Massachusetts AG Investigates Lawrence City Hall Camera Leak

Probe launched after recording of tense exchange between airport director and mayor's ex-chief of staff surfaced.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 10:26pm

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An extreme close-up of a damaged security camera lens against a dark background, conveying the investigation into the city's surveillance system.A cracked security camera lens symbolizes the probe into alleged illegal surveillance at Lawrence City Hall.Lawrence Today

The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office has launched an investigation into the camera system at Lawrence City Hall after a recording leaked showing a tense exchange between the city's airport director and the now-fired mayor's former chief of staff. The investigation comes after the New England Police Benevolent Association demanded an independent probe into the potential illegal recording of private conversations within City Hall.

Why it matters

This investigation raises serious concerns about potential privacy violations and illegal surveillance within the local government. The leak of the private conversation has also led to the firing of the mayor's chief of staff, further complicating the political dynamics in Lawrence.

The details

The leaked recording showed an argument between William Castro, the former chief of staff to Mayor Brian DePena, and Francisco Urena, the Lawrence airport director. In the video, Castro can be heard telling Urena, 'I'm respecting you. You respect me. You're being disrespectful... we have to have all due respect to the mayor. This is not a hallway conversation.' The mayor has since fired Castro and commissioned an independent investigation, but the police union says that review is 'wholly inadequate' and is demanding the state Attorney General step in.

  • On April 9, 2026, the leaked recording was released by a local radio show.
  • On April 10, 2026, the New England Police Benevolent Association sent a letter to the Attorney General demanding an independent probe.

The players

Massachusetts Attorney General's Office

The state's top law enforcement agency that has launched an investigation into the camera system and potential illegal recording at Lawrence City Hall.

New England Police Benevolent Association

The union representing Lawrence police officers that has called for an independent investigation into the alleged illegal recording of private conversations within City Hall.

William Castro

The former chief of staff to Lawrence Mayor Brian DePena who was recorded in a tense exchange with the city's airport director.

Francisco Urena

The Lawrence airport director who was recorded in a tense exchange with the mayor's former chief of staff.

Brian DePena

The mayor of Lawrence who fired his chief of staff after the leaked recording and commissioned an independent investigation into the matter.

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What they’re saying

“I'm respecting you. You respect me. You're being disrespectful... we have to have all due respect to the mayor. This is not a hallway conversation.”

— William Castro, Former Chief of Staff to Mayor Brian DePena

“Where else can we have [the conversation?]”

— Francisco Urena, Lawrence Airport Director

“Reports suggesting that such recordings may have occurred within City Hall, including in areas where individuals reasonably believed their conversations to be private, raise significant legal and constitutional concerns.”

— Thomas Turco and Chris Ryan, Executive Director and President of NEPBA

What’s next

The Attorney General's Office has seized the recording device as part of its criminal investigation, and the New England Police Benevolent Association is calling for Mayor DePena to resign over the alleged illegal surveillance.

The takeaway

This investigation into potential privacy violations and illegal surveillance within Lawrence's city government highlights the importance of government transparency and the need to protect the constitutional rights of public employees, even in the workplace.