Skip to main content

Full text of "Annual report of the Police Commissioner for the City of Boston"

See other formats


/ 


i»?"^ 


OS-TON,    POLICE     DEPARTMENT 


1-9-8-7     YEAR      E'NO      RE-VIEW 


i 


LITHOGRAPHED    BY    THE 
CITY    Oh    BOSTON     o^^^d    PRINTING   SECTION 


Itosfoii 


June    12,    1989 


Gail  Ithian 
Boston  Public  Library 
Government  Documents  Section 
Boston,  Massachusetts  02117 


Dear  Gail, 

Attached  please  find  the  Annual  Boston  Police  Department  Reports  you 
had  requested.  No  Report  has  yet  been  finalized  for  1988. 

I  hope  this  information  will  be  helpful.  If  you  have  any  questions 
please  feel  free  to  contact  me  at  24^4530. 


.V^ 


fy^ 


'n  i 


and  Analysis  Unit 


Raymond  L.  Flynn,  Mayor/POLICE  DEPARTMENT/l  54  Berkeley  Street  021 1 6 


Introduction 


The  history  of  the  Boston 
Police,  the  oldest  depart- 
ment in  the  nation,  begins  in 
1630  with  the  night  watch.  An 
era  in  the  Department's  history 
ended  with  the  infamous  police 
strike  of  1919  and  the  modern 
history  of  the  Department  be- 
gan in  1963  when  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Boston  Police  De- 
partment was  returned  to  the 
City  of  Boston  by  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts. 

Much  has  changed  since 
1963.  In  1987  more  women 
and  minorities  served  in  uni- 
form than  ever  before  in  the 
Department's  history.  In  1963 
a  female  Deputy  Superintend- 
ent or  a  Black  Superintendent 
was  unimaginable.  Today  the 
Boston  Police  Command  Staff 
includes  six  minorities  and  two 
women. 

In  1987  the  Department  con- 
tinued its  commitment  to  hire 
and  train  police  officers,  bring- 
ing on  192  enthusiastic  young 
recruits.   These  new  recruits 


joined  a  force  of  1,830  sea- 
soned officers. 

The  increase  in  officers  has 
made  it  possible  to  experiment 
with  new,  targeted  deployment 
plans,  designed  to  have  maxi- 
mum impact  on  crime.  To  date 


A  portion  of  the  192  new  recruits,  graduating 
from  the.  Police  Academy,  Boston. 


these  targeted  deployment 
plans  have  been  very  effective. 
In  1987  homicides  were  re- 
duced 29.2  percent,  robbery 
was  down  13  percent,  vehicle 
theft  decreased  6.7  percent  and 
arrests  increased  16  percent. 
Overall,  the  crime  rate  de- 
creased 3  percent  citywide  as 
compared  to  a  2  percent  in- 
crease in  crime  reported  na- 
tionwide. 

The  success  of  these  targeted 
patrols  was  felt  where  they 
were  needed  most.  In  1987, 
the  Department  initiated  the 
Boston  Police  Power  Patrol  in 
the  Roxbury  and  Mattapan 
neighborhoods  (Area  B),  and 
at  the  close  of  the  year  the 
crime  rate  was  down  in  Area 
B  for  the  first  time  in  three 
years. 

The  problems  of  street  level 
crime  addressed  by  these  tar- 
geted patrols  are  products  of 
narcotics  abuse  and  trafficking. 
Boston  Police  drug  arrests 
have  increased  62.5%   since 


1^86  -  258%  since  1^)84.  Do- 
spite  this  impressive  leeord  the 
seriousness  of  the  drug  prob- 
lem has  forced  the  Boston  Po- 
lice to  employ  creative  educa- 
titMi  strategies  aimed  at 
reducing  the  demand  for  nar- 
cotics. The  most  significant  of 
these  education  programs  are 
the  School  Program  to  Educate 
and  Control  Drug  Abuse 
(SPECDA)  and  the  Drug 
Abuse  Resistance  Education 
Program  (DARE)  which  have 
reached  over  6,300  fifth  and 
sixth  grade  students  citywide. 

The  Department's  commit- 
ment to  education  is  based  on 
the  conviction  that,  in  the  long 
term,  such  efforts  can  change 
behavior  and  reverse  the  cycle 
of  drugs  and  violence  sweep- 
ing the  nation.  In  order  to  be 
successful  in  1988,  the  Boston 
Police  will  need  the  support  of 
the  residents  of  every  age,  in 
every  neighborhood  in  the 
city. 

