American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors

ASCLD Grants Accreditation to the Boston Police Department Latent Print Unit

Garner, North Carolina – October 22, 2009 – The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors / Laboratory Accreditation Board (ASCLD) are pleased to announce that ASCLD accreditation has been granted to the Boston Police Department Latent Print Unit.

The accreditation was granted during ASCLD Board of Directors meeting on October 15, 2009. ASCLD has accredited nearly 400 crime laboratories since the program’s inception in 1981. Accreditation is granted only after a thorough evaluation of a laboratory’s management practices, personnel qualifications, technical procedures, quality assurance program and facilities. Accreditation is the result of extensive commitment of resources and much preparation by the management and personnel in the Boston Police Latent Print Unit.

Latent print Director Jennifer Hannaford is commended for leading the Unit through the process of preparing for and achieving accreditation in this program. The Boston Police Latent Print Unit staff has worked diligently over the past three years to prepare for and achieve accreditation. They were instrumental in demonstrating compliance and competence to ASCLD assessors during on-site assessments of the Unit. ASCLD congratulates all employees of the Boston police Latent Print Unit for their success in achieving this milestone.

Further information about ASCLD / Lab program is available at www.ascld-lab.org or by calling 919-773-2600.

Posted by Media Relations at 01:49 PM | Permalink

St. Patrick’s Day festivities are an exciting time for the City of Boston. It is always an atmosphere of festivity throughout the City for residents and guests. Mayor Menino and Commissioner Davis would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to celebrate responsibly to ensure a safe and trouble free environment.

Throughout the holiday weekend, the Boston Police Department will be taking steps to increase patrols, focusing not only on the parade route and calls for service, but also at drinking establishments. Our priority will be to ensure the safety of our community. Our intent is to encourage people to celebrate responsibly and while strictly adhering to all alcohol laws. We will not allow a few excessive revelers to ruin the festivities for those individuals celebrating responsibly.

Officers are working cooperatively with liquor establishments to be sure alcohol laws are strictly enforced. Detectives will be conducting walk-throughs of area bars to ensure compliance. Also remember that public drinking will not be tolerated.

Please be aware that parking along the parade route will be limited. Individuals are reminded to be mindful of street signs and to follow parking instructions.

Taxis and public transportation offer inexpensive and smart alternatives to drinking and driving. Please take advantage of them. A designated driver is also a smart alternative. DUI enforcement will be a priority and we will have officers on duty specifically focused on this effort. Do not ruin your celebration by hurting yourself or others.

It is our hope that residents and guests alike will enjoy themselves this St. Patrick’s Day. We expect that the City will be peaceful and without incident. Have fun and be safe!

Posted by Media Relations at 12:12 PM | Permalink

I would like to take this opportunity to recognize the outstanding job that has been done by members of this department. The men and women of the Boston Police Department continue to work extremely hard to keep this city safe. You have been ceaseless in your efforts to reduce crime and engage in true partnerships with key stakeholders in our neighborhoods.

Your work has earned the department an international reputation for its commitment to Community Policing. As I said at my swearing in, one of my goals is to build upon this commitment. Community Policing is a department-wide philosophy, not simply a strategy or unit within a department. In order for us to continue to be successful, we must be organized in such a way that the entire agency supports this philosophy.

The patrol force is the backbone of this organization. As Police Commissioner, it is my responsibility to put in place a command and accountability structure that supports this commitment to our patrol force. It is also my responsibility to ensure that every police officer- patrol officer, detectives, rapid response units, special operations units and their superiors- all operate with a Community Policing philosophy that focuses more on the prevention of crime than it does on the rapid response to it.

The Boston Police Department will soon implement a COMPSTAT process. COMPSTAT is a command and accountability system where the department commanders review crime patterns. The Boston Police COMPSTAT process will be a bi-weekly meeting among commanders and external partners, who will focus on geographical accountability coupled with intelligence-driven deployment. The goal of this process is to provide oversight to facilitate the effective deployment of resources, to create geographic accountability and to enhance cooperation and communication department-wide.

The department is making the following organizational changes to support the successful implementation of COMPSTAT and geographic-based policing.

• Captains will be responsible for developing strategies to address crime and quality of life issues specific to their geographic command.

• Captains will be assisted by one of three Deputy Superintendents tasked with prioritizing and allocating resources within a newly zoned area. Each Deputy will be responsible for one of three geographic zones. The new zones are as follows:

  Zone 1: District A1, A15, A7, D4 and D14
  Zone 2: B2, B3, C6 and C11
  Zone 3: E5, E13 and E18

• As recognition that the Youth Violence Strike Force (YVSF) and the Boston Police School Police Unit are fundamentally patrol resources, both units will be moved from the Bureau of Investigative Services to the Bureau of Field Services.
  

  The Youth Violence Strike Force will be located at 170 Hancock Street in Dorchester. They will report to a Deputy Superintendent. Utilizing tactics proven successful in the past, YVSF officers will conduct operations at the discretion of their commander. They will assist with visibility and proactive strategies to reduce gang violence.

  
  

  Boston Police School Police Unit will continue to operate from their present location at Latin Academy. All patrol officers of this unit will now report in uniform.
  

  
  
• District detectives will now be working under a central authority to coordinate a unified investigative response. The District detectives will be moved from their current location in the Bureau of Field Services and will be placed under the administrative command of the Bureau of Investigative Services. District detectives will maintain an operational responsibility to the District Captains.

• The Tactical Mountain Bike Unit will transfer from Special Operations and will report to a Deputy Superintendent under the Bureau of Field Services. The Mountain Bike Unit will be housed at 170 Hancock Street in Dorchester. This unit will be deployed in various patrol assignments.

• The Bureau of Internal Investigations and the Bureau of Professional Development will be combined to create the Bureau of Professional Standards and Development. This reflects the reality that training is vital to all aspects of Community Policing. In addition, a review of citizen complaints against officers indicated that many of the issues identified could be mitigated with training that is designed to prevent misconduct.

  The Bureau of Professional Standards and Development will come under the command of Superintendent Robert Harrington. Deputy Superintendent Marie Donahue will be assigned to the Training & Education Division as Academy Commander.

• Drug Control Unit resources will be reallocated so that each District will have dedicated DCU personnel.

• Lastly, disorder control is a fundamental component of Community Policing. Captains are expected to place an emphasis on the individual needs of each neighborhood. To assist them with this requirement, I have appointed Deputy Superintendent Gladys Gaines to serve as a Liaison between the department and City Hall to focus exclusively on issues of neighborhood services and to lead the department’s response to the complex issue of homelessness.

By reaffirming our commitment to Community Policing and structuring our agency so it supports this mission at every level, we are giving this department the foundation it needs to drive down violent crime, adapt to emerging crime trends with innovative programs and make our city safe.

Ed Davis, Commissioner

Posted by Media Relations at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Yesterday, we posted an item about Ajax, a BPD Canine who responded to a report of a breaking and entering and successfully apprehended the suspect. Today, one of the daily newspapers provides some more details about Ajax and his collar.. .

"A Boston police rookie with four legs and a fully-loaded nose took down a one-man crime spree when he chased a notorious thief up a 100-foot chimney shaft, winning praise as an up-and-coming K9. Ajax, a 1 -year-old German shepherd who joined the BPD’s K-9 unit in October, is credited with capturing lifetime hoodlum Lance Smith in Mission Hill."

Via the Boston Herald

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 09:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This past Saturday members of the Boston Police Mounted unit participated in the 95th Annual Christmas for Horses event, sponsored by the Animal Rescue League of Boston. As horses from the Boston Police, the Boston Park Rangers, and the MA State Police lined up in front of Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Santa Claus arrived by sleigh and began handing out special treats to the horses (no word if he brought anything for their riders). Afterwards, the horses remained on scene so that members of the public could to meet the horses and their riders, and take photos with the horses.

View a Photo Gallery of the event from the Animal Rescue League

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 09:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In what is becoming an annual tradition, the Boston Police Department installed a Giving Tree in the 4th floor hallway of Boston Police Headquarters.

From the story of the giving tree:

“Their stories are heartbreaking; there are children with physical and mental handicaps, several this year have cancer, and we were given the names of several homeless children/families. Many of these children have parents who are ill or suffering from addiction, most are single parent families. Some have little to eat and wear the same thread born clothes day after day. The names of these less fortunate children have been provided by the Youth Service Officers at every district. If you could find it in your heart to help provide an article of warm clothing for one of these children who are not so fortunate, it would be deeply appreciated.”

Hung on the tree were dozens of paper ornaments, each listing the name and clothing sizes of a child. Dept members were invited to take one of these tags from the tree, and replace it with a wrapped present for the child.

As the above photo shows, the tree was soon surrounded by presents. The photo was taken last week. By yesterday afternoon, there were even more presents. In this Globe photo, officers are shown stacking some of the many gifts that were left under the tree. The presents will be delivered before Christmas.

The giving tree was highlighted in an article in today’s Boston Globe:

"Youth service officers from the Boston Police Department prepared to deliver an estimated 500 donated gifts to needy children yesterday. Along with other department employees, they participated in the "Giving Tree" program by plucking paper ornaments describing a child's age, specific needs, and clothing size from a 10-foot-tall tree.

