EPISODE 2: Blind Trust

Summary

Spotlight: Snitch City - Episode 2: Blind Trust
Release Date: March 11, 2025
Host: The Boston Globe Spotlight Team

---

Overview

In the second episode of Spotlight: Snitch City, investigative reporter Dugan Arnett delves deeper into the perilous world of police informants within the New Bedford Police Department. Titled "Blind Trust," this episode unravels the harrowing experiences of Daniel, a former gang member turned confidential informant (CI), and exposes the systemic misconduct and betrayal by law enforcement officials entrusted with his protection.

---

Daniel’s Plea for Help

The episode opens with a distressing phone call from Daniel, portrayed by an actor to protect his identity due to life-threatening risks (00:12). Daniel's desperation is palpable as he repeatedly states, “I need your help” (00:28). Dugan narrates, “[...] Daniel was burned, and now he's scared,” highlighting the failure of the system meant to safeguard informants (01:25).

Notable Quote:

Daniel: “I need your help.”
— Daniel at 00:28

---

Becoming a Confidential Informant

Daniel's journey into becoming a CI began at 19 when a routine drug-related arrest led him to collaborate with the police in exchange for leniency (08:09). Initially promised protection, Daniel was coerced into a spiraling cycle of informant demands, far exceeding the promised one-time contribution. He explains, “I wasn't gonna win. I just did whatever they wanted” (11:19), underscoring his lack of viable alternatives.

Notable Quote:

Daniel: “I wasn't gonna win. I just did whatever they wanted.”
— Daniel at 11:19

---

The Betrayal by Officer Polson

A pivotal moment occurs when Daniel is pulled over by Officer Alexander Poulsen, a childhood friend of his gang associate Jack. This unexpected encounter leads to Daniel being outed as an informant, shattering his trust in the police department (13:31). Poulsen’s conflicting relationship with Jack becomes a focal point, revealing internal corruption and the misuse of informant information.

Notable Quote:

Officer Poulsen: “He just wanted one gun. And then they were like, you’ll be done.”
— Officer Polson at 00:54

---

Internal Affairs Investigation

Daniel’s revelations prompt an Internal Affairs (IA) investigation into Officer Polson’s conduct. During a recorded interrogation, Poulsen admits to sharing sensitive information with Jack, violating department policies. Despite the gravity of his actions, the IA investigation results in minimal consequences for Poulsen, highlighting a disturbing leniency within the department’s oversight mechanisms (27:59).

Notable Quote:

Officer Poulsen: “If I would make a claim like that, I'd have to be 110% sure...”
— Officer Polson at 28:06

---

Consequences for Daniel

Outed and betrayed, Daniel faces immense pressure from both his former gang and the police. He is coerced into participating in violent acts, including shootings he intended to botch as a means of proving his loyalty. Daniel confesses, “I think of it all together and I'd be like, damn, I wish I did have a fucking time machine” (26:06), reflecting his despair and the irreversible mistakes he’s made under duress.

Notable Quote:

Daniel: “I wish I did have a fucking time machine.”
— Daniel at 26:06

---

Systemic Failures and Cover-Ups

The investigation uncovers a pattern of systemic failures within the New Bedford Police Department, where informant abuse is commonplace, and whistleblowers face retaliation. The IA report’s lenient response to Poulsen’s misconduct, including the removal of serious charges and minimal disciplinary action, exemplifies a culture of impunity that undermines trust in law enforcement (37:11).

Notable Quote:

Dugan Arnett: “The department issued a statement saying that the allegations flagged by the Globe have been, quote, investigated to resolution...”
— Dugan Arnett summarizing the IA report at 32:06

---

Conclusion and Ongoing Threats

Daniel remains incarcerated, living in constant fear of retribution from both gang members and corrupt officers. His situation epitomizes the vulnerability of informants within flawed systems. The episode concludes with the appointment of a new police chief, Maria Oliveira, hinting at potential reforms while underscoring the deep-rooted challenges that persist (37:14).

Notable Quote:

Daniel: “There’s been a bunch of close calls. I try to avoid it...”
— Daniel reflecting on his current struggles at 32:17

---

Key Takeaways

• Systemic Misconduct: The episode exposes the exploitation and manipulation of informants by law enforcement, revealing a lack of accountability within the police department.
• Betrayal of Trust: Daniel’s story highlights the fragile and often perilous trust between informants and the police, where promises of protection frequently go unfulfilled.
• Cultural Resistance: The entrenched culture within police departments resists transparency and reform, allowing misconduct to persist.
• Human Cost: Beyond institutional failures, the episode underscores the profound personal toll on individuals like Daniel, who navigate a treacherous landscape of loyalty and survival.