As  this  report  went  to  print 
Commissioner  Roache  imple- 
mented several  changes  in  the 
Department's  organizational 
structure  which  could  not  be 
included  in  the  body  of  the  re- 
port. 

The  Bureau  of  Neighbor- 
hood Services  has  been  re- 
placed by  the  Bureau  of  Spe- 
cial Operations  and  under  it 
the  Commissioner  has  consoli- 
dated the  units  responsible  for 
tactical  operations  such  as 
Team  Police  and  Mobile  Oper- 
ations as  well  as  the  units 
which  provide  crime  preven- 
tion education  to  the  neighbor- 
hoods. The  Commumnity  Disor- 
ders and  Domestic  Violence 
Units  also  fall  under  the  Bureau 
of  Special  Operations. 

The  School  Program  to  Edu- 
cate and  Control  Drug  Abuse 


(SPECDA)  has  been  transfer- 
red to  the  Bureau  of  Special 
Operations.  This  move  places 
all  of  the  Department's  crime 
prevention  education  programs 
including  Sexual  Assault  Pre- 
vention Education,  Senior  Re- 
sponse, Officer  Friendly  and 
Crime  Watch  under  one  Bu- 
reau. 

In    a   change    of   reporting 
lines  the  Police  Commissioner 


reassigned  the  Bureau  of  Pro- 
fessional Standards  to  his  of- 
fice. The  Bureau  will  be 
headed  by  a  Deputy  Superin- 
tendent who  will  report  di- 
rectly to  the  Commissioner. 

These  changes  are  the  most 
recent  in  the  Police  Commis- 
sioner's efforts  to  streamline 
the  Department  and  meet  the 
public  safety  needs  of  Boston's 
neighborhoods. 


Ojficer  Nadine  Taylor  of  the  SPECDA  program  watches  as  fifth  graders  per- 
form a  skit  about  not  using  drugs.  SPECDA  and  DARE  educate  children  about 
the  many  dangers  of  using  drugs. 


A  Letter  from  the  Mayor 


1987  was  another  year  of  important 
progress  for  the  Boston  Police  Department. 
Significant  advances  were  made  in  the  areas  of 
fighting  drug  trafficking;  educating  our  youth 
about  the  dangers  of  drugs;  protecting  residents' 
civil  rights;  and  putting  increasing  numbers  of 
police  officers  back  onto  neighborhood  streets. 
Unprecedented  numbers  of  drug  arrests  and  in- 
vestigations were  made  as  the  police  continued 
their  war  on  drugs  in  every  neighborhood. 

The  pride  is  back  in  the  BPD  and  it  can  be 
seen  in  improved  results  throughout  the  Depart- 
ment. 

1987  was  a  year  of  gain,  but  also  a  time  of 
loss.  Since  the  publication  of  the  1986  report, 
three  officers  have  given  their  lives  in  the  line  of 


duty.  Boston  mourns  for  Detectives  Roy  Sergei, 
Thomas  Gill,  and  Sherman  Griffiths  and  we  con- 
tinue to  extend  support  to  their  families.  Above 
all,  we  resolve  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  break 
the  cycle  of  drugs  and  violence  that  took  their 
lives. 

With  this  report.  Commissioner  Roache  and 
the  men  and  women  of  the  Boston  Police  Depart- 
ment mark  another  milestone  on  the  way  to  re- 
building America's  oldest  and  finest  police  force. 

Sincerely, 

Raymond  L.  Flynn. 
Mayor  of  Boston 


nn/ 


A  Letter  from  the  Commissioner 


1987  was  a  year  of  triumph  and  tragedy  for 
the  Boston  Police.  Homicides  were  reduced 
29.2%,  robbery  was  down  13%  and  stolen  cars 
decreased  6.7%.  Overall,  the  crime  rate  de- 
creased city  wide. 

The  Department  paid  a  high  price  for  its  dili- 
gence. On  October  26,  1987,  Detective  Roy  Ser- 
gei died  as  a  result  of  gunshot  wounds  received 
while  responding  to  a  citizen's  call  for  help.  As 
the  new  year  began  Detective  Thomas  Gill  was 
killed  while  conducting  a  stolen  weapons  investi- 
gation and  only  one  week  later  Detective 
Sherman  Griffiths  was  shot  down  while  attempt- 
ing to  serve  a  drug  warrant.  These  officers  per- 
sonified the  words  "bravery,  pride,  dedication." 


