Boston Police Department Boston, MA Police Commissioner
The City of Boston is seeking a proven transformational leader to serve as the city’s Police Commissioner. We are conducting this search during the continued transformation of policing following the unjust killings of Michael Brown, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others– and the ensuing demands for racial and social justice. We are seeking a leader who can lead the City’s police department in this new era for public safety. The person chosen for this position must possess the ability to inspire the confidence and trust of Boston’s diverse communities and the Department’s staff of 2,800+ police officers and civilian employees. The person chosen for this position must also demonstrate a commitment to innovative, evidence-based public safety strategies. They will set meaningful standards of accountability, transparency, and excellence that directly confront and mitigate systemic issues of racial bias in policing. As the state capital of Massachusetts and the cultural and economic capital of New England, Boston has been the home to many firsts in our country: the first public school, the first public subway system, and the first municipal police department. As a unique and historic urban community of more than 675,000 residents, Boston remains the hub of the 10th-largest metropolitan area in the country, an area defined by its innovation-driven economy, path-breaking educational institutions, and cultural and artistic energy. Spanning more than 48 square miles, Boston is home to many culturally, socially, racially, and economically diverse neighborhoods, including historic Black communities and rapidly growing immigrant communities–thirty-seven percent of our residents speak a native language other than English. We are seeking a leader who is prepared to lead the Department into our City’s vibrant future, in a way that meets the needs of this broad community–a leader who brings an enthusiasm to meeting this moment to reimagine policing. The Boston Police Department was founded in 1854 and fulfills the primary responsibility of law enforcement in the City of Boston. In FY22, the Department had a budget of $399 million and 2,800+ uniformed officers and civilian employees. The successful candidate will have a proven record of implementing community-centered, reform-focused, innovative solutions to advance public safety. They will possess the necessary management skills to confront and address issues and practices of inequity and discrimination, and to implement reforms. The successful candidate will also demonstrate the ability to build long-lasting, positive relationships with racially and culturally diverse communities of Boston through community engagement. Community members should know the Commissioner and look to them as a person of deep integrity, a trustworthy steward of safety and security in their neighborhoods, and a fellow community member invested in the present and future of Boston. Finally, the successful candidate will be an exceptional custodian of the Department’s financial resources and will leverage their considerable financial power to support alternative approaches and strategies for public safety, ultimately reducing the incidence of violence in our communities. The next Police Commissioner must possess:
The position requires a four-year college degree, progressively responsible command-level experience in policing in an urban community, and knowledge of best practices in policing. A graduate-level degree and executive leadership training would be an asset. We are open to candidates from non-traditional backgrounds, including candidates with reform-centered leadership experience and/or backgrounds in public health or government settings on the municipal, state, or national level. The City of Boston offers a competitive salary and fringe benefits package that is negotiable depending on candidate qualifications. The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) is assisting the city in the selection process. Please contact Rebecca Neuburger at (202)997-6287 or [email protected] with questions. Qualified candidates should apply by May 13, 2022 with cover letter, résumé, and a list of five references in confidence to: [email protected].
The City of Boston is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply. |