---

Final Thoughts

Spotlight: Snitch City Episode 2: "Blind Trust" serves as a compelling exposé on the dark underbelly of police informant systems. Through Daniel’s tragic narrative, Dugan Arnett illuminates the urgent need for systemic reforms to protect those who risk everything to assist in law enforcement, ensuring that promises of safety and discretion are upheld.

---

About the Production Team

• Host: Dugan Arnett
• Additional Reporting: Andrew Ryan and Brendan McCarthy
• Writers: Max Green, Kristen Nelson, Dugan Arnett, Brendan McCarthy
• Senior Producer: Max Green
• Executive Producers: Brendan McCarthy and Kristen Nelson
• Sound Design and Mix: Steven Jackson
• Actor (Daniel): Safanyas
• Executive Editor: Nancy Barnes
• Art Direction: Ryan Huddle
• Podcast Visualization: Olivia Jarvis and Anoush Elbakian
• Audience Editor: Heather Cyrus
• Visuals Editor: Tim Rasmussen
• Legal Review: John Albano
• Fact Checking: Matt Mahoney

---

Note: This summary intentionally omits advertisement segments and non-content elements to focus solely on the episode's investigative narrative.

Transcript

[Dugan Arnett]

Before we begin, this story contains strong language and descriptions of violence. Take care when listening.

[Unknown]

To accept this free call, press one.

[Dugan Arnett]

To refuse this free call, press two. It's Friday night around six. This is Daniel. He's calling from a prison in Massachusetts. What's going on?

[Daniel]

I'm so stressed out, Dugan. I mean, you're the only number I can call. I'm so stressed out.

[Dugan Arnett]

We've been talking for months now, but I've never heard him like this. Can you tell me what's going on?

[Daniel]

Hello?

[Dugan Arnett]

Can you hear me?

[Daniel]

Can you hear me, Dougie?

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel's a former gang member turned police informant, and he has an extraordinary story.

[Daniel]

Doogie? I'm so stressed at home.

[Dugan Arnett]

Doogie, can you tell me what. Can you tell me what's going on?

[Daniel]

I'm just going through something right now, okay? I just need your help.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel's not his real name, and we're using an actor to give voice to his exact words because he says his life is in danger. Are you all right?

[Daniel]

Yeah, yeah. You're the only person I can get in contact with right now. I'm so stressed out. I'm just going through some stuff right now.

[Dugan Arnett]

When I got off this call, my editors asked me to tell them what happened. And he just kept saying, like, I need your help. I need your help. You're the only person whose number I know. You're the only person who can reach out. You see, word got out about Daniel being an informant. He was burned, and now he's scared. He's told me about threats. He was just begging me to reach out to his girlfriend and have her call him, tell her it was an emergency and that he needed to talk to her immediately. And Daniel worked with New Bedford Police for months. He informed on other gang members at great risk to himself. He's somebody who I guess I feel kind of protective of, and having seen him in jail and having seen, you know, how young he looks and having seen the details of sort of what he's gone through, that was just a hard thing to listen to. Daniel didn't want to be a CI, but he also didn't want to go back to jail. So he put his faith into a system that promised to protect him. Clearly, it didn't work out that way. This podcast is about all the ways in which law enforcement exploits, manipulates and cheats the informant system. I've already told you about the New Bedford cop who tried to explain his illegal boat raid simply by uttering the magic letters C.I. it's like the ultimate hall pass. Drop the word informant and it's no questions asked. But now I want to tell you about the other side of this game. The people who put their trust in police with a promise that no one will ever find out. That's what they pledged to Daniel, but they broke that promise. Daniel always knew that if members of his gang found out he was a snitch, he'd be in serious trouble. What he didn't anticipate was being betrayed by police.

[Alexander Poulsen]

This is a very serious allegation. We can't have offices involved in anything like what's being alleged here.

[Dugan Arnett]

I'm Dugan Arnett and from the Boston Globe Spotlight Team. This is snitch city. Episode 2 Blind TR.

[Unknown]

This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this. Adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives. But are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight, you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treat Start Start prioritizing their financial education and future Today with a risk free trial at greenlight.com Spotify greenlight.com.

[Dugan Arnett]

Spotify Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Unknown]

Of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only.

[Dugan Arnett]

Then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail].

[Daniel]

Hello.

[Dugan Arnett]

Hey, how's it going?

[Daniel]

It's going good.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel and I developed a system. When I needed to reach him, I'd text his girlfriend and she'd get word to him. A day or two later my phone would ring. Sometimes we talked about mundane things. So if you want to watch a movie. If you want to watch a movie, you got to use like your like canteen money.

[Daniel]

You have to download them and they cost like $3 each movie.

[Dugan Arnett]

Sometimes we'd spend hours going over the finer details of his story. Walk me through that. That stop.

[Daniel]

They brought me into the station after.

[Dugan Arnett]

That's when they're like, sometimes we talk about the future. When you get out, what do you like? What will you do?