...Captain Genevieve King said the program, launched last year, is helped by community agencies such as the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. Community organizations and youth service officers work together to identify the city's most impoverished children.

Thank you to Annie Wilcox, the Bureau of Field Services, and the Youth Services Officers for another successful giving Tree, and to everyone who donated.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Thursday, November 30, thru 10 AM Friday, December 1 2006.

(See our Daily Incident summaries and earlier postings for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 1
Non-fatal Stabbings: 2

Street Robberies: 6
Commercial Robberies: 1
Other: 1 (Home Invasion)

Vehicle thefts: 10. One half ocurred in District 4.
Vehicle recoveries. 6
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 15

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We’d like to extend a warm welcome to the Boston Public School System’s new blog,

The official blog of the Boston Public Scholl system, the BPS blog “provides news, events, and other information about the Boston Public Schools, the nation's first public school system, founded in 1647.”

Launched in October, the School System’s Blog becomes the 3rd municipal blog (that we know of, any way) launched in Boston. (The others being this site and our Boston crime watch site.)

Know of any other municipal blogs that have been launched in the last few months, either in Boston or elsewhere? If so, let us know via our Comments area. We’d love to hear about them.

Thanks to Universal Hub for pointing us towards the blog.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, November 28, thru 10 AM Wednesday, November 29 2006.

(See our Daily Incident summaries and earlier postings for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 1
Non-fatal Shootings: 1
Non-fatal Stabbings: 1

Vehicle thefts: 3. One attempted.
Vehicle recoveries. 11
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 23. One arrest. One fourth occurred in District C-6.

Residential break-ins: 12
Commercial Break-ins: 6

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Monday, November 27, thru 10 AM Tuesday, November 28 2006.

(See our Daily Incident summaries and earlier postings for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 0

Vehicle thefts: 13. One attempted, four arrests in three incidents.
Vehicle recoveries. 2
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 7.

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Below is a transcript of today's Q and A with Captain William Evans, Commander of District 4 (South End and Back Bay) regarding the increased Boston Police patrols on Newbury street.

QUESTION ONE: If I could ask you, sir, when those patrols start, and could you just give us an idea a little bit of the numbers in terms of if there's 1 or 2 extra officers per tour?

ANSWER: Newbury Street we’ve had covered for some time, we’ve had officers full time on Newbury. With the holidays we’ve increased the patrols. Double, sometimes triple, just because we do that every year. I think anywhere you look, the shopping areas around the city - Mayor Menino, the Police Commissioner have put extra patrols out there. You see them at Downtown Crossing, you'll see them on Newbury St, and you’ll see them on Boylston St.

We realize that people want to see the officers out there, realize that shopliftings do go up, so we do proactively put patrols out there. Anywhere there’s a busy shopping area, you’ll see an increase in patrols. It’s not a reaction to an increase in crime, its done every year.

QUESTION TWO: Captain, can you give us some indication if you’ve had communication with the business owners on Newbury St, are they expressing any concerns about an increase in activity

ANSWER: No, they really haven’t; I want to say about a month or two, we did have a rash of larcenies, and we had a robbery or two at the sunglass place down there, but we’ve proactively reached out to them. I know myself and Councilor Ross walked up and down Newbury St. about a month ago, reassuring all the businesses that, you know, we have a continued presence down there. We have a day walking officer, we have a night walking officer, so I think there’s this perception out there that things have been getting worse down there, but its just not true, you know.

We’re seeing the statistics, and the shopkeepers for the most part were very happy. The night walking officer was something that we put into effect about 2 months ago, and they were thrilled that they had both day and nite coverage down there. They seem to be very happy.

QUESTION THREE: Is there anything that you think the store owners themselves can do to try and perhaps protect themselves against this kind of thing?

ANSWER Well, I think, again, with the holiday season, it’s a busy time, the stores are more crowded, I think they proactively have to keep an eye on who’s coming into their store, and if there’s any hint that maybe they’re up to no good reach out, call 911. I think I stressed that when I met with them a month ago, that if they see someone come into the store that just doesn’t fit, don't hesitate to call us. I mean, obviously I think having an extra sales person or 2 might help, because unfortunately a lot of shops down there, I think hire some young females to work the shop. Having, maybe, 1 or 2 store clerks won’t hurt. ... (unable to be heard) So there's some things they can do more.

QUESTION FOUR: So, the 4 commercial burglaries and 1 robbery that occurred: That’s not any sort of up tick at all, compared to the 2 months prior to that?

ANSWER No. In fact, I would say that things have calmed down. I think we had a little bit of a robbery pattern back in October, September, when we had a few stores that –actually, what happened was there was a shoplifting, basically, where the employee confronted the shoplifter and they might have gotten pushed- that turned it into a robbery. But we’ve had no serious incidents down there for the most part where, you know, it’s just a matter of shoplifting cases gone bad and it turns into a robbery. I would say over the last month or two, our statistics show things have gotten quieter.

QUESTION FIVE: Captain- can you confirm that these new patrols have already started? We were down on Newbury St. for about 3 hours today, saw one officer. Is it more beefed up at nite? Has it already started? Is it being phased in?

ANSWER: We have an officer down there - I don’t want to give the times, but down there full time. They should be down there and we have 2 pretty much covering the length of Newbury St. On days, on 1st halfs, so they should be out there. Newbury St.’s very busy, they’re dealing with a lot of issues down there, they’re taking reports, they’re tagging vehicles, so it's understandable that you're not going to see them all the time. They’re in and out of the stores, they’re visiting the merchants, so, you know, we try to make them as visible as possible. That being said, you’re not going to see them all the time

QUESTION SIX: Is the night patrol permanent?

ANSWER: Yes.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today Boston Police announce that they have increased patrols to Newbury Street and the surrounding areas as a proactive public safety measure throughout the busy holiday season. Patrols include holiday walking beats, directed patrols and additional coordination with specialized units and plain-clothes officers. In addition, one mounted unit will also be on patrol throughout the neighborhood.

It is important to note that despite recent news reports, the Boston Police have not detected an increase in the number of robberies or break-ins in the area. It is not unusual during the holiday season to experience an increase in shoplifting incidents. In an effort to deter those incidents from occurring, the Boston Police have assigned additional units, which include undercover efforts to address this issue. Since October 1, 2006, there has been one reported incident of an armed robbery and the suspect responsible has been apprehended. Since October 9, 2006, there have been four confirmed Breaking and Entering incidents.

Continue reading "BOSTON POLICE INCREASE PATROLS ON NEWBURY STREET" »

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

The holidays are a special and joyous time of year. It is also a time when individuals need to be alert to the possibility of crime. The Boston Police Department encourages individuals to take simple precautions to ensure a happy and safe holiday.

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can easily create a distraction for people. However during this festive time, it is important to pay special attention to the things going on around you. The holiday season is considered peak season for burglars, pickpockets and shoplifters.

Don’t let the spirit of giving lull you into giving burglars and pickpockets a chance to dampen your holiday spirit. Thieves love the holidays as much as everyone else, especially because it’s an opportune time for crime.

The Boston Police Department believes you can never be too careful, too prepared or too aware. Please share these safety tips with your family, friends and neighbors. We ask you to remember these simple safety precautions and enjoy excitement of a safe and happy holiday.

The new downloadable pamphlet provides some tips on how to celebrate safely this holiday season, including:

• If You Are Traveling
  
• If You Are Out for the Evening
  
• If You Are Hosting a Party
  
• If You Are Attending a Party
  
• Protecting Your Vehicle
  
• If You Are Shopping
  
• Take a Holiday Inventory
  
• Celebrate Responsibly

Download the safety tips now . (PDF file.)

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A look at the last 72 hours in Boston, from Friday, Nov. 24 through 10 A.M. Monday, Nov. 27, 2006

(See recent Daily Incident summaries and earlier postings for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 1

Street Robberies: 14
Commercial Robberies: 3
Other: 2 (Home invasions)

Vehicle thefts: 14. Four attempts and three arrests.
Vehicle recoveries. 24
Larceny from Motor Vehicle (motor-vehicle breaks): 42. One arrest.

Residential break-ins: 32
Commercial Break-ins: 6

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Yesterday, students at Monument High School in South Boston helped police remind everyone using our roadways this holiday weekend to drive safely and buckle up. Eight people were killed on Massachusetts roadways during the four-day Thanksgiving holiday period in 2005. In an effort prevent a repeat of those numbers this weekend, the students and police gathered at the school to spread the message that Buckling up is quick and easy, as well as state law.

The event highlighted several public safety efforts to keep holiday travelers safer, including a two-week “Click It or Ticket” Mobilization that runs through November 26th.

In a “Quick-Click-Buckle-Up Challenge,” teams of four Monument High School students competed to be the fastest at buckling up in all four seating positions of a car.

View the MA State Police press release (PDF file)

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 01:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of T. William Fitzgerald Jr., longtime President of the Boston Police Foundation. Mr. Fitzgerald passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2006. He has served as Foundation President since 1994, and was responsible for oversight of the Foundation’s efforts to support community policing initiatives. During his tenure as President, the Foundation placed an emphasis on youth-based initiatives. Prior to serving on the Foundaiton, Mr. Fitzgerald funded the first bicycle patrol unit out of Area A, when he was the President of the Downtown Crossing Association. Bill and his wife Barbara demonstrated a commitment to the Boston Police Department, its officers, and the communities that was remarkable and will be remembered.

