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NEW BEDFORD — A city officer who had been on the force about one year was placed on paid administrative leave just before the New Year. He was charged with strangulation and domestic assault and battery, and is currently serving one and a half years of probation, per court records.
Nivaldo Mendes, 30, joined the New Bedford Police Department in January 2024, according to a department Facebook post. He was placed on leave on Dec. 31, 2024, per NBPD, and his certification was suspended by the state’s police oversight body, the POST Commission, on Jan. 6.
The commission’s letter stated it had “sufficient evidence” requiring the “immediate suspension” of his certification, which is required for a police officer to perform his or her duties.
Court records show Mendes was charged in Taunton District Court with strangulation or suffocation, a felony offense, and assault and battery on family or a household member, a misdemeanor. He pleaded guilty to assault and battery, but the strangulation charges were continued without a finding, meaning those charges will be dismissed if Mendes successfully completes probation.
The incident was first reported by WPRI, which said the charges stemmed from “several incidents” in 2024.
Records also show the Bristol County District Attorney’s office moved to revoke Mendes’ bail in January after it was found he violated his restraining order, filed by the alleged victim.
NBPD Assistant Deputy Chief Scott Carola declined to answer questions about Mendes’ administrative leave.
“The officer has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of their personnel investigation,” Carola said in an email. “Pursuant to long-standing practices, the department declines further comment on pending personnel investigations.”
Mendes’ attorney, James McKenna, filed a motion last month to revise or revoke the case disposition. In the filing, McKenna states “justice may not have been done” because at the time of the sentencing, “there were facts and circumstances not available to the Court that may have impacted” the case.
The filing did not provide further detail.
The Light contacted Mendes and McKenna for comment Thursday afternoon, but did not immediately hear back.
Email Anastasia E. Lennon at alennon@newbedfordlight.org.