[Daniel]

Get A job, you know, work, stay out the way. Just do what I have to do, you know, stay away from all that negative stuff.

[Dugan Arnett]

I got used to seeing the prison number pop up on my phone and scrambling to turn on my recorder. Would you have some time to chat a little bit more? I just had, like.

[Daniel]

I could call a little later.

[Dugan Arnett]

Yeah, that works for me. I'll be in the office until late, so, yeah, just give me a ring and I'll. I'll make sure I'm here.

[Daniel]

All right, bye.

[Dugan Arnett]

Gotcha.

[Daniel]

Thanks, Tugie.

[Unknown]

The caller has hung up.

[Dugan Arnett]

I wish I could tell you everything I know about Daniel, but we're protecting his identity because he could face retaliation for talking to me from other inmates, from members of his former gang, even from law enforcement. You're going to hear a lot from him in this episode, and I want to be clear. Daniel was a gang member. He broke the law. Many of them, in fact. Still, the stories he shared, many of the details are backed up by police reports and court documents. While I can't tell you every detail about Daniel, you've probably heard backstories like his before, at least in Broad Strokes. Daniel's father is in prison when he's born. His mom does her best to raise him and his siblings, but there was.

[Daniel]

Only so much she can do. You know what I'm saying?

[Dugan Arnett]

Sports were an escape from some of the unpleasant aspects of childhood, but only kept him occupied for so long.

[Daniel]

Eventually it got to the point where we barely played basketball and we just smoked weed.

[Dugan Arnett]

His teen years are marked by arrests for drug dealing, assault, gun possession, one for domestic violence, and he spends stretches and juvenile lockup. But on the outside, he's increasingly drawn to the action of gang life. Daniel's introduction to the informant world came a few years back, when he was 19. It happens the way it does for most people. He gets caught doing something illegal. He's carrying drugs one night when the police pull him over. He foists the drugs on the young woman in the passenger seat next to him, and she shoves them down her pants.

[Daniel]

Then they put us out the car. They found it on the girl, and they locked me up, too, saying that they seen me hand it to her.

[Dugan Arnett]

They cuff him and take him to the police station. He's gutted. He's only recently gotten out of jail, and he's panicked by the thought of going back. At the police station, Daniels walked past desks strewn with paperwork. Two officers sit him down and start pressing him.

[Daniel]

They kind of knew, like I was affiliated with a Lot of known gang members, stuff like that.

[Dugan Arnett]

It becomes clear that they don't really care about the drugs, that they're more interested in making a deal.

[Daniel]

Basically, they'll let this disappear if I do something for them.

[Dugan Arnett]

They want him to inform, to snitch. They tell him that no one will ever know, that his name will never end up in paperwork, that it will be a confidential and brief alliance. Did they give you much time to think about it? Like, how long is all this playing out? What's the conversation like?

[Daniel]

That was kind of quake, you know, like, it was like in and out.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel knows what he's supposed to do. It's part of a code ingrained in him and kids like him since childhood. It's in the DNA of the hip hop. He was raised on, the gangland movies he's seen. Keep your mouth shut. But he's hesitating like, I don't want.

[Daniel]

To go to jail. And that was really it.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel just wants to go home. And the police are giving him a simple way to do that.

[Daniel]

They just wanted one gun. And then they was like, you'll be done. Basically just this one, one time type shit. You know what I'm saying?

[Dugan Arnett]

So he makes a decision. He'll do it just this once.

[Daniel]

I was just like, all right, whatever, you know?

[Dugan Arnett]

The officers put some paperwork in front of him registering him as a confidential informant.

[Daniel]

I signed it. And then when I signed, they were.

[Dugan Arnett]

Like, you have a week, one week to give cops enough information to get one gun off the street. Then Daniel's off the hook. But that's not what happens. Daniel says within days, he. He helps police make an arrest and gun seizure. But they want more.

[Daniel]

At first, they kind of made it seem like I still owed them.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel tries to keep his cool, but this goes beyond the one gun deal.

[Daniel]

The second time, I'm like, okay, if I don't do this, then what? Are they gonna be on some shit with me? So let me just do this one last time.

[Dugan Arnett]

But the demands keep coming. A third, a fourth, a fifth time.

[Daniel]

I was supposed to be done, but after, they just kept calling me and calling me and calling me and texting me. Do you got anything? Do you got anything? After that, it just kept going and going and going.

[Dugan Arnett]

To Daniel, it's not a choice. And of course, he can't tell anyone or turn to anyone. He fears that if he puts his foot down, they could bring back the drug charge.

[Daniel]

I wasn't gonna win. I just did whatever they wanted. I mean, whatever they wanted me to do. I would do it.

[Dugan Arnett]

He feels trapped, isolated, and terrible about giving up people that he knows.

[Daniel]

I obviously felt guilty no matter who it was. You know what I'm saying?