This  1987  annual  report  describes  the  achieve- 
ments of  each  of  the  Department's  five  bureaus. 
These  achievements  were  made  possible  by  out- 
standing individuals,  both  police  officers  and  ci- 
vilians, who  are  committed  to  serving  the  neigh- 
borhoods of  Boston.  This  report  is  dedicated  to 
those  Department  employees  who,  in  1987, 
served  the  people  of  Boston  with  bravery  and 
pride. 

Sincerely, 


(fua^ac^  ^OH 


Francis  M.  Roache, 
Police  Commissioner 


2 

8 

13 

18 

1  Letters  to  the 

Bureau  of 

Bureau  of  Investigative 

Bureau  of 

Bureau  of  Professional 

Commissioner 

Field  Services 

Services 

Neighborhood 

Standards 

►The  Power  Patrol  Works 

►A  Special  Sensitivity  to 

Services 

20 

26  1987  Awards 

►Enforcement  Saves 

Victims  of  Rape 

►Neighborhood  Watch:  A 

Bureau  of 

Lives 

►Technology  as  a  Weapon 

Partnership  for  the  Future 

Administrative  Services 

►  9-1-1  Speeds  Police 

Against  Crime 

►Advocates  for  the 

►A  Day  in  the  Life  of  a 

Response 

►The  Drug  Control  Unit: 

Elderly:  The  Senior 

Boston  Police  Recruit 

►Sector  Integrity:  The 

Operation  Dolphin 

Response  Unit 

►Fleet  Management:  A 

Neighborhood  Cop  is 

►Disrupting  Organized 

Long-term  Commitment 

Back  on  the  Beat 

Crime 

iii 

►Educating  Boston's  Youth 

Letters  to  the  Commissioner 


Gerorgette  E.  Gonsalves 
Boston,  MA 

Dear  Commissioner  Roache, 

I  have  been  wanting  for  the  past 
several  weeks  to  write  to  you  to 
express  my  gratitude  for  the  quick 
response  and  professional  con- 
cern of  two  of  your  officers 
following  the  breaking  and  enter- 
ing of  my  home  in  December. 
They  are  Officers  Dailey  and 
Waggett. 

They  assisted  in  the  chase  and 
apprehension  of  the  criminal,  and 
later  provided  support  when  I  at- 
tended the  various  court  pro- 
ceedings. As  a  resident  of  the 
South  End  and  an  active  member 
of  the  Ellis  Neighborhood 
Association,  I  was  appreciative  of 
this  action. 

I  do  realize  something  of  the 
difficulties  of  protecting  our  lives 
and  property  in  these  times  and 
feel  that  more  must  be  done  to 
solicit  the  involvement  of 
residents  to  work  with  the  police 
to  this  end. 

Again  my  sincere  thanks  to  the 
Officers. 


Boston  Athletic  Assoc. 
Boston,  MA 

Dear  Superintendent  Evans, 

The  1987  B.A.A.  Marathon  is 
now  history,  and  we  are  proud  to 
be  able  to  look  back  on  another 
successful  race.  With  the  easing 
of  the  qualifying  standards  we 
had  1,500  more  participants  in 
this  year's  race,  a  true  vote  of 
confidence  from  the  athletes  that 
Boston  remains  the  number  one 
marathon,  of  which  everybody 
wants  to  be  a  part. 

The  efforts  of  you  and  your 


staff  are  most  appreciated,  and 
were  most  important  in  handling 
the  increased  number  of  par- 
ticipants. Feedback  from  athletes 
and  spectators  alike  has  shown  us 
that  safety  and  security  along  the 
course,  from  the  start  to  finish, 
was  the  best  ever. 

On  behalf  of  the  Boston 
Athletic  Association,  I  take  this 
opportunity  to  extend  a  heartfelt 
thanks  to  each  of  you.  Your  con- 
tinued support  and  cooperation 
help  keep  Boston,  without  a 
doubt,  the  world's  greatest 
marathon. 

Once  again,  thank  you  very 
much. 


Mervin  L.  Stauffer 
Dallas,  Texas 

Dear  Commissioner  Roache, 

On  Saturday,  January  10,  1987, 
we  physically  moved  the  Magna 
Carta  from  Austin,  Texas,  to  the 
Boston  Public  Library.  Officer 
James  Kilduff ,  Officer  Lawrence 
Applegate  and  Sergeant  John 
Collins  were  most  helpful  in 
assisting  with  the  security  in 
transporting  it  from  Logan  Air- 
port to  the  room  in  which  it  is 
presently  on  exhibit. 

