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BOSTON - Tuesday, April
13, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey announced at a press conference this afternoon
that Stephanie Everett will serve as the Executive Director of the newly
created Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT). Everett,
an attorney who currently runs her own private practice specializing in
criminal, care and protection, residential real estate, and business
formation matters, will lead the office charged with implementing an
ambitious set of community-driven reforms to policing in Boston. OPAT, the
signature recommendation of the Boston Police Reform Task Force, creates a single point of public access
to a new standard in police accountability and community oversight.
Everett’s office will house and support the newly created Civilian Review Board and the Internal Affairs Oversight Panel, which strengthens the existing Community
Ombudsman Oversight Panel. OPAT collectively holds subpoena power for the
review board and oversight panel. Everett will begin her role as
Executive Director of OPAT on April 27.
“As Mayor, I’m
committed to safety, healing and justice, in every Boston neighborhood,”
said Mayor Janey. “That starts with trust. Transparency and
accountability are foundational values when it comes to fostering trust.
This is especially true for law enforcement. That’s why my administration
is doubling down on our work to stand up the Boston Office of Police
Accountability and Transparency. And today, I’m proud to announce its
first leader, attorney Stephanie Everett, as Executive Director of the
Office of Police Accountability and Transparency.”
Joined at the
event by Superintendent-in-Chief Greg Long of the Boston Police
Department, Mayor Janey highlighted that her budget proposal for the
coming fiscal year, which will be presented to the Boston City Council at
an event tomorrow morning, includes a $1 million investment to establish
OPAT. Everett, who will report directly to Mayor Janey in her new role,
will be responsible for hiring and managing a nine-member staff to help carry
out the work of the Civilian Review Board and Internal Affairs Oversight
Panel. In addition to staffing, the proposed funding in the fiscal year
2022 budget will be used for technology support to create public safety
dashboards and to address other technical needs of OPAT.
“I have spent my
entire career fighting to give voice to those who are underrepresented,
and that’s exactly how I’ll approach my work as the Executive Director of
OPAT,” said Everett. “I have tremendous respect for our police officers
who carry out their duties with integrity, compassion and empathy for the
people they serve. Ensuring that those values are the standard across the
entire force and that any misconduct is brought to light and handled
appropriately is OPAT’s charge. I look forward to working with Mayor
Janey, the Boston Police and the community to bring about necessary
reforms and enhance public trust and confidence.”
One of OPAT’s first
tasks will be to conduct a review of disgraced former Boston Police
Officer Patrick Rose’s internal affairs files from 1995. Despite criminal
charges being dropped at the time, a BPD internal affairs investigation
found credible evidence that Rose had sexually assaulted a 12-year-old
child. However, it is unclear whether Rose faced any discipline as a
result of the internal findings, and he was allowed to remain on the
force for over two decades, eventually becoming the president of the
Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association. OPAT’s review of the matter is
intended to uncover and remedy shortcomings in BPD’s internal affairs
process so that such egregious errors are prevented in the future.
“I was heartbroken
and angry to learn there was no effort to keep Rose from coming into
contact with minors after serious charges were found credible by BPD’s
own internal affairs probe in 1995,” said Mayor Janey. “The likes of
Patrick Rose will not be protected on my watch, and those who are
complicit in abuses of power will be held to account.”
Everett enters her
new role with broad experience as a lawyer and community advocate. Prior
to practicing law, Everett devoted her professional career to public
service and ensuring equal access to state and local resources,
especially for underserved communities. Her past roles include serving as
chief of staff at the Massachusetts Department of Transitional
Assistance, deputy chief of staff to State Senator Sonia Chang-Diaz, and
manager for public safety at the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
Everett has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a rising star and by
Lawyers Weekly as a Top Woman of Law. She resides in Mattapan with her
husband and children.
Mayor Janey
emphasized that policing reforms are at the heart of Boston’s path to
safety, healing and justice. The Mayor’s fiscal year 2022 budget will
dramatically reduce overtime spending by an estimated $21 million, a 33
percent reduction compared to the current fiscal year spending level,
through a three-pronged strategy. The first step is to expand the police
force with 30 additional officers. Two, 125-member recruit classes are
budgeted to help compensate for retiring officers. Secondly, the number
of cadet recruits will be increased by 50 percent, from 40 to 60, in an
effort to further enhance the diversity of the force. Finally, the budget
increases funding for BPD’s Medical Triage Unit and clinicians who will
help get inactive officers back to work or off the payroll.
The Janey
administration is committed to reimagining policing with new ideas and
fresh approaches. Mayor Janey announced a new effort to amplify the role
of mental health clinicians in responding to mental health calls that
police officers often handle. The Mayor also underscored the value of
safe and stable housing as a source of justice for victims of violence.
Boston’s Chief of Housing, Sheila Dillon, will be charged with developing
supports to safely relocate families that have been impacted by homicide. |
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