For obituary, directions, or guest book please visit www.deefuneralhome.com

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of Mr. Fitzgerald at this difficult time.

- Commissioner Albert Goslin

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 09:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, November 14, thru 10 AM Wednesday, November 15 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 0

Street Robberies: 6
Commercial Robberies: 1
Other: 1 (Delivery driver. Arrest made.)

Vehicle thefts: 7
Vehicle recoveries. 6
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 11

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Monday, November 13 thru 10 AM Tuesday, November 14 2006.

(See today’s Daily Incident summary and earlier postings for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 0

Street Robberies: 4
Commercial Robberies: 1 (Gas station)
Other: 2 (One carjacking and one home invasion)

Vehicle thefts: 9
Vehicle recoveries. 5
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 15

Residential break-ins: 11
Commercial Break-ins: 6

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

A message from a Manchester, NH police officer, received via the BPD Web site on Cityofboston.gov.

"To whom it may concern, As a police officer in Manchester NH I wish to thank your agency for the extensive help and support that you have given the MPD regarding the murder of Officer Mike Briggs. From the capture of the accused to your kinds words today 11/6 in Dorchester Dist Ct to your help escorting us home. You have been compassionate, kind and extremely professional. From all of us at the MPD and from Mike Briggs.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH."

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Sunday, October 15, 2006, more than 1,0000 runners participated in the 25th (and final) Annual Boston Police Chase. Photos of virtually every runner who participated are available for viewing, via 511 Challenge.com, who agreed to host the photos.

View the photos.

Or if you ran the race, go to the main race page to search for your photo

This year’s Police Chase, sponsored by Liberty Mutual, the 113th Annual IACP Conference and Law Enforcement Education and Technology Exposition and the Boston Police Runner’s Club, benefited the Boston Police Department's Kids at Risk Program. The Police Chase was a great success, and thank you again to all the runners who participated, and to all sponsors and support staff.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As press reports today indicated, I recently initiated a routine audit of the central drug depository due to the sheer scope and volume of the evidence maintained there. The audit revealed some discrepancies, which caused me concern. I have since requested that the Superintendent of the Bureau of Internal Investigations, Robert Harrington, utilize the Boston Police Anti-Corruption Unit to commence a full and thorough investigation of the inventory. This investigation is in its preliminary stages as there is an extensive amount of information to review. At this time, I will not compromise the integrity of the investigation by engaging in speculation related to its outcome. The department will go where the evidence takes us and the findings will be presented upon completion. If misconduct is discovered, it will be dealt with swiftly, forcefully and aggressively.

As Acting Police Commissioner and former Superintendent of the Bureau of Internal Investigations, I embrace and encourage the necessity of an effective internal investigative function. A department dedicated to preventing and when necessary uncovering intentional police misconduct is crucial to the establishment of an effective, credible and trustworthy police force. This department will not stand for officers who undermine public confidence at the expense of the many who do their jobs courageously every single day. The Boston Police Department is steadfast in ensuring that ‘police’ and ‘integrity’ are synonymous terms.

– Acting Police Commissioner Albert E. Goslin

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Wednesday, October 25 thru 10 AM Thursday, October 26 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 1

Street Robberies: 3
Commercial Robberies: 0
Other: 1 (residential)

Vehicle thefts: 6
Vehicle recoveries. 7
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 22

Residential break-ins: 11
Commercial Break-ins: 6

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, October 24 thru 10 AM Wednesday, October 25 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 2 (Three victims)

Street Robberies: 9
Commercial Robberies: 3
Other: 1 (residence)

Vehicle thefts: 9
Vehicle recoveries. 18
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 14

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A tally of some of the more violent encounters experienced by Boston Police officers in recent months.

"During the first nine months of this year alone, 93 Boston police officers were assaulted - including six who were confronted by men armed with fully loaded weapons, according to department stats. Two were cut by sharp objects. A total of 50 were assaulted by weapons other than guns. And 35 cops were beaten up during arrests. Just this weekend, an officer working a detail on Chatham Street was punched in the face by a Lowell man allegedly intent on carrying on with the fisticuffs he was engaged in. Via The Boston Herald

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Monday, October 23 thru 10 AM Tuesday, October 24 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 2

Street Robberies: 4
Commercial Robberies: 0
Other: 3 (involving 1 bar, 1 residence, and 1 taxi)

Vehicle thefts: 5
Vehicle recoveries. 11
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 13

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

A look at the last 72 hours in Boston, from Friday, Oct. 20 through 10 A.M. Monday, Oct. 23, 2006

Homicides: 1

Street Robberies: 16
Commercial Robberies: 2
Other: 1. (Home Invasion)

Auto thefts: 21. Seven people arrested in 4 incidents
Auto recoveries. 20
Larceny from Motor Vehicle (motor-vehicle breaks): 59

Residential break-ins: 25
Commercial Break-ins: 7

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 01:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Wednesday, October 18 thru 10 AM Thursday, October 19 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 2

Residential break-ins: 19
Commercial Break-ins: 4

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, October 17 thru 10 AM Wednesday, October 18 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 0

Street Robberies: 1
Commercial Robberies: 2
Other: 2 (school incident and residential incident)

Vehicle thefts: 8
Vehicle recoveries. 11
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 20

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Annual George Hanna Awards Ceremony held at State House.

At a State House Ceremony today, more than 20 Boston Police Officers were among 53 police officers from across the Commonwealth who were recognized for acts of bravery and exemplary service during the past year. (View the full press release from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts)

Among the recipients were 4 Boston Police Officers who received the George L. Hanna Medal of Honor, the state’s highest award for bravery. An additional twenty officers were recognized with either Valor or Merit Awards.

The Boston Police Department proudly congratulates the following recipients:

Continue reading "Boston Police Officers Recognized for Bravery" »

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 04:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, October 3 thru 10 AM Wednesday, October 4 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 0

Residential break-ins: 8
Commercial Break-ins: 5

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

5,000 Firearm Safety Locks To Be Distributed Locally

Today Mayor Thomas M. Menino, in conjunction with Acting Boston Police Commissioner Albert E. Goslin is pleased to announce that the Boston Police Department will manage the distribution of free gun safety locks to local residents through a partnership with Project ChildSafe, the nationwide firearms safety education program. The gunlocks will be available starting tomorrow at all 11 Boston Police district stations as well as through the Licensing Unit at Boston Police Headquarters.

Project ChildSafe is an important step forward in helping ensure that all firearm owners fully understand their responsibilities with respect to the safe handling and storage of firearms. The gunlocks provided are cable-style and fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The goal is to prevent a child or any other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in your home.

Mayor Menino stated, “As Mayor, and as a grandfather, I know that nothing is more important than the safety and well being of our children,” Mayor Menino added, “Today I am proud to announce that Project Childsafe, a nationwide firearm safety education program, has provided the Boston Police Department with 5 thousand free safety locks. The locks will be distributed to gun owners “No Questions Asked” at district police stations throughout the city.”

By partnering with Project ChildSafe, the City of Boston is participating in a growing national effort to promote firearms safety education to all gun owners. It is important to note that over 40% of homes where children live have a gun, and many of those guns are locked and unloaded.

“We encourage residents to pick up a Project ChildSafe safety kit so that they can securely store their firearm,” said Acting Commissioner Goslin. “I am here today as a police officer, father and grandfather telling all of you that just talking to your children about the dangers of firearms is not enough. Children are naturally curious. If a gun is accessible in someone’s home, there is a good chance a child will find it and play with it.”

Mayor Menino, through his Strategic Crime Council, continues to launch an aggressive and innovative programs designed to educate and create awareness around firearm-related issues. The distribution of free gunlocks is just one of the many initiatives that have resulted from the mayor’s campaign against gun violence.

Project ChildSafe, a program developed by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), will distribute millions of firearm safety kits throughout the country over the next year. The program is funded by a U.S. Department of Justice grant, with additional funding provided by the firearms industry.

Today Mayor Menino provided several key steps that parents with guns in the home can take to protect their children:

• Unload your guns and keep them in a locked, secure place out of the reach of children.

• Lock your ammunition in a separate location, and keep the keys and combination in a secure place.

• And tell your kids: If they come across a gun, don’t touch it. Leave the area immediately. And tell an adult.

Mayor Menino concluded, “It’s tempting for parents to dismiss this issue by thinking, ‘I don’t need to worry about gun safety because I don’t keep a gun in my home.’ But what happens when your child goes over to a friend’s house to play? Does that household have an unlocked gun? It’s crucial that parents inquire about firearm safety in the households that their children are visiting.”

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 01:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, Wednesday 27 thru 10 AM Thursday, September 28 2006.

(See today’s Daily Incident summary for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 0

Residential break-ins: 4
Commercial Break-ins: 1

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Robert M. Barry (DOB 11/24/63) robbed the Century Bank on 300 Western Avenue at 11:00AM on September 14, 2006. Barry has now turned his attention to robbing retail stores with the use of a knife.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 05:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, Wednesday 27 thru 10 AM Thursday, September 28 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 1
Non-fatal Stabbings: 1

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Boston Police Officer has been charged today with violating the rights of an unnamed female victim.