We  have  the  good  fortune  of 
working  with  the  police  officers 
representing  various  police 
departments  around  the  country. 
Candidly,  your  officers  were 
among  the  the  most  professional 
we  have  encountered.  They  arriv- 
ed early,  were  well  briefed,  and 
were  certainly  a  pleasure  to  have 
involved  in  this  project. 

Thank  you  very  much  for  your 
assistance. 


Bethany  B.  Kendall 
Boston,  MA 

Dear  Commissioner  Roache, 

On  behalf  of  the  Association, 
I  wanted  to  write  to  express  our 
appreciation  for  the  excellent 
police  coverage  during  the  holi- 
day shopping  season. 

We  received  many  positive 
comments  from  businesses  in  the 
area,  and  there  is  no  doubt  that 
the  strong  police  visibility  helped 
to  prevent  any  significant  in- 
cidents during  this  very  busy  time 
of  year. 

Once  again,  our  thanks  for 
your  efforts  and  assistance.  All 
best  wishes  for  the  new  year. 

Raynald  B.  Cantin 
Hartford,  Connecticut 

Dear  Commissioner  Roache, 

Feeling  stupid  and  violated,  I 
reported  the  theft  of  my  brand 
new  1987  Dukati  motorcycle  last 
Saturday,  April  11,  1987,  at  ap- 
proximately 4:30  p.m.  to  the 
Fourth  Precinct. 

The  fact  that  I  had  left  the  key 
in  the  ignition  certainly  increas- 
ed the  pain. 

The  captain  on  duty,  as  well  as, 
the  many  officers  present  offered 
immediated  assistance,  friendly 
suggestions  and  an  attitude  of  car- 
ing. That  made  a  very  distasteful 
situation  much  more  palatable. 

By  8:00  o'clock  that  evening, 
I  was  advised  that  Officer 
Michael  O'Rourke  had: 

1.  found  the  motorcycle 

2.  apprehended  the  criminal 

3.  was  available  to  talk  about  it 

Thanks  Boston  Police  Depart- 
ment. You  do  nice  work. 


Bureau  of  Field  Services 


Safer  Streets...Safer  Neighborhoods 


The  Bureau  of  Field  Services  implements 
effective  preventive  patrol  strategies 


The  officers  of  the  Bureau 
of  Field  Services  are  the 
first  and  often  only  contact  a 
resident  or  visitor  will  have 
with  the  Boston  Police  Depart- 
ment. 

The  Bureau  is  made  up  of 
five  Area  commands  (see  fig- 
ure I.l)  and  several  divisions 
including  Operations,  Team 
Police,  Anti-Crime  and  Special 


Operations.  The  men  and 
women  of  the  Bureau  of  Field 
Services  receive,  dispatch  and 
respond  to  emergency  calls  to 
9-1-1;  they  take  stolen  car  re- 
ports at  neighborhood  stations 
and  issue  speeding  tickets  at 
dangerous  intersections.  The 
Bureau  of  Field  Service's  offi- 
cers patrol  Boston's  streets  in 
marked  cruisers  and  neighbor- 


hood shopping  districts  on 
foot.  If  a  bomb  is  found  or  a 
hostage  taken.  Field  Service's 
officers  respond. 

These  officers  are  at  the 
front  lines  of  a  dynamic 
change  in  the  patrol  force  of 
the  Boston  Police  Department. 
This  change  is  based  on  a 
commitment  to  safer  streets 
and  safer  neighborhoods.  In- 
creasingly, the  Bureau  has  met 
this  commitment  through  pre- 
ventive patrol  and  more  effec- 


tive  use  of  technology.  Preven- 
tive patrol  is  a  philosophy  of  po- 
licing established  with  a  deep 
:omniitment  of  Boston's  neigh- 
borhoods. In  the  1970s  the 
operative  philosophy  in  law 
enforcement  nationwide  held 
that  the  goal  of  the  patrol  force 
was  to  respond  to  calls  to  9-1-1 
as  quickly  as  possible.  In 
Boston  and  elsewhere  rapid  re- 
sponse units  were  formed. 

