14 Springfield officers charged with assault, coverup

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – A total of 14 current and former Springfield police officers now face charges in an attack on a group of civilians that followed a barroom argument almost four years ago.

The new charges announced Wednesday involve an altercation outside Nathan Bill’s bar on April 8, 2015, and accusations that there was a subsequent attempt to cover up.

Six of the officers had previously been charged with assault and battery. Another seven current officers and one former officer have been charged with misleading investigators, filing false police reports and perjury.

Investigators say the off-duty officers had a dispute with four bar patrons. Authorities say the officers attacked the men in a parking lot. The bar owner was also charged.

Lawyers for several of the officers previously charged said their clients were innocent.