It is not unreasonable to expect that in a department this size – one of the 50 largest local Police Departments in America - there will be a few bad apples, a few officers who choose not to live up to the ideals of professionalism, service, and integrity that have been established over the past 152 years of this Department.

While this is to be expected, that does not mean that it has to be tolerated. I hold my officers to a higher standard than that of the general population. We consider any form of corruption to be repugnant, and a disgrace to the badge that so many officers have worked so hard to earn.

When we are made aware of any potential instances of corruption or police misconduct, we will aggressively pursue the investigation and go where the evidence takes us. Boston Police investigators have worked, and will continue to work with, our law enforcement partners such as the FBI and the US Attorney’s Office. Our willingness to investigate these matters underscores our dedication to integrity and service to the community.

Intentional police misconduct will not be tolerated. We will not allow a criminal to hide behind the badge. Officer Michael LoPriore has been placed on administrative leave, pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.

View the press release (PDF document)

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Monday, September 25 thru 10 AM Tuesday, September 26 2006.

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 2
Non-fatal Stabbings: 2

Street Robberies: 3
Commercial Robberies: 2
Other: 1 (bank).

Vehicle thefts: 16.
Vehicle recoveries. 5
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 17

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A look at the last 72 hours in Boston, from Friday, Sept. 22 through 10 A.M. Monday, Sept. 25, 2006

(See the previous Daily Incident summaries for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 0

Non-fatal Stabbings: 8. Seven incidents resulting in 8 people stabbed.

Street Robberies: 22
Commercial Robberies: 1
Other: 1 (Home invasion)

Auto thefts: 25. Two attempted thefts
Auto recoveries. 34
Larceny from Motor Vehicle (motor-vehicle breaks): 68.

Residential break-ins: 26
Commercial Break-ins: 9

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Boston police and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office are seeking help in identifying a woman whose body was found last year in the chimney of a Dorchester building in hopes that someone might recognize her description. The woman’s remains were found by workmen at 17-19 Winter Street on Oct. 14. This case was profiled on the America’s Most Wanted television program this past Saturday. Anyone with knowledge of the woman’s identity is urged to call the Boston Police Department Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 .

Below is a video of a digital reconstruction of the victim, showing what she may have looked like at the time of her death.

If you cannot view the video, there are individual images available for viewing. Download file
(PDF file)

Continue reading "Public’s Help Sought In Identification Of Homicide Victim" »

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

One of the more consistent concerns that we hear from City residents is the fear of burglaries. The Boston Herald today ran a story highlighting some of the more recent burglaries in the city. The Boston Globe also recently ran a story highlighting the fact that the number of burglaries has decreased so far in 2006. Both stories are noteworthy for the attention they bring to what is ultimately a very preventable crime. As noted in one of the above stories, enhanced vigilance by residents is a factor in reducing the number of residential burglaries.

This is especially important in the fall, when thousands of newly-arrived students move into the city. Many of these students are not used to living in a large city where it is necessary to lock their apartment doors and windows.

The advice we always offer residents is simple but effective: Lock your doors, lock your windows, and get to know your neighbors. Most thieves are opportunists - they look for the easiest target, and will often move on if they find a house or an apartment that they consider to be too secure.

View a Tip Sheet listing the seven things you can do to secure your home against burglaries. (a PDF document prepared by officers in District A-1)

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 09:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, September 19 thru 10 AM Wednesday, September 20 2006.

(See today’s Daily Incident summary for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 1
Non-fatal Stabbings: 0

Vehicle thefts: 12. One quarter of all vehicle thefts are Hondas.
Vehicle recoveries. 13. Two arrests.
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 18

Residential break-ins: 12
Commercial Break-ins: 4

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NOTE: This is a repost of an earlier entry that was lost when BPDNews.com suffered an interruption of service on Sept. 21

On June 2, 2006, officers responded to a call for a found body on Causeway Street, across from Banknorth Garden. The deceased is presumed to be homeless and was possibly living in that area. This is not a homicide. At this time, Boston Police are seeking public assistance to identify the victim.

According to the Medical Examiner, the victim is reportedly a white male, estimated to be in his mid 30’s to mid 40’s, 5'9" tall, and a medium build. The victim also appeared to be missing his left front tooth.

At the time of his recovery, he was wearing blue jeans and a blue and white colored "Boston Marathon 1995" jacket.

The victim was tattooed. A PDF file is available showing the tattoos of the deceased. WARNING This file may be considered graphic by some viewers, as it contains actual photos of the tattoos. View the file.

Tattoos are described as follows:

• Upper right chest is what appears to be a Viking, wearing a horned helmet and standing on a cloud. Beneath the Viking is the word "Boston"

• Across abdomen is large, arching letters spelling "Terminator". Centered directly beneath the word Terminator, is an additional design resembling a “joker” wearing a multi-pointed hat

• On back, left shoulder, is a portrait of a woman's face

• On left side of back, and diagonal to the portrait tattoo, is a green-colored dragon

• Center of back, are several Asian letters running lengthwise along the spine.

• Center of lower back is a second green-colored dragon.

• Right arm is completely tattooed, from wrist to shoulder.

• Inside of right leg, below the calf, but above the ankle is what appears to be a yin yang symbol.
  

Anyone with information that could assist us in identifying this man is encouraged to contact the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 or remain anonymous by calling the Crime Stoppers Unit at 800-494-TIPS.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 04:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Monday, September 18 thru 10 AM Tuesday, September 19 2006.

Note: a correction has been made to the overnight robbery stats. See the bottom of this posting for more detail.

(See today’s Daily Incident summary for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 1

Robberies:
Street Robberies: 7. *See the end of this posting.
Commercial Robberies: 1
Other: 1. (Robbery of a bank.)

Vehicle thefts: 8. One third of all vehicle thefts continue to be Hondas.
Vehicle recoveries. 10
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 18

Residential break-ins: 7
Commercial Break-ins: 1

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

*Note: due to a transcription error, we incorrectly posted the number of total robberies as 7, and the number of street robberies as 1. There were 9 total robbery incidents, of which 7 were street robberies.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Level Three Hazardous Materials incident has occurred at 1800 Soldiers Field Road.

Soldiers Field Road is currently open, but expect traffic delays. Leo Birmingham Parkway is closed, as is North Beacon St.

The media staging area for this event will be on North Beacon and Parson Street, in the rear of the International House of Pancakes.

More details to follow as they become available.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 03:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

A look at the last 72 hours in Boston, from Friday, Sept. 15 through 10 A.M. Monday, Sept. 18, 2006

(See today’s Daily Incident summary for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 2

Street Robberies: 22.
Commercial Robberies: 0
Other: 1 (Bank)

Auto thefts: 31. One third involve Hondas
Auto recoveries. 27
Larceny from Motor Vehicle (motor-vehicle breaks): 54. Two arrests

Residential break-ins: 34
Commercial Break-ins: 7

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (2)

On September 16, 2006 the annual Fall Freedom Rally (Hemp Fest) will be held on Boston Common.

In recent years, the Boston Police Department has arrested numerous people for Possession of Class D (Marijuana) at this event. Many of these people have stated that they were under the impression there was “amnesty” from arrest on this particular day.

Let there be no confusion or mistaken assumptions on the part of attendees Saturday: there is no “amnesty” or any relaxation of the Commonwealth’s drug control laws during of this event. The Boston Police Department will be enforcing the narcotics laws on the Boston Common, as we do in neighborhoods throughout the city on any given Saturday. Our officers will be making arrests for violations of the narcotics laws if they observe such behavior. Saturday will be no different than any other day.

Potential offenders should be aware that, if arrested, these arrests will become a permanent part of the individual’s criminal history and may affect their admissions to some colleges and/or future potential employment as well as may result in the suspension of the individual’s license to operate a vehicle in Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Many of the people who attend this festival are college-aged young people who are just starting out in life. We strongly encourage you to think twice on Saturday before you place yourself into a situation where you may be arrested. It would be a shame if you jeopardize your future over a single act.

If you are arrested, ignorance of the law will not be an acceptable excuse.

Posted by Media Relations at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Thursday, September 14 thru 10 AM Friday, September 15.

(See today’s Daily Incident Summary for more detailed descriptions of some of the incidents identified below)

Homicides: 0
Non-fatal Shootings: 2
Non-fatal Stabbings: 1

Street Robberies: 4
Commercial Robberies: 1
Other: 2. (One robbery of a taxi, One robbery of a bank.)

Vehicle thefts: 5
Vehicle recoveries. 4
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 11

Residential break-ins: 5. (Including one dog stolen in C-11.)
Commercial Break-ins: 1

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An identification has been made re: the subject in the investigation of a found body at 800 Boylston St.

The Boston Police thank everyone - private citizens, members of the media, and fellow bloggers - who assisted us with the identification of this young woman.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Wednesday, September 13 thru 10 AM Thursday, September 14.

Homicides: 0*. (*Death investigation, see below)

Non-fatal Shootings: 0
Non-fatal Stabbings: 3. Three non-fatal stabbing incidents resulting in 4 persons stabbed.

