Fall River Officials Trade Barbs Over Police Search Warrant Probe

Mayor and City Council President clash over independent investigation into police conduct

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:18am

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Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan and City Council President Cliff Ponte held dueling press conferences on Friday, trading accusations over the city council's vote to order an independent investigation into a police search warrant. Coogan criticized the council's move, saying they lack the legal authority to investigate the police department, while Ponte defended the council's efforts to determine if there was any abuse of power within the Fall River Police Department.

Why it matters

The dispute between the mayor and city council president highlights the ongoing tensions and power dynamics within Fall River's local government, as they grapple with issues of transparency, oversight, and the appropriate boundaries of their respective authorities.

The details

Mayor Coogan said he had written to the city council about his intent to veto any actions authorized under the resolution to investigate the police search warrant, and had reached out to the Massachusetts Attorney General asking her to look into the matter. Coogan criticized the council's decision to move forward with the investigation, despite being advised by the corporation counsel that they lack the legal authority to do so. Ponte fired back, accusing the mayor of trying to obstruct the council's investigation, and said he plans to raise funds to retain independent legal counsel to clarify the council's authority.

  • On Friday, March 28, 2026, Mayor Coogan held a press conference at 1 p.m.
  • On Friday, March 28, 2026, City Council President Ponte held a press conference at 2:30 p.m.

The players

Paul Coogan

The Mayor of Fall River, Massachusetts.

Cliff Ponte

The President of the Fall River City Council.

Andrea Campbell

The Massachusetts Attorney General.

Alan Rumsey

The Fall River Corporation Counsel.

Mike Silvia

The publisher of the Fall River Reporter, whose article about the search warrant ignited the controversy.

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What they’re saying

“There is no allegation of any wrongdoing by an officer in the Fall River police department at this time. I advised the Attorney General that, nonetheless, this council resolution has created suspicion that our police department was engaged in some kind of wrongdoing and that I, as the mayor, was refusing to investigate this cover-up of wrongdoing.”

— Paul Coogan, Mayor of Fall River

“The city council is simply seeking to determine whether there was any abuse of power within the Fall River Police Department. We owe that to our residents. And just as importantly, we owe that to the many dedicated police officers who put their lives on the line every single day to protect this community.”

— Cliff Ponte, President of the Fall River City Council

What’s next

The Massachusetts Attorney General's office will review the matter after Mayor Coogan's request, and the Fall River City Council may move forward with plans to retain independent legal counsel to clarify their authority regarding the investigation.

The takeaway

The dispute between the mayor and city council president highlights the ongoing tensions and power dynamics within Fall River's local government, as they grapple with issues of transparency, oversight, and the appropriate boundaries of their respective authorities. The outcome of this investigation could have significant implications for the balance of power and public trust in the city's leadership.