Hi there,

This week we're looking at the saga of BPD commissioner Dennis White.

What’s Happening

On Tuesday, a Suffolk Court judge threw out Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White’s motion for an injunction, allowing Acting Mayor Janey to fire White and replace him with a new Police Commissioner.

This concludes months of uncertainty about BPD’s future leadership, but the saga has raised concerns about BPD’s culture. 

Here’s a timeline of key events:

• February 1: After former Police Commissioner William Gross unexpectedly retired, then-mayor Marty Walsh appointed Dennis White Police Commissioner.
• February 3: Police Commissioner Dennis White is suspended following an investigative report by the Boston Globe that revealed court documents detailing White’s alleged domestic abuse. Then-Mayor Walsh denies having any knowledge of the allegations
• February 2021: It becomes clear that White was appointed without a typical hiring process, as he was the only candidate, was never interviewed and was chosen solely based on the recommendation of outgoing Commissioner. An investigation is opened into White’s alleged abuse.
• May 2021: Investigation concludes. Acting Mayor Janey makes the report available to the public and moves to fire Commissioner White. Commissioner White files a preliminary injunction attempting to prevent his firing. In a sworn affidavit, Former Commissioner Gross says that former Mayor Walsh knew of the allegations against White when he appointed him.
• May 25: Judge denies Commissioner White’s motion, allowing Acting Mayor Janey to move forward with firing Commissioner White. 

The investigative report found shocking details about White’s alleged domestic abuse, as well as larger, systemic problems in BPD. The Boston Globe provides a detailed list of ‘11 disturbing revelations’ but four items stuck out to us:

• Blue Wall of Silence: The investigator reached out to 21 witnesses and only 7 of them cooperated. Only 7.

• City Hall Attempted to Stop the Investigation: city government’s top officials reached out to the investigator, demanded she terminate the investigation, and then later reversed this decision and told the investigation to continue.

• Records missing and ruling changed: The investigation revealed that multiple police reports in the 1990s detailing the domestic abuse allegations 'disappeared’ from police headquarters. Similarly, an internal affairs ruling that sustained the allegations against then officer White was changed for unknown reasons.

• Officers who stood up were punished: The officers assigned to Domestic Violence work that compiled the police reports detailing the allegations against White were “retaliated against” and transferred to different units. 

Why does it matter?

The problems we hear about with policing across the country are deeply rooted in Boston’s police department. Domestic violence, coverups, retaliations, evidence tampering, collusion with city hall— all of it was found by this investigation.

The Boston Police will not change on their own. As recently as this spring, they have refused to cooperate with investigators, choosing instead to hide behind the blue wall of silence. We need continued pressure to enact meaningful change in this city. 

With White out of the picture, Boston can’t go "back to normal." Who leads the Boston Police Department matters and we need real civilian oversight in the hiring process for the next commissioner. It’s our city, we should choose. 

Learn More: 

• 11 disturbing revelations in the Commissioner White investigation 

• White files to stop dismissal

• Walsh Knew

• Judge denies injunction

That's it for us this week!

Best,

A Better Boston Team

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