By Tiffany Williams –
WORCESTER, Mass. — Former Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj has been found guilty of assaulting a police officer in a case that has rattled the city’s political and law enforcement communities.
The conviction stems from an incident on May 8, 2025, during an ICE arrest operation on Eureka Street, where Haxhiaj allegedly shoved a uniformed Worcester police officer. The encounter was captured on body-worn cameras, showing the confrontation unfold.
Haxhiaj, who had pleaded not guilty, was acquitted of a separate charge of interfering with a police officer. After a one-and-a-half day trial and two-and-a-half hours of jury deliberations, the former councilor was sentenced to six months probation and 40 hours of community service.
The case was prosecuted by the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office due to a conflict of interest with the Worcester District Attorney’s Office. First Assistant District Attorney Steven E. Gagne stressed, “Peaceful political protest is a protected and cherished constitutional right, while physical assault on law enforcement officers is not. Today’s verdict reinforces that distinction.”
Law enforcement leaders hailed the verdict as a clear signal that no one is above the law. Thomas B. Duffy II, President of Local 911 representing Worcester police, emphasized the stakes: “We can never allow or tolerate violence of any kind to be directed at any member of law enforcement. Last November city residents sent a strong message in our local election and today Etel Haxhiaj was convicted by a jury of her peers for assault and battery on a Worcester police officer.”
The New England PBA issued a scathing statement, underscoring the broader context of rising assaults on officers in Central Massachusetts. They argued the case was never about politics, immigration policy, or ideology, but about a criminal act: “Assaulting a police officer is not ‘standing with a mother.’ It is not ‘choosing love.’ It is a criminal act, and the justice system has affirmed that.”
Haxhiaj, meanwhile, issued a lengthy statement positioning her actions as part of community defense. She described standing between federal agents and a mother during the May 2025 ICE operation as a moral imperative, calling for accountability from law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office. She also demanded the creation of a civilian review board with subpoena powers, protections for residents from federal actions, and prosecution of federal agents who break the law.
The incident occurred amid heightened tensions in Worcester over immigration enforcement and law enforcement conduct. The May 2025 Eureka Street operation included arrests of community members and drew attention to the role of local police in federal enforcement actions.
Haxhiaj’s political career had already been affected; she lost her bid for re-election in November 2025 to Jose A. Rivera, a retired professional boxer and veteran court officer. Rivera ran on a platform emphasizing putting people over politics.
The conviction and sentencing mark a culmination of a volatile episode for Worcester, where political activism, federal enforcement, and public safety collided. Police unions celebrated the decision as a reinforcement of law and order, while Haxhiaj framed it as a stand for community and immigrant rights.
This case highlights the tension between civil protest and criminal accountability, and it comes at a time when assaults on police officers in Massachusetts are increasing, including recent shootings and violent attacks in neighboring communities. Authorities have stressed that physical confrontation with officers cannot be justified by political or moral arguments, a stance they reinforced in court.
As Worcester continues to navigate these divisions, the Haxhiaj verdict serves as both a legal precedent and a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over policing, protest, and community advocacy.
No further arrests have been announced in relation to the May 2025 incident. Haxhiaj’s probation and community service sentence is active immediately, and the city remains attentive to potential civil and community responses.
The outcome has sparked both support and outrage, illustrating the high-stakes intersection of civic activism and the rule of law in Massachusetts. Public safety officials have reiterated that violence against officers cannot be tolerated, while activists continue to argue for systemic reforms in policing and immigrant protections.
The Worcester Police Department and local prosecutors maintain that the verdict is a necessary affirmation of accountability, distinguishing lawful protest from criminal action, and reinforcing that officers must be able to perform their duties without physical interference.
Etel Haxhiaj’s case remains a focal point in Massachusetts for discussions on the limits of political activism, the responsibilities of elected officials, and the legal boundaries that protect law enforcement officers in volatile situations.
This conviction, coming nearly nine months after the original Eureka Street incident, underscores the consequences of direct physical confrontation with law enforcement, regardless of political or moral motivations, sending a clear message to elected officials and activists across the state.