[Dugan Arnett]

Arrangements like the one Daniel made are everyday occurrences in police departments across the country. Open the file on pretty much any drug investigation, and you're likely to find a confidential informant. But experts say that in Massachusetts and other states, there are no laws on the books to protect informants. It's left to local police departments, even campus cops, to establish the rules. As a CI Daniel was a regular source of information for police. By his own account, he helped officers make several arrests and get guns off the street. Daniel says he was never paid for this work, unlike some informants. And from his point of view, police leaned on him too much. Before long, Daniel feels like all of his energy is going into managing this double life. He's seen what can happen to people suspected of working with police.

[Daniel]

Few kids I was cool with, they got beat up. They got beat up. Crazy.

[Dugan Arnett]

But Daniel's holding out hope that no one will ever find out that he's working as a CI until one night when it all comes crashing down. He's out driving around when again, police stop him.

[Daniel]

And they pulled us over. And then, like, I was sitting in the car, basically, there was, like, state police and everybody there.

[Dugan Arnett]

He knows that to get out of this, all he has to do is tell the cops that he's a CI and mention the name of his handler. So that's what he does. But then one of the cops, taking notes, asks Daniel how to spell his name.

[Daniel]

You know, I was just kind of, like, looking down. It was raining, drizzling a little bit, like, you know, like, I didn't pay no mind. And then he, like, took down my name, and he's like, how do you spell it? And I looked up at him, and I, like, I seen who it was.

[Dugan Arnett]

Immediately, Daniel realizes he's seen this cop before. He remembers the piercing blue eyes. Daniel first saw him several months earlier at a park. The cop was hanging out with one of Daniel's fellow gang members, a guy I'm calling Jack, but that's not his real name. Jack is older than Daniel. His arms are covered in tattoos. And Daniel kind of looked up to Jack, who's a heavy hitter with a long criminal record, including arrests for drugs and assault, battery of a police officer, stalking a rival with a revolver in his waistband. So it stood out to Daniel to see this guy Jack chatting so casually with a New Bedford cop. The officer had dark hair and Piercing blue eyes. Seeing the two of them together was strange enough that Daniel asked Jack about it.

[Daniel]

I was trying to figure out what happened. Like, you know, like, is he, like, fucking with you? Like, no, he's like, no. Like, he's mad cool. You know, he used to go to high school with me. You know, he's cool. You know what I'm saying? You know, he was like, yeah, they communicate and all that. And they had each other's phone numbers and all that. Like, you know, they were cool.

[Dugan Arnett]

And there was something else, too, you.

[Daniel]

Know, And Jack was telling me, like, yo, that cop tells me everything.

[Dugan Arnett]

That cop tells me everything. And that cop is Alexander Poulsen. Councillor Polson, could you please state your name for the record, spelling your last name?

[Unknown]

My name is Alexander Polson. Spelled last name.

[Dugan Arnett]

Yes.

[Unknown]

My last name is spelled P, O.

[Dugan Arnett]

L S O, N. New Bedford is a good sized city that feels a lot like a small town. People on both sides of the law grow up in the same neighborhoods, share classrooms and athletic fields. Okay, and how long have you been employed by New Bedford Police?

[Unknown]

I've been employed since January 3, 2021.

[Dugan Arnett]

Officer Alex Polson grew up near New Bedford and attended area schools. And have you always worked out of the South Ed station for your career?

[Unknown]

For majority, yes, I think I worked out of Station 3.

[Dugan Arnett]

Back in high school, Polson was kind of preppy. He played football, soccer, lacrosse and hockey. In his yearbook, he quotes Wayne Gretzky. I don't skate to the puck. I skate to where it's going to be. In a senior photo, Poulsen's hair is closely cropped. He's wearing a white collared shirt, a navy plaid tie. He has a square chin, steely blue eyes and a subtle smile. Back then, Paulson and Jack, the older member of Daniel's gang, hung out. They forged a friendship over video games. How often do you speak with him?

[Unknown]

It's like here and there. We don't talk every day. Maybe once a month, maybe once every three months.

[Dugan Arnett]

While Polson was busy playing high school sports, Jack was getting into trouble and becoming a budding player in the local gang world. They were an odd pair, but close enough that once, when Polson was getting harassed by another teenager, Jack stepped in and fought the bully.

[Alexander Poulsen]

Is that when you felt loyalty to him?

[Unknown]

I wouldn't say loyalty.

[Alexander Poulsen]

What would you call it back then? Because you're just saying you're foolish.

[Unknown]

Yeah, we were friends before that, sir.

[Dugan Arnett]

As kids, they were pals. Jack had Polson's back, but as adults, their loyalties should have shifted Jack to the gang and Poulsen to the police. After becoming a cop, Poulsen says he let Jack know that things had changed.

