There’s growing confusion in Fall River over whether a key investigative report into the 2021 police shooting of John Perry was ever actually delivered to the people who were supposed to see it. Despite city leaders saying it was sent out, both the local police and the district attorney say they never got the full thing.
The Case That Sparked It All
Back in April 2021, John Perry was shot and killed by a Fall River police officer. The incident stirred up protests and public demands for answers. In response, the Fall River City Council hired an outside investigator to look into what happened and whether anything went wrong.
That investigation wrapped up last year, and Mayor Paul Coogan told the public that the final report had been sent to both the police department and the district attorney for review. The idea was to give them a chance to take action if needed—and to reassure the community that nothing would be swept under the rug.
Wait—They Never Got It?
But now, questions are swirling about whether that actually happened. Former Police Chief John Claudo, who led the department at the time of the shooting, says his office never received the full report—only a summary.
And it’s not just his word. Public records requests from reporters and community advocates have so far turned up nothing to suggest the full document ever reached police or the DA’s office.
So far, no one has been able to prove the report was officially delivered, which is raising serious concerns.
Why It Matters
If the full report was never shared, that means police and prosecutors may not have had access to all the facts. And for a case as serious as a police shooting, that’s a big deal.
It also means the public—and especially Perry’s family—may have been misled about what actually happened behind closed doors. People are now wondering: was this a simple miscommunication, or is something more serious going on?
Outrage from the Community
People who have been following this case closely say this new development is deeply troubling.
“We were told there would be transparency, but now it feels like we’ve been kept in the dark,” said a local civil rights advocate. “How can we trust the system if even basic steps like sharing the report aren’t happening?”
Some legal experts have pointed out that if the report was never delivered as claimed, the city could face lawsuits or calls for a new investigation.
What the City Council Is Saying
Several members of the City Council are now demanding answers. At a recent meeting, councilors asked whether the city can release the full report to the public or at least make sure it’s finally in the right hands.
One councilor put it bluntly: “We can’t move forward if we don’t even know what’s in that report.”
What Happens Now?
The police department and the district attorney’s office are both reviewing their records to see if the report was lost or overlooked. So far, though, no luck.
Meanwhile, the City Council is considering whether they can release the full report themselves. Perry’s family is also pushing for a meeting with city leaders—and they want to see the full investigation for themselves.
Bigger Than Just One Case
This isn’t just about one report or one tragic case. For many in Fall River, it’s about whether their government can be trusted to do the right thing—and to tell the truth.
If the city really failed to deliver such an important report, it could lead to changes in how investigations like this are handled in the future. It could also be a turning point in how the community sees its leaders.
