Lawrence Police Has a History of Brutality Against Latinos  [MORE] 

LAWRENCE — Two weeks before the federal trial is scheduled, former Mayor Michael Sullivan was dropped as a defendant in a brutality lawsuit involving fired Lawrence police officer Kyle Wilcox (left). Eusebio Alicea sued Sullivan, Police Chief John Romero, the police department and the city after his Jan. 6, 2007 arrest in South Lawrence.

Alicea alleges Wilcox beat him wearing "special metal-knuckled gloves" and that the officer, in a "malicious and sadistic" manner, used hot water to wash pepper spray out of Alicea's eyes after his arrest.

Wilcox was "convicted of criminal assault and battery of two other detainees three weeks prior to the alleged assault" on Alicea, Stearns noted. Wilcox was also named in "numerous civilian complaints and lawsuits alleging the excessive use of force" against Latinos and the chief is also responsible for overseeing the department's use of force policy, Stearns added in his decision.

Wilcox was fired in 2007 for use of excessive force and convicted a year later of beating two Lawrence brothers while they were in Lawrence police custody. Stearns, in his decision, noted Wilcox is also named in four other pending brutality cases against the city.

City attorney Anne Randazzo, in a recent motion, asked federal Judge Richard Stearns to remove Sullivan and Police Chief John Romero from the case. Stearns, in a decision issued late last week, allowed Sullivan to be dropped from the suit, saying he was responsible for the "general supervision and control" of city departments and agencies but not direct control of the police department.

The trial is expected to start May 9 in U.S. District Court in Boston.