[Unknown]

From the very beginning. If it came down to it. And we had a situation where if I had to arrest him, I told him I would. And he understood that from the very beginning.

[Dugan Arnett]

Cancer is sadly very common in America. It's rare that someone has not been impacted by the disease, whether they endured it themselves or witnessed a loved one. Which is why I want to tell you about my Boston Globe colleague's brand new five part series, the Stories of Cancer on the say More podcast. In the series, award winning columnist and host Shirley Leung shares her own journey with breast cancer for the first time. While telling her story, Shirley explores the science, history and real life impact of the disease, bringing together experts, survivors and groundbreaking research. Follow say More from the Boston Globe Wherever you get your podcasts, running a.

[Unknown]

Business comes with a lot of what ifs. But luckily there's a simple answer to Shopify. It's the commerce platform behind millions of businesses including Thrive Cosmetics and Momofuku, and it'll help you with everything you need. From website design and marketing to boosting sales and expanding operations, Shopify can get the job done and make your dream a reality. Turn those what ifs into Sign up for your $1 per month [e-mail] Specialoffer.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel, of course, had no idea about how far back Jack's friendship with Alex Poulson went. So when Daniel's pulled over that night and tries to use his status as a CI to get out of trouble, he realizes he's just outed himself to one of Jack's friends, the blue eyed cop.

[Daniel]

I was kind of like sick to my stomach.

[Dugan Arnett]

Immediately, Daniel calls his handler, an officer named Nate Almeida. Daniel is in tears. Almeida tries to calm him down and promises he'll take care of it.

[Daniel]

And Nate's like, yeah, don't worry, you know, I'm gonna pull him into the office and we're gonna talk to him or whatever. We're gonna figure this out.

[Dugan Arnett]

And Almeida made good on that promise.

[Unknown]

According to Poulson, Nate Almeida called me, said meet me at the station. And I was kind of like thrown off because I'm like, okay, I've never talked to Nate in my life. He's like, hey, this kid name dropped.

[Dugan Arnett]

You said you're friends with Jack.

[Unknown]

His advice was, you can't help who you grew up with. Just make sure that you are careful.

[Dugan Arnett]

But he's not careful enough Poulson doesn't follow that advice. It's clear Polson and Jack have been talking. And now Jack, a guy police call a top tier gang associate, knows that Daniel's broken the code they're supposed to live by. This dangerous reality hits Daniel when he's with Jack at a neighborhood store. Jack tells him that he's been chatting with his old friend Alex Paulson.

[Daniel]

You know, that cop I'm cool with? I'm like, yeah. And he was like, yo, he was trying to throw some dirt on your name type. And he was saying some happened and like, you know, you was working with some people and like that.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel remembers this conversation vividly because in it, Jack revealed that Paulson gave him an explicit warning.

[Daniel]

That kid Daniel, you cool with? Watch him. Stay away from him.

[Dugan Arnett]

It's in this moment that Daniel says he knows for sure that this cop with the blue eyes has outed him. And now the only thing Daniel can do is try and convince Jack that his pal Polson was wrong.

[Daniel]

You know, that boy buggin. Like he's tripping, you feel me? Like, he must have got some names mixed up or something. You feel me?

[Dugan Arnett]

How nervous are you? How worried are you?

[Daniel]

At this point, I was a little nervous, but, you know, I gotta brush it off, like, you know, I can't show that. Gotta keep the poker face on. But inside I was like, you know, of course I was nervous. You know, there was guns around and shit. Shit could go any way, you know.

[Dugan Arnett]

And once word gets out, Daniel does everything he can to deny it.

[Daniel]

I felt like there was a magnifying glass on me. Some people heard that, you know, they were like, what the fuck is that cop saying? Why the fuck is that cop saying that? But then some people were like, nah, that cop must be bugging out. Like, no, not Daniel, not him.

[Dugan Arnett]

Every conversation, every interaction starts to feel like a test. He says one night, a group of older gang members approaches him with what feels like the ultimate test. Recently, someone from their area had been shot. Now they want Daniel to take part in the retaliation. It didn't feel like a choice to you?

[Daniel]

Yeah, basically, you know, I couldn't be like, nah, I'm straight. I'm straight. Like, I kind of like had to go. I'd be looked at even more funny, you know what I'm saying?

[Dugan Arnett]

They hand Daniel a gun and tell him, don't come back until it's empty.

[Daniel]

You know what I was thinking? That there was no way that we were going to get out of that position.

[Dugan Arnett]

So Daniel gets into a Stolen car with a group of guys. Their drive is quiet. No phones, tension in the air. They pull up to a car idling under a street lamp, get out of the car, and open fire. Somehow, miraculously, no one's hit.

[Daniel]

Oh, it didn't play out as bad as I thought I was gonna be. Nobody got shot.

