Worcester Guilty Verdict Confirms Accountability — Violence Against Police is Not Activism
Feb 12, 2026
The guilty verdict on February 11, 2026 for assault and battery on a Worcester police officer by former Worcester City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj affirms a simple but essential truth: no one is above the law.
This case was never about politics. It was never about immigration policy. It was never about ideology. It was about physical contact with a police officer who was lawfully performing her duty.
The court has now spoken.
Attempts to reframe this conviction as moral resistance, political persecution, or an act of community defense are deeply irresponsible. 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.
On May 8, 2025, Worcester police officers responded to calls from residents to maintain order during a volatile and emotionally charged situation. They did not create federal immigration policy. They did not initiate the ICE operation. Their role was to protect public safety and prevent chaos. Instead, they were met with confrontation, and in this case, physical interference.
To suggest that accountability for assault is an attack on democracy or an attempt to silence dissent is a dangerous distortion. Disagreement is protected. Peaceful protest is protected. Physical aggression toward law enforcement is not.
This verdict also comes at a time when assaults on police officers are rising across Central Massachusetts and beyond. Officers in our region have recently been killed, shot, injured, rammed with vehicles, and targeted while simply doing their jobs. The normalization of hostility toward law enforcement has consequences, real consequences, for public safety.
When elected officials model confrontation instead of composure, it sends the wrong message. Leadership demands restraint, especially in moments of tension.
The men and women of the Worcester Police Department showed professionalism under pressure. They deserve respect, not revisionist narratives.
The NEPBA stands firmly with every officer who continues to answer the call despite growing risks and escalating hostility. Public safety depends on accountability for everyone.
