former Transportation Security Administration (TSA) worker may proceed with her gender bias and sexual harassment claims, the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled July 11, finding that the trial court erred when it required the plaintiff to present direct evidence of gender discrimination and show that the alleged conduct was both severe and pervasive to establish harassment

A Malden police captain has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit with a whistleblower claim against the city and the police chief, alleging that officials obstructed his efforts to investigate two crimes involving Malden city employees, then reassigned him when he refused to back down.

Captain John Amirault, a 31-year veteran of the department, alleged he was blocked in his investigation into an alleged sexual assault of a 6-year-old girl at the Malden YMCA, by a suspect the police chief's brother had hired; the other investigation concerned stolen city funds.

A road rage incident in Lexington that raised questions about whether police are protecting one of their own ends without criminal charges.

A bizarre squabble in Hanson involving a stinky skunk, stolen weatherstripping, and an overturned table at a raucous public health meeting two years ago is now being fought in federal court in Boston.

A Mendon police officer whose lieutenant allegedly punched him and held a knife to his throat and groin while repeating, "Slash, slash, slash, slash," has filed a discrimination complaint with the state saying he was targeted because he is gay.