[Dugan Arnett]

Nobody got shot. Police did recover 18 bullet casings from at least three different guns. Later, Daniel claims he intended all along to shoot wildly, to miss on purpose. Not long after the shooting, a an email goes out to the entire New Bedford Police Department. Detectives are looking for three suspects. In the records I obtained, police redacted the names of the suspects. So I don't know if Daniel's name was on the list, but I do know one of them was another member of Daniel's gang. And Jack's younger cousin, Alex Polson isn't part of this shooting investigation. But he reads the email, sees his friend's cousin's name, and makes a strange call. Polson calls a detective who's working the investigation and tells this detective that they've got it wrong about Jack's cousin.

[Unknown]

I said, I don't think he, you know, he was part of it. He's not a gun kid. I kind of formed the opinion on my own and was like, I don't really think he'd be involved in that.

[Dugan Arnett]

But Poulsen was wrong. Or lying. Jack's cousin previously had been arrested for gun possession. Poulsen's unsolicited intervention doesn't end there. He tells the detective that he can help. He knows this guy's cousin Jack from way back. He can reach out and try to find out more. The detective is clearly uneasy with this suggestion, and he warns, be careful. Later that night, Polson and Jack's cousin meets in the parking lot of a waterfront bar. According to Poulsen, Jack's cousin denies taking part in the shooting, and the cousin offers several names of people he says were involved. One of them is Daniel. Everyone's telling on everyone. All this time, Daniel's been terrified of Jack finding out he was a snitch. But guess what I figured out that Jack, the ruthless gang leader, and his cousin, they snitched, too, to take out a snitch. Someone else had to snitch, and now Daniel's a suspect. Within days of Paulson's parking lot meetup with Jack's cousin, Daniel's picked up by police for questioning, and he spills his guts.

[Daniel]

I admitted to it because I was telling them the honest conversation. And like in the Thing like breaking it down to him. Like, I was working with this person, and then, like, you know, like I'm. I'm breaking it down to him.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel tells police about his work as an informant, about Jack and his close ties to Officer Polson, and about being outed and about how, because of that, he felt he had to prove his loyalty to the gang. Then, perhaps naively, he admits to pulling the trigger in not just one, but two shootings. In these two instances, Daniel says he had no choice.

[Daniel]

I think of it all together and I'd be like, damn, I wish I did have a fucking time machine.

[Dugan Arnett]

Daniel thinks he's doing the right thing, but coming clean. He thinks that because he's a CI and has been outed, police will understand he had no choice and they'll let him off the hook. But he's just confessed to two shootings. Of course, they charge him with attempted assault and battery with a firearm. But New Bedford Police can't ignore the other part of Daniel's story. Everything he told them about Paulson and Jack's relationship triggers an Internal affairs investigation. And that's the tape we've been using to tell this story. Have you ever told anyone outside the New Bedford Police Department about the progress of an ongoing investigation?

[Alexander Poulsen]

No, sir.

[Dugan Arnett]

Despite Poulsen's denials, investigators are skeptical about his relationship with Jack.

[Alexander Poulsen]

So do you consider yourself friends? Good friends.

[Unknown]

What do you consider you more acquaintance? I don't call him to hang out on the weekend.

[Alexander Poulsen]

So he's got your cell phone number?

[Unknown]

He does, yeah. Which has since been blocked.

[Daniel]

All right.

[Dugan Arnett]

Do you have his number stored in your cell phone?

[Unknown]

I don't.

[Dugan Arnett]

Okay. Did you before?

[Unknown]

I did, yes.

[Daniel]

All right.

[Dugan Arnett]

When did you block it?

[Unknown]

After the complaint came up.

[Dugan Arnett]

After this complaint came out. Okay, so you've deleted it or blocked it?

[Unknown]

It's deleted and blocked.

[Dugan Arnett]

Investigators want to know why Jack takes Polson's calls at all if they're not close. As he struggles to answer the investigators questions, Polson says something incredible, that Jack has actually provided information to Poulsen before as a kind of off the books informant. In fact, what Poulsen says is that Jack has twice given him Daniel's nickname as someone for police to look into.

[Alexander Poulsen]

Why would he trust you if you're not that close? He wouldn't give it to any other cop. I'm sure if a cop called him, he's gonna say, go pound ta. Why would he do that? If you're not as close as you say you are?

[Unknown]

I don't know that's the second time he's done it, though.

[Dugan Arnett]

This is an astonishing statement, and it confirms two things. One, that Jack was snitching on Daniel, and two, that Poulsen and Jack had been discussing Daniel. Lieutenant Robert Holmes also presses Poulsen about the unsolicited call he made to the detective on the shooting, saying Jack's cousin is not a gun guy.

