Human rights panel to address complaint against State Police

LYNN – The Lynn Human Rights Commission will sit down with Police Chief Kevin Coppinger tonight to address a complaint filed last year before tackling two new complaints.”The chief is coming in on the complaint about the State Police issue on Western Avenue,” said commission Chairman Robert Tucker. “Following immediately after the Review Committee, we’ll hear two new complaints.”The commission has been in action just over a year and Tucker said he thinks the process is working, though he admits it is still a work in progress.”It took a few months to get the organization together and to get to know each other,” he said. “It also takes a while to get the word out to the community.”The commission held an open house in November to introduce itself to the community and let people know what it is about. The idea behind the commission is basic: protect and preserve all civil and human rights of all residents. Formed in 2012, Councilor at large Hong Net drove the project, arguing that a city of roughly 90,000 people should have such a council where residents, particularly those who feel vulnerable to authority, have a place to go.Tucker said he knows other human rights commissions have taken a few years to settle into a good working groove and build a relationship with the community. He believes Lynn is doing “OK.”The commission’s latest case has lingered since last fall and accuses the State Police of targeting the city’s immigrant population. The complaint claims that “immigrant raids” happen almost monthly and include cars and vans being towed, and, in one case, approximately 40 people, all described as Latino or brown-skinned, were arrested.City Attorney Vincent Phelan, who advises the commission, has ruled it has no jurisdiction with the complaint, but it is moving forward regardless.Tucker said the commission will start off the new year with two new complaints as well.The meeting with Coppinger will be at 5 p.m. in room 302 and the regular Human Rights Commission meeting will begin immediately following.