Firearm arrests: 1*. See below. (*Note, the original posting incorrectly reported 0 gun arrests)

Street Robberies: 8
Commercial Robberies: 0
Other: 1 (Home invasion, two arrests made)

Auto thefts: 12
Auto recoveries. 6
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 14

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Update: An identification has been made re: the subject in the investigation of a found body at 800 Boylston St.
The Boston Police thank everyone - private citizens, members of the media, and fellow bloggers - who assisted us with the identification of this young woman.

On August 1, 2006, officers responded to a call for a found body at 800 Boylston St., in the area of the Prudential Center. At this time, Boston Police are seeking public assistance to identify the victim.

This is not a homicide, but the deceased remains unidentified. According to the Medical Examiner, the deceased is a white female, estimated to be in her early to mid 20’s, 4’11” tall and weighing about 105lbs. The police have received information indicating that she was last seen on Monday night, July 31st. She was wearing a blue dress and a pink colored straw, fedora style hat. She was not wearing shoes.

Anyone with information that could assist us in identifying this woman, is encouraged to contact the Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 or remain anonymous by calling the Crime Stoppers Unit at 800-494-TIPS.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Monday, September /11 thru 10 AM Tuesday, September 12.

Residential break-ins: 25
Commercial Break-ins: 7

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 01:29 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Photos have been posted from the Boston Police Promotional Ceremony held at Cathedral High School Gymnasium in Boston's South End on September 5, 2006

View the Photo Gallery

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A look at the last 72 hours in Boston, from Friday, Sept. 9 through 10 A.M. Monday, Sept. 11, 2006

Homicides: 1

Non-fatal Shootings: 2 (see below and below)

Firearm arrests: 1. Three guns recovered.

Street Robberies: 15. Three arrest in two incidents (see below)
Commercial Robberies: 2
Other: 0

Auto thefts: 31. Note: 1/3 of the thefts involve Toyotas, model year 1989,1990, and 1991.
Auto recoveries. 19
Larceny from Motor Vehicle (motor-vehicle breaks): 40

Residential break-ins: 24
Commercial Break-ins: 6

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The West Roxbury Bulletin profiles the new Captain for District 5, James Hasson.

From the look of things, West Roxbury and Roslindale should be in capable hands following the transfer to the neighborhood of 20-year Boston Police Department (BPD) veteran Captain James Hasson. Hasson, who recently served as a Captain in District B-2 (Roxbury and Mission Hill) is currently getting settled at his new District E-5 headquarters, located on the Holy Name Rotary at 1708 Centre St.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 11:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Thursday, 9/7 thru 10 AM Friday, September 8.

Homicides: 0

Street Robberies: 9. Two purse snatchings in A-1 (see below)
Commercial Robberies: 0

Auto thefts: 11.
Auto recoveries. 13
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 16

Residential break-ins: 10
Commercial Break-ins: 0

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.


Two Purse snatchings in the North End (A-1)
About 12:22 a.m. on Friday, September 8, 2006, a female victim stated that while opening her apartment's hallway door an unknown white male suspect snatched her purse. The victim chased the suspect toward Commercial Street before he ultimately got into a car and drove away.

About 12:30am on Friday 9/8/2006, officers responded to a radio call for larceny in progress at 50 Salem St. and met with a female victim who stated that an unknown white male grabbed her purse from behind her while she walking into her building. After a brief struggle he fled down Cooper st. A Search of the area was made to no avail.

Protecting yourself against purse snatchings/ street robberies:
The theft of purses is almost always a crime of opportunity. Your chances of this happening to you can be greatly reduced with the careful consideration of the following prevention tips:

· When in a restaurant, if you choose to your purse under your chair then put the leg of your chair through your purse strap, your purse will then be a considerably less accessible target
· Do not hang your purse on the back of a chair and out of your sight.
· Do not put your purse down on the ground and/or leave it unattended
· If you must carry a purse, carry only the items that you need and never large amounts of cash
· Always be cognizant of your surroundings and walk with confidence and purpose
· Walk in well lit areas and avoid walking close to areas which would allow a thief to hide in an entrance way or behind a parked car
· Carry your purse close to your person, preferably in front, don’t wrap your purse strap too tightly around your wrist or shoulder, you’re likely to get hurt if a thief were to grab it forcefully

If a thief approaches you, remember that it is best to just let it go. It is not worth being injured by resisting.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 01:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It is with deep regret that I pass along news of a serious injury sustained by one of our members while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces overseas.

Police Officer Terrence Burke, last assigned to the Training and Education Division, detailed to District C-6 was called to active duty in early December 2005. Officer Burke is a Sergeant, recently promoted, with the U.S. Marine Corps, First Battalion.

This week, while serving in Iraq, he sustained a critical leg injury and has been transported to the military hospital in Germany for further treatment. His injury is described as critical, but thankfully he is expected to survive.

The Department has reached out to Officer Burke’s family to offer any assistance they or Terrance may need at this time and in the days and months to come. The Boston Police Patrolman’s Association has also reached out to the Burke family to offer their continued support and assistance.

I would ask all members of the Department to keep Terrence and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.

The Department is very proud of Terrence’s service to our country as well as the 5 other members of the Department currently deployed on active duty.

My office will keep abreast of Officer Burke’s progress and will continue to offer assistance while he recovers, and later as we look to his return to duty with the Boston Police Department.

Thank you,

Albert E. Goslin
Police Commissioner

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 04:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Wednesday, 9/6 thru 10 AM Thursday, September 7.

Homicides: 0

Firearm arrests: 4. (see below)

Street Robberies: 5. One victim stabbed. (see below)
Commercial Robberies: 1

Auto thefts: 11. One carjacking, one attempted theft.
Auto recoveries. 7
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 20

Residential break-ins: 7
Commercial Break-ins: 4

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 02:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Tuesday, 9/5 thru 10 AM Wednesday, September 6.

Homicides: 0

Street Robberies: 2. One arrest for unarmed robbery.
Commercial Robberies: 1

Auto thefts: 12. One carjacking, one attempted theft. (see below)
Auto recoveries. 10
Larceny from motor Vehicles (motor-vehicle breaks): 15. Four prior incidents cleared with the arrest of one individual.

Residential break-ins: 8
Commercial Break-ins: 4.

Note: the information above is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A look at the last 96 hours in Boston, from Friday, Sept. 1 through 10 A.M. Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2006

Homicides: 0

Non-fatal Shootings: 4.
Non-fatal Stabbings: 11. Eleven persons stabbed in 10 incidents.

Firearm arrests: 6. 7 firearms recovered.

Street Robberies: 25
Commercial Robberies: 1
Other: 3

Note: the information below is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A crime summit was held in Washington, DC this past Wednesday by the Police Executive Research Forum. Members of the Boston Police Department met with a number of city and law enforcement executives to address the issue of rising violence across the country. The Minneapolis Star Tribune offers the best breakdown of the topics covered at the summit.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Significant incidents reported to the BPD, from Wednesday, 8/30 thru 10 AM Thursday, August 31.

Note: the information below is preliminary information, and should not be considered official crime statistics. The information is based on an initial review of incident reports and may not be a comprehensive listing of events. It is not a statistical analysis, but rather an initial tally of significant events. Some of the incidents included may be covered in more detail in other blog postings.

Homicides: 0

BERRY FACES LONG PRISON SENTENCE

BOSTON, Dec. 22, 2005 – A Suffolk Superior Court jury today convicted a 23-year-old Dorchester man of trying to kill four Boston Police officers, wounding two of them so badly that they retired from the force and missing another by only inches.

JERMAINE JABAR BERRY (D.O.B. 5/7/82) was found guilty of four counts of assault with intent to kill, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and several related firearms charges for incidents in and around his mother’s Radcliffe Street apartment in the early morning hours of Jan. 1, 2003.

Continue reading "JURY CONVICTS MAN OF TRYING TO KILL FOUR POLICE OFFICERS" »

Posted by Media Relations at 09:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON, Dec. 22, 2005 – A Boston man admitted today to cutting his ex-girlfriend’s throat during a home invasion and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

CHRISTOPHER CHANEY, 35 (D.O.B. 7/20/70) pled guilty to charges of armed assault with intent to murder, home invasion, and aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for the Feb. 24 attack. Suffolk Superior Court Judge Carol Ball also sentenced Chaney to five years’ probation after he completes his sentence.

Had the case gone to trial, Assistant District Attorney Holly Broadbent would have presented evidence showing that on the night of Feb. 23, Chaney let himself into the victim’s Roxbury apartment, waited for her, and attacked her.

The victim, then 30, was not home, but two of her friends were at the apartment babysitting her 13-year-old son. Before going out, the victim gave the friends instructions to not let Chaney into the apartment if he came by. But the friends fell asleep; when they woke, they found that Chaney had let himself into the apartment and was waiting for the victim, who had recently ended their four-year dating relationship.

When the victim returned, she argued with Chaney over his coming into the apartment. Chaney refused to leave, and eventually the victim fell asleep in the living room.

In the early morning hours, the victim awoke to see Chaney standing over her, holding an object. She realized at once that he had sliced her throat. Chaney fled; the victim tried to run out of the apartment but collapsed, and her friends came to her aid. Medical personnel rushed the victim to the Boston Medical Center, where she underwent surgery to repair severed veins in her neck.