[Alexander Poulsen]

If I would make a claim like that, I'd have to be 110% sure that this guy ain't a gun guy for me to tell a detective this guy ain't a gun guy. That's it's a serious thing, if that. And then he tells you the guy's involved in a gun thing. You, as an officer, you vouch for someone. Another officer is going to take that seriously. If the sergeant tells me so, I'm going to believe my sergeant, Right? You, as an officer, tells another officer. Something's more likely to believe you than an average Joe on the street. So if you tell someone a guy's not a gun guy, shouldn't you be a lot more what I'm looking for? Matter of fact, know that this guy in a gun guy. Before you make an accusation like that, or you see how that could look like you're just trying to help a friend if you still consider yourself good friends?

[Unknown]

Not at this point, no. Considered good friends. They're just, like I said, well, pretty good.

[Alexander Poulsen]

You're sharing information. He's giving you intel. You're vouching for a guy you're not even that close to. You don't consider that. You had his number in your phone, right?

[Dugan Arnett]

Investigators want to know why Paulson's phone has been wiped clean.

[Alexander Poulsen]

On that note, though, it's a little concerning to me that after you learned of this, you deleted everything out of your phone. Don't you think maybe you should have left it there? So if we did have questions. It does look like if you have nothing to hide.

[Dugan Arnett]

Another investigator confronts Polson about specific text messages with Jack that Paulson deleted, but that investigators were able to recover.

[Alexander Poulsen]

Did you send these text messages? Take your time reading it a little bit, yeah.

[Unknown]

Okay.

[Alexander Poulsen]

So you did send that?

[Unknown]

Yeah.

[Dugan Arnett]

It appears to be a warning to Jack that police are ramping up their investigation into a recent shooting.

[Alexander Poulsen]

They know who these guys are.

[Dugan Arnett]

Should.

[Alexander Poulsen]

Do you think that might be giving them just a little too much information? Granted, it's not specific. Specific. But even saying that. That the police are going to turn, you know, your exact words were definitely going to bump the heat up. Do you think you should be giving them anything at all? Do you think you should be even saying that much information to them?

[Unknown]

Looking at it now, I would say no looking at it then. I think we had a bunch of shootings in that week. So for me, it was bumping the heat up was just because of all the stuff that was going on. And it was just.

[Alexander Poulsen]

Even if it's a tactic of ours, why would you even want to give them any type of knowledge that we may be sitting around or setting up on some things for the next few days to let them know? Everybody. I mean, you're a smart guy. You're an officer. What stops them from calling up their friends saying, hey, lay low for the next two, three days. Cops are sitting out there. They're going to be watching out. So if you're doing any dumb shit, lay low for a whole week.

[Dugan Arnett]

Even investigators aren't just digging into Poulsen's relationship with Jack. They're also trying to get to the bottom of Daniel's story. Did a fellow officer really burn Daniel?

[Alexander Poulsen]

You read the allegation, right? And he's telling us you're giving up sensitive information. You see how that concerns this department. And then you do certain things that make it a little bit more suspicious by deleting phone records and deleting text messages that we can't look at, making.

[Dugan Arnett]

Statements that they want to know. If Polson shared information with Jack and his cousin.

[Alexander Poulsen]

We can't have offices involved in anything like what's being alleged here. Very, very serious. And that's why we're very concerned. We're going to be very thorough in this to make sure whether it's on purpose or by accident, that you're not giving out information that you really, really shouldn't be given out. And for this gentleman, and you read the complaint to say that, yo, he basically said, you're working with these two guys and, you know, we're giving them information. It's very concerning to us. Is there anything you want to add on your behalf on anything that we brought up today?

[Unknown]

No, this time, no.

[Dugan Arnett]

Today Daniel's in prison, navigating that world, knowing that his identity as an informant is out there and constantly afraid of what's next.

[Daniel]

There's been a bunch of close calls. You know, I try to avoid it, you know what I'm saying? But there have been a bunch of close calls.

[Dugan Arnett]

How do you live with that kind of stress? Constantly, I don't know.

[Daniel]

I just. I wake up and I should be hoping for the best, you know, I can't even tell you, honestly. You know, I just go with the flow. Now I'm in the situation where I'm around a whole bunch of other known violent gang members. And I saw the way he fucked up. You know what I'm saying?

[Dugan Arnett]

It's a small world. All it'll take is the wrong person showing up.

[Daniel]

It just depends on who's on the unit and who comes through the door.

[Dugan Arnett]

So each day he keeps his head down and keeps watch.

[Daniel]

Like, I could be good today and the last week and week before that. But then they let the wrong face come through here.

[Dugan Arnett]

Each night, he stays up peering out of his cell and watching as new inmates are marched in.

[Daniel]

So I can see every new face that comes into the jail.

[Dugan Arnett]

You know, Daniel studies each of them.

[Daniel]

You know, because if I don't see who's coming into jail, then I might not see somebody and I might not know. Like, you know, that person knows me. And when I wake up, something's gonna happen. You know what I'm saying?

