Every year, some former commissioners of the Boston Police Department gather before the holidays. They meet to chat about current trends in policing and what the future holds. This year, NBC10 Boston got a special invitation to their gathering at Prince Pizzeria in Saugus, Massachusetts. Journalists took the chance to discuss the troubling rise in shootings in New England.
Just recently, a gunman opened fire at Brown University on December 13, resulting in the deaths of Ella Cook and Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov. Nine others were injured during this attack. A couple of days later, the same gunman killed MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro at his home in Brookline, Massachusetts. His body was later discovered in Salem, New Hampshire.
Former commissioners Kathleen O’Toole, William Gross, and Bill Bratton highlighted the need for a thorough review of these incidents. “There are many questions about how school police, city police, and even the FBI responded,” Bratton said. “An after-action report is crucial. It helps us ask, ‘What can we do better next time?’
O’Toole added, “In policing, we know that another crisis is always on the horizon. We must learn from our mistakes.” Gross, who once commanded operations during the Boston Marathon bombings, stressed the importance of these reports for improving police strategies. “We need to figure out what worked and share those lessons with the team,” he said.
All former commissioners agreed that current Commissioner Michael Cox is steering the department effectively. They emphasized that Boston remains one of the safest cities in the U.S. According to a recent report from the FBI, Boston’s crime rate has dropped significantly over the past decade. This trend highlights the importance of consistent community policing and effective response strategies.
As policing strategies evolve, community involvement and training remain crucial. The recent surge in violence emphasizes the need for law enforcement to adapt and respond proactively. Engaging the community is part of that change. Residents feel safer when they are involved in crime prevention efforts and have open lines of communication with law enforcement.
In summary, as former commissioners reflect on past tragedies, they advocate for continued improvement in policing. Learning from the past can lead to a safer future.
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Boston, Boston Police Department, Brown University, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island