In  contrast,  in  1987,  Boston 
became  a  leader  in  a  nation- 
wide trend  which  recognizes 
that  law  enforcement  plays  a 
key  role  in  determining  the 
"livability"  of  neighborhoods. 
Beautiful  parks  and  well-paved 
streets  are  meaningless  without 
an  active,  visible  police  pres- 
ence which  seeks  to  prevent  or 


deter  crime  rather  than  simply 
respond  to  9-1-1  calls  report- 
ing crime.  Obviously,  response 
to  emergency  calls  is  still  a 
priority  but  the  department  is 
now  taking  steps  to  reduce  the 
number  of  non-police  calls  for 
service.  This  will  be  achieved 
through  a  series  of  successful 
preventive  patrol  programs 
supported  by  the  purchase  of  a 
new  Enhanced  9-1-1  and  Com- 
puter Aided  Dispatch  system 
and  the  implementation  of  a 
neighborhood-based  patrol 
plan. 

The  preventive  patrol  strat- 
egy depends  upon  the  Depart- 
ment's maintaining  its  commit- 
ment to  increasing  the  number 
of  sworn  personnel.  In  1987 
the  Department  hired  192  new 


officers  bringing  the  Depart- 
ment's complement  of  sworn 
personnel  to  1,972  —  a  12% 
increase  since  1985. 

Breakdown  of  the 

Types  of  Calls 
Received  By  9-1-1 


The  Power  Patrol  Works 

For  many  local  residents  walking  to  the 
store  on  Warren  Street  to  pick  up  a  quart  of 
milk  is  no  longer  the  frightening  experience  it 
was  once.  Only  a  year  ago  the  law  abiding  resi- 
dents of  Area  B  were  afraid  to  approach  neigh- 
borhood shopping  districts  because  of  the  pres- 
ence of  gangs,  drug  dealers  and  people  drinking 
in  public.  There  is  a  new  feeling  of  safety  in 
Area  B  due  to  the  implementation  of  the  Power 
Patrol,  a  brainchild  of  community  activists  and 
the  Area  B  command. 

The  Power  Patrol  is  an  innovative,  proactive 
police  patrol  which  was  formed  in  April  1987  at 
the  request  of  the  Roxbury  and  Mattapan  communi- 
ties. The  Unit  focuses  on  creating  an  envi- 
ronment hostile  to  minor  street  level  crime  which 
can  escalate  into  incidents  of  violent  crime.  En- 
forcement efforts  are  directed  at  drinking  in  pub- 
lic, drug  dealing,  disorderly  conduct  and  nui- 
sance crimes  which  impair  the  quality  of  life  in 
Roxbury  and  Mattapan. 

The  role  of  the  Power  Patrol  is  to  preempt  9-1-1 
calls.  Its  workload  is  not  generated  by  9-1-1 
calls  for  service  but  is  determined  and  driven  by 


neighborhood  intelligence  and  computer  gener- 
ated analysis  which  isolate  the  crime  "hot  spots" 
and  addresses  which  represent  a  high  percentage 
of  the  Area's  9-1-1  calls.  The  Power  Patrol  is 
free  from  most  9-1-1  calls  and  can  effectively 
address  chronic  problems  and  prevent  the  estab- 
lishment of  serious  crime  in  any  specific  neigh- 
borhood area. 

Evidence  that  the  Power  Patrol  works  is  found 
in  crime  statistics  and  the  community's  reactions 
to  the  Unit.  Nine  months  after  the  inception  of 
the  Power  Patrol,  serious  crimes  in  targeted 
areas  have  decreased  five  percent  and  the  Unit 
has  made  2.695  arrests.  Area  merchants  have 
lauded  the  efforts  of  the  Power  Patrol  now  that 
their  customers  can  walk  the  sidewalks  without 
being  accosted  by  disorderly  persons.  Testimony 
to  the  Power  Patrol's  success  is  the  reaction  of 
Jose  Gutierrez,  the  manager  of  a  grocery  store 
on  Parker  Street,  who  said  recently  in  the  Boston 
Globe:  "Before,  the  kids  would  be  standing  in 
front  of  the  store  and  some  customers  would  be 
afraid  to  try  and  walk  through  them  in  order  to 
come  in.  Without  the  Power  Patrol  I  wouldn't 
have  as  much  business  as  I  do." 