[Dugan Arnett]

But all his precautions haven't been enough.

[Daniel]

This kid approached me with a knife in his pocket, and, you know, he was like, we heard you. You was working with the police and shit. Now you gotta get the fuck up out of here. You're gonna get stabbed.

[Dugan Arnett]

Later, he made that desperate call to me. Are you. Are you all right?

[Daniel]

Yeah, yeah. Just have a lot going on. I'm so stressed out. Heavens is going through some stuff.

[Dugan Arnett]

He begs me to reach out to his girlfriend and you want me to tell. What do you want me to tell her? That you're. Just tell her.

[Daniel]

Tell her it's an emergency. I said it's an emergency and he needs to talk as soon as possible, please.

[Dugan Arnett]

I didn't hear from Daniel for months after that call. I began to worry. I never would. But finally he did reach out to me. He told me that he was doing okay and said he hoped something would come from him sharing his story. When a police source first tipped me to this case, I was skeptical. But a lot of what Daniel's told me has rung true. Much of it is backed up by police reports, court documents, and by Alex Poulson himself. Poulsen called me one night not too long ago after I asked for an interview. He talked about being childhood friends with Jack, but said they don't hang out anymore. Poulsen denied sharing Daniel's name with Jack or sharing any police information. In the course of our conversation, he named three people who were informing to police. A clear breach of policy. Poulsen said it's widely known in New Bedford who's working with police. It's kind of messed up over there because everybody knows who's telling. He called it common sense. The police department didn't respond to numerous questions from the Globe or interview requests. The department issued a statement saying that the allegations flagged by the Globe have been, quote, investigated to resolution and made public or lacked a credible basis to pursue further investigation. New Bedford police eventually completed the internal investigation. Given the seriousness of the allegations, the scope of the probe is surprisingly limited. They didn't speak to Jack or his younger cousin, and they only interviewed four people. Three of them were New Bedford cops. In the end, the IA report doesn't assert that Poulsen outed Daniel as an informant, but the investigation is clear that Poulsen had released sensitive police information to gang members. That's a serious breach of policy, a former IA investigator told me. It could be a fireable offense, one that would put Poulsen's name on something called the Brady List. That's a list prosecutors keep of problematic officers who might not be trustworthy. But a police higher up viewed it very differently and overruled the investigator's findings. At the bottom of the report, he crossed out the charge with a pen and replaced it with a much lighter one. Ultimately, the only penalty Alex Poulson faced was a single counseling session. Poulsen's still a member of the New Bedford Police today, and the person whose signature is next to the crossed out charge in Poulsen's case is a man named Paul Oliveira. There is a new top cop in New Bedford tonight.

[Alexander Poulsen]

The police department appointing a new chief this afternoon.

[Daniel]

It's a tremendous honor and privilege.

[Dugan Arnett]

Oliveira is New Bedford's chief of police. For me to accept the role of.

[Alexander Poulsen]

Police chief for this department that I.

[Daniel]

Am so proud of, again, I thank you for this opportunity and look forward.

[Dugan Arnett]

To working with all of you.

[Daniel]

Thank you.

[Dugan Arnett]

Oliveira is part of Alex Poulson's story. He knew about George Santos on the waterfront and he knows a lot more. The deeper I've gotten into this investigation, the more I realize how far back all this goes. As a young drug cop, Oliveira was molding the department's CI culture into something no one had seen before. He was reinventing the wheel, so to speak.

[Alexander Poulsen]

It was new to here, and it.

[Dugan Arnett]

Was new for us. After months of trying, I got someone to go on the record and tell me all about it. A guy who served alongside Oliveira and Narcotics.

[Alexander Poulsen]

There's a few people that know this.

[Dugan Arnett]

Stuff about Paul O'Ver right from the womb, right, who have lived it with.

[Alexander Poulsen]

Him and I was one of those people.

[Dugan Arnett]

He and others tell me about informant abuse crimes, cover ups and so much more. That's next time on Snitch City. Snitch City is reported and hosted by me, Dugan Arnett. Additional reporting by Andrew Ryan and Brendan McCarthy. The podcast is written by Max Green and Kristen Nelson along with me and Brendan McCarthy. Max Green is senior producer. Executive producers are Spotlight editor Brendan McCarthy and Kristin Nelson, the Globe's head of audio. Additional editing and support from Gordon Russell and Kathleen Goldhar. Safanyas is the actor who brought Daniel's words to life. Nancy Barnes is the Boston Globe's executive editor. Sound design and mix by Steven Jackson. Episode artwork by Julian D. Paulson Art direction by Ryan Huddle Podcast visualization by Olivia Jarvis and Anoush Elbakian. Heather Cyrus is the audience editor. Tim Rasmussen is visuals editor. Legal review by John Albano Fact checking by Matt Mahoney Marketing support for this podcast comes from the podglomerate.