The next day, Boston police developed information that Chaney was staying at the Holiday Inn Express on Boston Street. Police rushed to the hotel and arrested Chaney there; he had with him a newspaper article about the attack and a one-way train ticket to Alabama.

Prosecutors requested a 20-year sentence followed by 10 years’ probation.

Posted by Media Relations at 06:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

BOSTON, Dec. 22, 2005 – A grand jury today returned indictments charging two Boston men with first-degree murder and armed robbery in the August slaying of a cab driver in Brighton, Suffolk District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

The indictments move the case against JASHAWN ROBINSON, 21 (D.O.B. 4/17/84), of Brighton, and CLEVELAND MARTIN, 19 (D.O.B. 7/4/86), of Dorchester, to Suffolk Superior Court, where it will be adjudicated.

Robinson and Martin are accused of robbing and fatally stabbing 31-year-old Heureur Previlon early on the morning of Aug. 25. Previlon was found dead later that morning inside his cab in a parking lot near St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

After the murder, both men fled Boston to Virginia, where they were captured separately in September. Martin was arrested in the town of Suffolk, Robinson, in Chesapeake, Va. The arrests were the result of a comprehensive investigation by the homicide units of the Boston Police Department and Suffolk District Attorney’s Office that led to significant evidence pointing to Martin and Robinson.

The defendants were returned to Boston in October and have been held without bail since their district court arraignments in the Brighton Division of the Boston Municipal Court Department. New arraignments on the indictment are being scheduled for early 2006 in Superior Court.

Posted by Media Relations at 06:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Colonel Thomas G. Robbins announced that a “Sobriety Checkpoint” will be implemented by the Massachusetts State Police on Secondary State Highways. The purpose is to further educate the motoring public and strengthen the public’s awareness to the need of detecting and removing those motorists who operate under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs from our roadways. They will be operated during varied hours, the selection of vehicles will not be arbitrary, safety will be assured, and any inconveniences to motorists will be minimized with advance notice to reduce fear and anxiety.

THANKS TO A GRANT PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNOR’S HIGHWAY SAFETY BUREAU, a “SOBRIETY CHECKPOINT” WILL BE HELD IN THE COUNTY LISTED BELOW:

COUNTY: Suffolk
DATE: Friday, December 23, 2005 into Saturday, December 24, 2005

Posted by Media Relations at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Victim Stabbed in Brighton After Attempted Robbery

A 23-year-old Brighton man reports that while walking home last night an unknown black male, 6’, wearing jeans and a dark jacket attempted to rob him at Goodenough and Faneuil Streets. The victim pushed the suspect at which time the suspect stabbed the victim in the wrist. The suspect fled on foot into the Faneuil project. The victim was transported to St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center where he was treated for a non-life threatening injury.

Beacon Street Bank Robbed

Yesterday at 12:51pm, an unknown white male entered the Cambridge Trust on Beacon Street and robbed the bank of United States Currency. The suspect is described being an unknown white male in his early 30’s, about 5’4”, wearing a black hat, scarf, blue jacket and glove, and a pair of sunglasses. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction. Detectives are investigating the incident.

Three People Arrested in East Boston After Robbing Victim

Officers from East Boston responded to Chelsea to assist the Chelsea Police Department after they stopped a motor vehicle believed to be involved in an armed robbery that occurred in East Boston shortly before 1:00am this morning. The victim of the robbery reports while driving on Meridian Street, three people jumped into his vehicle and robbed him. The suspects fled in a vehicle while the victim followed calling police and providing a detailed description of the vehicle. All three suspects were placed under arrest. Daniel DiGiovanni, 30, of Lowell; Richard Botti, 35, of East Boston; and Michelle Chavez, 36, of East Boston will all be arraigned in East Boston District Court.

Accidental Stabbing at Malcolm X Blvd and Tremont Street

A 17-year-old male was transported to the Boston Medical Center after arriving home with a stab wound to the lower back. The victim reports that last night at about 8:20pm, a suspect pulled a knife on him and accidentally stabbed him. The suspect fled in an unknown direction while friends drove the victim home. The victim’s injuries are considered non-life threatening.

Woman Arrested on Marginal Road and Arlington Street

This morning at about 2:00am an officer from District 1 stopped a female walking into traffic in the Arlington St/ Marginal Road area. Further investigation revealed the female was wanted on a Dorchester District Court default warrant for Sex For a Fee. Police arrested Tanya Harding, 38, of Lynn and found her to be in possession of heroin. She will be arraigned in the Boston Municipal Court this morning.

Posted by Media Relations at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Four People Reported Fighting After Leaving Cuffs

Two Patrons of “Cuffs” on Berkeley Street left the bar and starting fighting with two people on Stuart Street. Hotel security broke up the fight and all parties fled before cops could cuff them.

Two People Arrested After Early Morning Balcony Party

Officers from District 4 responded to 355 Columbus Ave for a report of a loud party this morning at 2:12 hrs. After repeated warnings, the officers responded to the apartment a second time. This time the occupants asked officers if they had a warrant. Officers observed people on a balcony and alcoholic beverages in the apartment. Arrested for Disturbing the Peace and Possession of Alcohol was Scott Long, 20 and Wayne Atkins, 20, both of Boston. They will be arraigned in the Boston Municipal Court this morning.

Taxi Driver Robbed in Savin Hill

A 25-year-old taxi driver was robbed in Savin Hill after driving a fare from Lansdowne Street to the Savin Hill MBTA stop. As the suspect was about to pay the driver, he pulled out a knife and demanded the driver’s money. The suspect is described as a black-Hispanic male, 5’10”, 175, wearing a “Yankees” hat and white shirt.

Sex Offender Arrested in Jamaica Plain

Last night at 17:20hrs, officers arrested Keith Allen on a straight warrant from the Boston Municipal Court for failing to register as a sex offender. The warrant was issued on 12/20/05. He was also in default from the Fall River District Court since 10/27/05 for larceny over $250.

Store Robbed by Two Armed Suspects Wearing Masks

Two suspects entered the store located at 81 Milk Street, armed with a knife last evening around 20:35 hrs and forced the employees to turn over money. One suspect indicated that he had a firearm while the other suspect displayed a silver knife. The suspects fled he scene on foot with an undetermined amount of U.S. currency. One suspect was wearing a blue jacket and a hoodie under the jacket and blue jeans, there is no description of the other suspect available. None of the victims were injured during the robbery.

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Male Robbed at Knife Point in Allston

A black male 5’10”in his 20’s armed with a knife, robbed a male victim as he crossed the foot- bridge over the Massachusetts Turnpike in Allston around 2045hrs on 12/19/2005. The victim was not injured during this incident.

Women Robbed In East Boston

A woman walked into District 7 and reported that she had been robbed at 0105hrs on 12/20/2005 at the intersection of Meridien Street and Princeton Street as she walked home. The victim stated that two white males approached her and one of the suspects grabbed her bag and fled the scene on foot .The two suspects jumped into a blue motor vehicle and fled the scene. The victim refused medical attention.

Three Juveniles Arrested for Robbery in Roxbury

A victim of a robbery approached two Police Officers on patrol in Roxbury on Tremont Street around 1425hrs on 12/19/2005. The victim reported that three suspects had just robbed him. The officers located three juvenile suspects that were positively identified by the victim on Columbus Ave. and placed all three under arrest.

South Boston Officer Arrests Two With Stolen Sneakers

A South Boston Officer attempting to eat lunch observed Charles Jigarjian, 29, of Woburn and William DeWolfe, 30, or South Boston attempting to sell sneakers with the anti- theft devices still attached to them to patrons at the Exxon Gas Station on Broadway last night. Both were placed under arrest and additionally charged with drug offenses and destruction of personal property. Jigarjian was found to be in possession of a Class E substance, and DeWolfe kicked the cell door breaking the metal frame off the bottom of the door. Both will be arraigned in South Boston District Court.

Posted by Media Relations at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Welcome to any readers of Medianation, Bostonist, Universalhub.com, and other blogs who’ve linked to BPDNews.com since we launched. Tell us what you think so far. Is there anything you’d like to see on this blog? Leave a comment and let us know.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Earlier today, the Boston Police Homicide Unit executed a Search Warrant for the Black Ford Escort involved in the Bourneside Street homicide investigation. Investigators continue to pursue any and all information gathered during this investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact the Boston Police Anonymous Tips line at 1-800-494-TIPS or the Boston Police Homcide Unit at 617-343-4470

Posted by Media Relations at 05:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Residents in the West Fens neighborhood should be aware of a recent pattern of apartment break-ins in the area (view incident list.)

This area has been somewhat active throughout the year but there has been a recent localized string of burglaries on Queensberry Street, Peterborough Street and Park Drive. The breaks follow a general pattern. In many cases, the suspect enters the residence through a window located off of the fire-escape in the rear of the building. The suspect usually steals smaller items and does not ransack the apartment. Items typically stolen are iPods, laptops, and jewelry.

Residents are advised to secure windows that lead to fire escapes and to call 911 if they observe suspicious activity.

Posted by BRIC at 04:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An effort undertaken by the staff in the Bureau of Field Services located in Boston Police Headquarters, to provide disadvantaged children with Christmas gifts has once again been successful. Over 500 hundred children, identified by the various Youth Service Officers from around the City, are due to receive Christmas gifts from Boston Police Personnel.

