Massachusetts State Police are investigating a formal complaint against Brockton Mayor Moises Rodrigues following an incident where a mother disrupted his speech at Brockton High School’s graduation ceremony June 6.
The investigation, confirmed by the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office, stems from an interaction between the mayor and a student during a school parade last month, The Enterprise reported.
“Massachusetts State Police troopers assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office are investigating a formal complaint made by a student and their parents to the Brockton Public Schools regarding Mayor Moises Rodrigues,” a spokesperson for District Attorney Tim Cruz said in a written statement, adding that the investigation remains ongoing. The office declined to provide further details regarding the nature of the complaint.
The investigation became public after a woman interrupted Rodrigues as he addressed the Class of 2026 Saturday.
“You have to (expletive) get out of here,” the woman shouted at the stage, according to video captured by Brockton Community Access. “You know what you did to my daughter. You know what you did to my daughter.”
Brockton Police officers prevented the woman from reaching the stage and removed her from the scene. Authorities stated that neither the mayor nor the mother was arrested.
Rodrigues issued a statement Monday, linking the confrontation to the Huntington Day Parade May 22.
“At the Huntington Day Parade, someone brought to my attention that I interacted with a student [in a way] that made the student uncomfortable,” Rodrigues said. “The School Department is looking into the matter. No restraining order has been granted.”
In an interview, the mayor said he did not know the specific interaction being questioned.
“It was a parade with hundreds of people,” he said.
Rodrigues added that he did not know the identity of the student or the mother, but confirmed the mother had requested through school officials that he skip the graduation. Though he chose to speak at the ceremony, he opted out of handing out diplomas to avoid close contact with the graduates.
“Not knowing who the person was, I didn’t want to get involved in the passing of the diplomas,” Rodrigues told The Enterprise.
The mayor also addressed a photograph from a recent health career event at the high school that appeared to show his hands around a young woman. Rodrigues, a former child protection specialist for the Archdiocese of Boston, defended his actions as standard safety protocol.
“From the child protection world that I came from, one of the things that we always tell people is that if you’re standing behind a young person, you always grab them by the arm to make sure there’s distance between you,” Rodrigues told the outlet.
A spokesperson for Brockton Public Schools said the district had nothing to add to the mayor’s statement. However, the Brockton School Committee has scheduled an executive session for Wednesday night.
According to the agenda, the committee will meet “to discuss the reputation, character, physical condition or mental health, rather than professional competence, of an individual, or to discuss the discipline or dismissal of, or complaints or charges brought against, a public officer, employee, staff member or individual.”
School Committee Member Stephen Pina addressed the board’s role in reviewing the situation in a Monday Facebook post, clarifying that he was speaking individually and not on behalf of the committee.
“I am not commenting on the substance of any allegations or ongoing investigation,” Pina wrote. “Those matters belong to the appropriate authorities. My concern is the School Committee’s oversight responsibilities.
“A significant incident occurred at a district event, and I believe the committee should receive a factual understanding of what occurred, what actions were taken, and whether proper procedures were followed.”
The Independent has contacted the school district and the mayor’s office for comment.
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