Enforcement  Saves  Lives 

During  1986  Area  E  was  plagued  by  3,043 
motor  vehicle  accidents  in  which  six  lives 
were  lost,  several  people  were  injured  and  nu- 
merous automobiles  were  damaged.  The  majority 
of  these  accidents  were  the  direct  result  of  speed- 
ing, running  red  lights  and  drinking  while  driv- 
ing. Deputy  Superintendent  Joseph  Saia,  then 
Commander  of  Area  E,  believed  that  he  could 
have  an  impact  on  this  problem  by  pinpointing 
the  intersections  where  these  accidents  occurred 
and  targeting  those  areas  for  intensive  patrol. 

Area  E  is  the  largest  command  Area  in  the 
City  covering  approximately  sixteen  square  miles 
or  one-third  of  the  City,  including  the  densely 
populated  residential  neighborhoods  of  Hyde 
Park,  West  Roxbury,  Roslindale  and  Jamaica 
Plain.  Some  of  Boston's  major  roads  and  high- 
ways cut  through  these  neighborhoods. 

Using  computer  generated  analyses  as  a  guide, 
"trouble  spots"  which  included  Hyde  Park  Ave- 
nue, Washington  Street,  Cummins  Highway, 
Centre  Street  and  American  Legion  Highway 
were  identified.  On  the  American  Legion  High- 
way alone  there  were  twenty-five  (25)  major  ac- 
cidents in  1986. 

Officers  were  directed  to  target  these  locations 
for  intensive  traffic  enforcement.  The  positive 


results  of  this  effort  became  apparent  almost  imme- 
diately. Motor  vehicle  accidents  decreased  by  eight 
percent  (-8%)  and  deaths  by  seventeen  percent 
(-17%)  in  1987.  Correspondingly,  the  number  of 
citations  issued  increased  by  sixteen  percent 
(+16%). 

Targeted  traffic  enforcement  is  another  exam- 

,ple  of  the  Boston  Police  Department's  effort  to 

respond  to  neighborhood  specific  public  safety 

issues  with  strategies  which  prevent  problems 

from  recurring. 


Sgt.  Roy  Chambers  and  P.  O.  Kenny  Nichols  (now  an 
Area  E  Detective)  patrol  Hyde  Park  Ave.  for  speeders. 


Innovative  preventive  patrol  .  .  .  targeting 
poUce  resources  to  neighborhood-specific 
pubUc  safety  concerns 


In  1987  the  Bureau  of  Field 
Services  began  to  experi- 
ment in  the  use  of  targeted 
preventive  patrol.  Along  with 
the  traditional  sources  of  po- 
lice intelligence,  all  preventive 
patrols  utilize  computer  gener- 
ated analysis  of  high  crime  ar- 
eas and/or  print-outs  listing  the 
addresses  generating  the  high- 
est number  of  calls  to  9-1-1 
for  police  service. 
Early  in   1987  Area  Com- 


manders began  to  receive  regu- 
lar reports  listing  the  high 
crime  locations  called  Report- 
ing Areas  or  "RAs"  which  ac- 
counted for  over  18%  of  the 
serious  crime  citywide.  These 
RAs  are  targeted  for  intensive 
police  patrol  and  the  Area 
Commanders  are  evaluated  on 
their  effectiveness  in  reducing 
crime  in  those  RAs.  In  1987 
crime  was  reduced  in  these  tar- 
geted RAs. 


In  April  1987,  the  Boston 
Police  Power  Patrol  was 
formed  to  reduce  crime  in  high 
incident  "hot  spots"  in  the 
Roxbury  and  Mattapan  neigh- 
borhoods (see  inset  box).  The 
summer  months  saw  the  insfi- 
tution  of  the  Gang  Patrol  Units 
targeting  addresses  citywide 
frequented  by  youths  causing  a 
public  disturbance.  In  the 
Roslindale,  West  Roxbury.  Ja- 
maica Plain  and  Hyde  Park 
neighborhoods,  the  Area  Com- 
mander targeted  high  accident 
intersections  for  intensive  traf- 
fic patrol  (see  inset  box). 

The  primary  goal  of  each  of 


these  efforts  has  been  to  re- 
duce the  incidence  of  crime 
jnd.  as  a  result,   reduce  the 


number  of  calls  to  9-1-1,  free- 
ing more  police  officers  to  pa- 
trol neighborhood  streets. 