The “Giving Tree”, provides information on children who could use a little something extra during the Christmas Season. Gifts have been piling up and will be ready for delivery this week. Captain Genevieve King assigned to the Bureau of Field Services has coordinated this annual effort of goodwill.

This is one of several initiatives that are undertaken by various units and divisions of the Boston Police Department during the Christmas season. Many of the Police Districts across the City assist families and provide Christmas gifts for those in need.

Posted by Media Relations at 04:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

An effort undertaken by the staff in the Bureau of Field Services located in Boston Police Headquarters, to provide disadvantaged children with Christmas gifts has once again been successful. Over 500 hundred children, identified by the various Youth Service Officers from around the City, are due to receive Christmas gifts from Boston Police Personnel.

The “Giving Tree”, provides information on children who could use a little something extra during the Christmas Season. Gifts have been piling up and will be ready for delivery this week. Captain Genevieve King assigned to the Bureau of Field Services has coordinated this annual effort of goodwill.

This is one of several initiatives that are undertaken by various units and divisions of the Boston Police Department during the Christmas season. Many of the Police Districts across the City assist families and provide Christmas gifts for those in need.

Posted by Media Relations at 04:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Boston Police Homicide Unit, under the extremely able direction of
Deputy Superintendent Daniel Coleman, continues to put incredible
effort into the investigation of the recent murder of four young men in
Dorchester. With determination and compassion, they have worked around
the clock since Tuesday evening. It's the same effort I've personally
witnessed time and time again over the past few years as they and other
Boston Police officers have worked so hard in the face of big
challenges. While there is always pressure to produce timely results,
investigations of this nature are extremely complicated and must be
conducted in a very methodical way. A premature arrest in a homicide
case may ease public concern and media pressure, but justice will only
be served if the investigation conducted identifies the correct
perpetrator(s) and leads to an air-tight conviction. The quality of
homicide cases presented by Boston Police and Suffolk County
prosecutors has never been better than it is today. Those who are quick
to cite the decrease in clearance rate should pay close attention to
the conviction rate of BPD/Suffolk County cases now and in the future.
I'm certain that the BPD could significantly increase the clearance
rate by prematurely arresting possible suspects and cutting
investigative corners in homicide cases, but neither Deputy Coleman nor
I will allow that to happen. We will continue to keep the public
informed on this and other cases to the best extent possible, but never
to the point where we could undermine a future conviction.

As is always the case in a high-profile investigation, there are lots
of rumors and much speculation circulating. While I'm not questioning
the good intentions of most journalists or those contributing to their
stories, I’d like to clarify or put into appropriate context some of
the statements attributed to me and others. On several occasions, I've
indicated that it's much too early to draw conclusions about motive or
evidence in this case. I have confirmed that there didn't appear to be
forced entry. I've said that, at this time, there is no evidence of
gang or drug activity. I have never indicated that we have a suspect
or suspects in this case, but when asked about homicides in general,
have said that the vast majority are crimes of passion between people
who know each other. Again, I have qualified every statement I've made
by reiterating that it's much too early to draw definitive conclusions
or rule anything out in this investigation.

I also want to very clearly address the role of federal law enforcement
in this case. Neither Boston officers nor the public should read
anything into this. Because we have enjoyed good working relationships
in recent years with the FBI, DEA and ATF, they reached out to us this
past week through U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan to offer support
resources they have that could possibly be helpful to us. Mr. Sullivan
began the discussion by complimenting the work of the BPD and our
Homicide Unit and stressing that they have no desire to interfere in
any way. He offered that each agency would identify an on-call
representative to respond to BPD Homicide Unit requests for technical
assistance that may surface. For example, the FBI has highly trained
analysts with ready access to phone records. They have behavioral
science resources that we don't have internally. While we have an
extraordinary crime lab, ATF and DEA may have specialized lab resources
that could supplement our own. The federal agencies generally have
video and photo enhancement capability that surpasses ours. These are
just a few examples of technical resources that have either been lent
to the BPD in past cases and/or are available to investigators now on a
moment's notice.

The SAC's from the FBI, DEA and ATF also said that they would reach out
to their investigators who have intelligence sources who could be
useful to the BPD Homicide Unit.

Bottom line: The Feds are not coming in to take over a BPD/Suffolk
county case. To even imply that is absurd. These valuable partners
are simply standing at the ready to respond to Deputy Coleman's
requests if he has any need for their services. Why would we ever
refuse that genuine offer of support?

In closing, as questions or concerns arise on these or other issues,
please don't hesitate to send your feedback either through Media
Relations, our new BPD blog, or to the Office of the Police
Commissioner e-mail address. As always, I'd rather address the rumors
or concerns head-on.

Thank you again to all Department personnel. I see first-hand how hard
you're working during very challenging times and I genuinely appreciate
it.

Kathleen M. O’Toole

Posted by Media Relations at 05:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Police Commissioner Kathleen M. O’Toole held a Press Conference this morning along with U.S Attorney Michael Sullivan, F.B.I. Special Agent in Charge Ken Kaiser, A.T.F. Special Agent in Charge William Hoover, and D.E.A. Special Agent in Charge June Stansbury. U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan and all the Federal Agencies represented committed their resources and full support to the City of Boston as the investigation of the Homicides at 43 Bourneside Street in Dorchester continues.

In particular, each Federal Agency has designated a Liaison to the Boston Police Department to assist with any request for assistance during this investigation. The Federal Agencies have offered two areas of expertise to assist with this investigation.

1. Technical Resources
2. Intelligence Information

With a clear line of communication between the Federal Agencies and the Boston Police Department’s Homicide unit, the Boston Police investigators will have immediate access to these investigative resources if needed.

The Boston Police Homicide Unit is the lead investigator in this case and continues to interview witnesses and follow leads into the murders of these four individuals. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident can contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 or the Boston Police Anonymous Tip Line at 617-494-TIPS.

Posted by Media Relations at 12:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Drugs, U.S. Currency, and One Arrest in Theater District

At 0234 hrs on 12/16/05, officers from District 1 arrested Michael Gemma, 22, of Roxbury and found him to be in possession of United States Currency, multiple bags of marijuana, and numerous percocet pills. He will be arraigned in the Boston Municipal Court this morning.

Five Barking Dogs Disturb East Boston Residents Sleep

Officers from District 7 responded to 79 Chelsea Street this morning at 0231hrs on a report of a barking dog. Further investigation revealed two adult Beagles and three puppies living in the cold. The owner of the dogs brought them out of the cold. Officers notified animal control.

Suspect Wanted After Mannequin Attack

At 1355hrs yesterday, officers on patrol in District 1, were approached by two victims at 30 West Street. The victims report that a student at Blaine assaulted them both in the face with a mannequin pole. The suspect fled the scene. The victim’s reported no injuries.

All Checks Cashed…. Except Bad Ones

Boston Police arrested Deneine McDonald-Cooper, 38, and Michael Faison, 47, both of Dorchester after they attempted to cash close to $1,000.00 in bad checks at the “All Checks Cashed” located at 595 Washington Street in Dorchester. Both will be arraigned in Dorchester Court today.

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Armed Robbery in Back Bay

At 0600hrs on 12/15/05 Boston Police responded to an armed robbery at 50 Dalton Street in the Back Bay. The victim reported being robbed by a White Male who displayed a knife during the robbery. The suspect is described as 6ft wearing a brown jacket, black pants, and a ski mask. The victim was not injured and the investigation continues.

Shooting Victim Treated at Boston Medical Center

Boston Police responded to the Boston Medical at 0437hrs this morning 12/15/05 for a male victim suffering from a non-life threatening gunshot wound. The initial investigation indicates the victim was injured in the area of Blue Hill Ave. and Mclellan Street in Dorchester

Elderly Female’s Handbag Stolen in East Boston

At 1745hrs on 12/14/05, an elderly women walking on Maverick Street in East Boston had her handbag taken by an unknown suspect. The victim was not injured during the incident. This incident remains under investigation.

Youth Violence Strike Force Officers Arrest Armed Suspect

Around 2230hrs on 12/14/05, Police Officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike responding to a call on Winthrop Street in Roxbury, for a man armed with a gun. The suspect was observed holding a firearm in his hand as he fled from the Officers. The suspect was placed under arrest after a foot chase. Officers recovered a .22 caliber handgun and arrested a16 year-old juvenile from Allston for Possession of a Firearm.

Two Officers Assaulted During Investigation

At 1730hrs on 12/14/05, two Boston Police Officers assigned to District 3, were assaulted by a male suspect 6’7” 310lbs while conducting an investigation at Fowler Street and Mclellan Street in Dorchester. The suspect arrested is 18 year-old Denbrock Holmes of Dorchester.

Car Crash in Dorchester

Police will seek complaints in Dorchester District Court against a 34-year-old male from Canton for Possession Class B and various violations of the auto laws after an incident that occurred at about.
4:45 a.m. in Dorchester. An officer assigned to District 11 observed a motor vehicle traveling westbound on Bowdoin Street in Dorchester at a high rate of speed and over the double yellow line. The officer was required to swerve his cruiser to avoid a head-on collision. The officer later found the suspect vehicle upside down on Ripley Road. The vehicle also struck a house at 47 Harvard Street causing extensive damage to the dwelling. The occupants of the vehicle were transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries. The operator was also found to be in possession of a bag of crack cocaine.

