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BOSTON
- Thursday, January 28, 2021 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the
appointment of Dennis White as the 43rd Commissioner of the Boston Police
Department (BPD), and the second African American to hold the role of
Police Commissioner. White, who is currently a Superintendent in the
department and Chief of Staff to the Commissioner, will assume the duties
and responsibilities of Commissioner William G. Gross, who is set to retire
from BPD on Friday, January 29, 2021.
"I
want to thank Commissioner Gross from the bottom of my heart for his 37
years of service to the Boston Police Department and for his two and a half
years leading the department as Commissioner. Throughout his decorated
career, he's always embodied the spirit of community policing that is so
important to building trust with the people we serve," said Mayor
Walsh. "Anyone who knows Willie can instantly feel his love for the
job and his passion for keeping communities safe. No matter the situation,
his warm smile, dedication, and love for meeting people made him uniquely
capable of taking on the toughest challenges."
"As
Boston's first Black Police Commissioner, Willie reflects the great
diversity of our city," added Mayor Walsh. "We can all be proud
of the legacy he'll leave behind, from reducing major crime to helping
undertake the most ambitious set of police reforms in the department's
history."
"It
has been an honor and a privilege to serve as Police Commissioner, leading
a department of hardworking men and women who serve this city day-in and
day-out, and put the safety and well-being of our community first,"
said Commissioner Gross. "They have shown time and again their
unwavering commitment to our residents, rising to the occasion during
moments of crisis, reaching out a helping hand to those in need, and
running towards danger in the name of public safety for all. I am immensely
proud of their performance under tremendous pressure. It is only after long
and careful consideration that I have made the decision to retire from my
role. My heart will always remain alongside my brothers and sisters of the
BPD, who over the course of my 37-year career have become my village. I
will continue to be one of their biggest champions as I move forward with
my next chapter."
As
of Friday, January 29, 2021, Superintendent White will serve as Acting
Commissioner until he is formally sworn in as Commissioner. A swearing in
ceremony will be announced in the coming days.
"Superintendent
White is a proven leader who is trusted and respected in the community and
by his colleagues in the Boston Police Department," said Mayor Walsh.
"I'm confident that Dennis will continue to advance the progress made
by Commissioner Gross, including implementing community-led recommendations
for police reform, while drawing on his own extensive career experience to
bring fresh ideas and innovative thinking to the department."
"The
women and men of the Boston Police Department have become my extended
family over the course of my three decades of service," said White.
"I want to thank Mayor Walsh for entrusting me with this incredible
opportunity and the responsibility of leading our historic department. To
the community and all the members of the Boston Police Department, I pledge
to uphold our mission of community policing each and every day. Serving as
Commissioner is the honor of a lifetime, and I will never take this sacred
duty for granted."
A
member of Mayor Walsh's Boston
Police Reform Task Force, Superintendent White is a seasoned veteran of
the police force, having served the community for 32 years. Prior to being
promoted to Chief of Staff to Commissioner Gross and to the rank of
Superintendent, White was a Deputy Superintendent in the Office of the
Superintendent-in-Chief and in the Bureau of Field Services Night Command.
As
Boston's first Black police commissioner who rose through the ranks of the
department, having joined as a cadet in 1983, Commissioner Gross appointed
and oversaw the most qualified and diverse command staff in the
department's history. Throughout his career, he has cultivated and
maintained a strong connection with the community, and has prioritized
community engagement as part of his community policing model. As Commissioner,
he established the first-ever
Bureau of Community Engagement at BPD, which is charged with overseeing
a citywide effort focused on building relationships and trust between law
enforcement and residents, creating new and innovative partnerships, and
promoting inclusion and diversity within the department. During Commissioner
Gross' tenure, part one crime, which includes the most serious offenses,
declined.
As
Police Commissioner, Gross worked to ensure that BPD lived up to the ideals
of community policing. He took steps to further accountability and
transparency at the department, including completing a review of Boston
Police's policies against the recommended use of force policies outlined in
the "8
Can't Wait" effort, resulting in clarified rules and the
implementation of several reforms. Under his leadership, BPD has issued
body-worn cameras to more than half of the department, and the program
continues to expand to cover more officers.
Previous
Police Commissioners Gross and Evans started as police cadets. After the
cadet program was suspended in 2009 for financial reasons, Mayor
Walsh reinstated the program in 2015 as a way to diversify the force
and create a pipeline for Boston residents seeking a career in law
enforcement. The cadet program is a 2-year apprenticeship designed for
Boston residents between the ages of 18-24 interested in joining the ranks
of one of the most storied and professional police departments in the
county.
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