Gregg A. Bigda, Civil Rights Violation, Massachusetts 2016

Two Springfield Police Officers Charged with Civil Rights Violation in Massachusetts.

Gregg A. Bigda, 48, of Wilbraham, and Steven M. Vigneault, 48, of East Longmeadow, were arrested and charged in federal court in Springfield, Massachusetts, on allegations that they used unreasonable force against two Latino juveniles during an arrest.

According to the indictment, on February 27, 2016, Bigda used unreasonable force against a juvenile, spat on him, and made a racist remark, saying, “Welcome to the white man’s world.” The indictment further charges that Vigneault used unreasonable force against a different juvenile, resulting in bodily injury.

“Even in the face of adversity, law enforcement officers are expected to conduct themselves professionally, respectfully, and with integrity,” said U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “They are ambassadors for the rule of law, and when they themselves break those laws, they violate not just the rights of their victims, but compromise the public’s trust in law enforcement.

Bigda is charged with three counts of violating the civil rights of arrestees and one count of obstructing justice by writing a false report. Vigneault is charged with one count of violating the civil rights of an arrestee. The indictment carries a maximum possible sentence of 10 years for counts alleging that a dangerous weapon was used or that bodily injury occurred.

The FBI’s Boston Field Division, under the leadership of Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge, led the investigation into the assaults on the juveniles. Bigda’s subsequent attempts to obstruct the investigation by falsifying reports have been alleged.

The indictment further alleges that after the arrests, Bigda interrogated the juveniles without their parents present and without reading them their Miranda rights. He made several threats against the juveniles, including threatening to “crush [the juvenile’s] skull and [expletive] get away with it” and “kick [the juvenile] right in the [expletive] face as soon as [they] cross the Springfield line.”

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