Posted by Media Relations at 12:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Dorchester Homicide Investigation

Boston Police continue to investigate the Homicides that occurred at 43 Bournside Street in Dorchester on 12/13/05. Police Responded to 43 Bournside Street last evening around 2145hrs after receiving a 911 call for a person shot at that location. Responding Police Officers discovered four males suffering from severe trauma. One victim was transported to the Boston Medical Center and was pronounced at the Hospital, the other three victims were pronounced at the scene.

This investigation continues, anyone with information pertaining to this incident can contact the Boston Police Homicide Unit at 617-343-4470 or the Boston Police Anonymous Tip Line at 617-494-TIPS.

Two Men Stabbed at 1269 Mass. Ave

At 0020hrs, two men were stabbed inside 1269 Massachusetts Ave; both victims were transported to the Boston Medical Center for treatment of non-fatal injuries. Four suspects wanted in connection with incident remain at large.

Firearm Seized By Youth Violence Strike Force

Officers assigned to the Youth Violence Strike Force recovered a firearm after conducting a Motor Vehicle stop on Esmond Street in Dorchester around 2030hrs last evening. Ronald Martinez 19, of Dorchester was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm. A .380 caliber firearm was recovered from Martinez.

Armed Robbery at Dorchester Store

A male armed with a handgun robbed the Subway Shop located at 1576 Dorchester Ave. around 2045hrs last evening. The victim was not injured during the incident and he suspect fled the store on foot.

Fugitive From Justice Arrested in Mattapan

Officers assigned to District 3 in Mattapan arrested Juan Martinez 61, for multiple warrants including outstanding warrants from Florida.

Posted by Media Relations at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Anonymous Tip Leads to Firearm
Last night officers from the Youth Violence Strike Force received information from a concerned citizen about the location of a firearm. Officers went to the area of Edson Street and Milton Ave. in Dorchester and located a Colt MK IV handgun. The firearm was secured and turned over to Ballistics for further testing.

Two Arrested After Hyde Park Stabbing
Plain Clothes officers from District 18 while on patrol last night in the area of Metropolitan Ave. and Hyde Park Ave observed three Hispanic males in an altercation outside Kelly Liquors. Two of the men were suffering from apparent stab wounds allegedly inflicted by each other. Both individuals were arrested and after treatment at a medical facility will be taken into custody. A knife was recovered.

Sex Offender Arrested Downtown
Plain Clothes officers arrested 31-year-old Paul Boone of Boston last night for failing to register as a sex offender. He was picked up after alert officers observed him in the area of Marginal Road and Tremont Street.

Shots Fired Outside 35 Neponset Ave
Officers responded to a shots fired call yesterday around 12:08pm. No injuries were reported. Ballistic evidence was recovered and the investigation is ongoing.

Gun Recovered During Jamaica Plain Car Stop
Boston Police Officers from District 13, recovered a loaded 9mm handgun while conducting a car stop. Five adult males were arrested in connection with this incident.

Armed Robberies at Two Commercial Locations
Last night around 9:15pm an armed suspect entered the Matos Market at 140 Norfolk Street in Dorchester and demanded money from the clerk. The suspect displayed a silver handgun, and fled the store with an undetermined amount of cash. The investigation is ongoing.

At 1:44am, a masked suspect armed with silver and black handgun, entered the Store 24 on Market Street in Brighton and demanded money from the clerk. The suspect grabbed a safe from the store and fled after ordering the clerk into a storage closet. This investigation continues.

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Boston Police Arrest Suspect and Recover Firearm
After receiving a call for shots fired in the area of Columbia Road and Quincy Street around 8:15pm last evening, Boston Police Officers responded to the call, they observed a suspect fleeing the area. The suspect matched a description that had been broadcast relative to the shots fired call, but then information was received that an individual had been shot on Drayton Street.

The Police Officers ordered the suspect to stop, but he continued to flee on foot. The Police Officers chased the suspect on foot and observed the suspect throw a firearm over a fence. The suspect was placed under arrest and the Police Officers did recover a .22 caliber firearm.

17 year-old Jesse Scroggins of Quincy was arrested and charged with Unlawful Possession of a Firearm. Scroggins also has several Outstanding Warrants.

Arrest Warrant results in Shotgun Being Recovered
Boston Police attempting to serve an Arrest Warrant in Roxbury during Operation Home Safe recover 12 Gauge shotgun.

3 Men Arrested, 9mm Firearm Recovered in Roxbury
Police Officers responded to a call for a group of males fighting in the area of Eldora Street in Roxbury arrest three and recover a firearm used in an assault. Further information provided by the victims indicated that the one of the suspects had assaulted them with a firearm. After the three suspects were stopped by responding officers and positively identified by the victims, all three suspects were placed under arrest. One Ruger 9mm firearm was recovered and Christian Vasilopoulos 22, of Mission Hill, Logan Kessler 20, of New Jersey, and Deren Alvarez of New Jersey were charged in connection with this incident.

Posted by Media Relations at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Ten of the most violent areas of the City have been identified geographically and will be the focus of “Red Zone Teams”. Boston Police, Federal Law Enforcement, community partners, faith based partners, business partners, as well as a academic partners will work together to address particular problems for each of the identified “Red Zones.”

Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Boston Police Commissioner Kathleen O’Toole, Suffolk County District Attorney Dan Conley, U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan, and representatives from Federal Law Enforcement Agencies met this morning in Boston to address Firearm violence in the City of Boston. Specifically, “Operation Red Zone” was announced and details from the Boston Police Regional Intelligence Center identifying specific geographical city blocks that experience the most firearm violence were identified.

“Earlier this week City Officials and Boston Police Officials worked with their faith based partners. Today’s meeting was another opportunity to strengthen our partnerships with the Federal Law Enforcement Agencies in the City of Boston, “ said Police Commissioner Kathleen M. O’Toole. As the planning of Operation Red Zone continues, “our community and business partners will also become part of the collaborative effort to address firearm violence,” she added.

The specific locations will not be released at this time. However, as this operation continues to evolve, updates will be released.

Download file

Posted by Media Relations at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The following changes are hereby made to the Hackney Carriage Rule and Regulations of the Boston Police Department to reflect new Rate of Fare and Shift / Leasing Rates. Such changes amend all previously issued rules, regulations, orders, circulars and memoranda pertaining to the Rates of Fare and Shift / Leasing Rates for Hackney Carriages licensed in the City of Boston, including Commissioner’s Memorandum Number 02-056.

Continue reading "RATE CHANGES FOR HACKNEY CARRIAGES" »

Posted by Media Relations at 01:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

If your business or organization uses metal detectors for screening visitors, please be aware of the following:

In critical areas where metal detectors are used to screen visitors for weapons, it is not uncommon for repeat visitors to receive lessened scrutiny, or to be allowed to bypass the detector altogether. Recent intelligence indicates that this vulnerability, particularly relating to food delivery persons, is known to people who may have an interest in smuggling a weapon, and that at least one delivery-person has been approached and offered money to carry a weapon through such a system.

Posted by BRIC at 01:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Coincides with the release of a new comprehensive, all-hazards emergency evacuation plan, designed to incorporate lessons learned from the Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita evacuations.

More information: City of Boston Web site. http://www.cityofboston.gov/emergency/

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 01:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

The Boston Police Youth Violence Strike Force arrested Hakim Tyler this morning for a shooting that occurred in New York. After a fugitive investigation by the YVSF officers, Hakim was located at 16 Akron Street in Roxbury hiding in folded sleeper-sofa. Tyler's possible presence in Boston was noted in a November 22nd Boston Herald article.

Posted by BRIC at 09:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

On this date in 1973, Detective John Schroeder was shot and killed when he surprised three men who were robbing a pawn shop on Washington Street in the South End.

Detective Schroeder was a 22 year veteran of the Boston Police Department. His brother, Boston Police Patrolman Walter Schroeder, was also shot and killed in the line of duty on September 24, 1970. Boston Police Headquarters is named One Schroeder Plaza in memory of the Schroeder brothers.

On this day we remember the sacrifice that Detective Schroeder made 32 years ago.

Posted by Commissioner's Office at 09:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A worm (internet virus) is currently spreading by email. Users receive an email, purportedly from the FBI, warning them that their IP address has been logged by the FBI on illegal websites. The message goes on to instruct the user to open an attached file. Do not open the file.

See this story for details.

If the attached file is run, the worm scans the user's hard drive for other email addresses, in its search for other computers to infect.

"This variant of the Sober worm may catch out the unwary as they open their email inbox this morning," said Graham Cluley, senior technology consultant at Sophos. "Every law-abiding citizen wants to help the police with their enquiries, and some will panic that they might be being falsely accused of visiting illegal websites and want click on the unsolicited email attachment. All users should be reminded to follow safe computing guidelines, and PCs should be kept automatically updated with the latest anti-virus protection. Anyone who may have information about the Sober worm's author should report it to the computer crime authorities. This malware writer has been maliciously attacking innocent computer users for over two years, and must be stopped."

The FBI has posted an advisory on it’s website.

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