Boston  Police  Department 

Crime  Rate  Trend 

Part  One  Crimes  -  1986  vs.  1987 


Crime  Type 

1986 

1987 

°/o   Difference 

Homicide 

106 

75 

-29.20/0 

Rape 

516 

550 

6.60/0 

Robbery 

6,225 

5,408 

-13.10/0 

Aggravated  Assault 

5,549 

5,920 

6.70/0 

Burglary 

10,485 

10,412 

-0.70/0 

Larceny 

26.553 

26.791 

0.90/0 

Auto  Theft 

19,574 

1B,260 

-6.70/0 

Total 

69,008 

67,416 

-2.30/0 

^^i^^^^H^^HM 

^CB^^M^^^i^ 

The  telephone  and  the  computer  .... 
powerful  public  safety  tools  for  the  police 


In  1987  the  Boston  Police  re- 
sponded to  nearly  635,000 
9-1-1  calls  for  service.  The 
Department's  response  to  this 
enormous  volume  of  calls  is 
sometimes  thwarted  by  insuffi- 
cient information.  A  child  who 
doesn't  know  his  exact  ad- 
dress, a  babysitter  who  gives 
the  wrong  address,  an  elderly 
person  who  collapses  before 
giving  the  complete  address  — 
these  situations  often  force  the 


Operations  Division  9-1-1  op- 
erators and  police  dispatchers 
to  pass  on  incomplete  informa- 
tion to  the  responding  patrol 
unit. 

The  installation  of  an  all 
new  Enhanced  9-1-1  (E  9-1-1) 
Computer  Aided  Dispatch 
(CAD)  System  will  revolution- 
ize police  response  to  9-1-1 
calls  by  providing  Department 
operators  instant  access  to  the 
caller's  correct  address  through 


Salvatore  Corrola.  a  Boston  Police  dispatcher,  refers  to  a  computer  screen  that  shows  available  police 
units,  while  in  front  of  him  calls  for  emergency  service  flow  directly  from  the  9-1- 1  operators '  computers. 


Boston  Police  K-9  Officer  shown  here  with  his  K-9 
side-kick  will  celebrate  the  Canine  Unit 's  25th 
year  in  1988. 


the  telephone  lines. 

The  new  E  9-1-1  CAD  Sys- 
tem is  now  under  design  with 
the  assistance  of  outside  con- 
sultants, and  the  design  specifi- 
cations will  be  completed  in 
1988. 

Another  important  feature  of 
this  system  will  be  the  ability 
to  "stack"  9-1-1  calls  for  po- 
lice services  which  do  not  re- 
quire immediate  response.  This 
"stacking"  feature  will  help  to 
ensure  that  patrol  cars  stay  in 
the  neighborhood  assigned  and 
respond  to  calls  in  order  of  im- 
portance. 

Preventive  police  patrol.  En- 
hanced 9-1-1  and  Computer 
Aided  Dispatch  are  all  a  part  of 
the  Department's  Neighbor- 
hood-Based Deployment  Plan, 
for  which  the  Bureau  of  Field 
Services  is  largely  responsible. 
A  new  era  of  policing  has  begun 
but  it  is  important  to  remember 
that  the  strength  of  the  Boston 
Police  Department  always  has 
been,  and  always  will  be  the 
bravery,  pride  and  dedication  of 
the  officers  on  patrol. 


Boston  Police  Department 
9-1-1   Calls  Dispatched 


346 


345 


344 


343 


342 


341 


340 


345,663 


344.301 


1986 


1987 


Tlwre  were  345.863 i'Ikhu-  ciill.\  to  9-1-1  to  which 
a  Boston  Police  Unit  rcspoiuled.  This  figure  does 
not  represent,  however,  the  total  number  of  calls 
received  by  9-1-1  operators,  a  number  which  is 
more  than  double  that  dispatched. 


Boston  Police  Special  Operations  Unit  at  the  scene  of  a  fatal  shooting  on 
Newport  Street  in  Dorchester.  Through  quick  work  and  brave  actions  many 
innocent  lives  were  saved. 


9-1-1 
Response 


The  day  shift  9-1-1  operators  kept  a  watchful 
eye  on  their  computer  screens  as  they  anx- 
iously awaited  the  outcome  of  a  9-1-1  emergency 
call. 

It  was  just  past  lunch  hour  when  a  9-1-1  oper- 
ator received  a  call  from  a  distressed  woman 
who  was  standing  on  the  corner  of  Common- 
wealth Avenue  and  Fairfield  Street  as  a  jarring 
incident  occurred.  She  had  watched  as  a  blue  car 
pulled  up  in  front  of  the  Kingsley  School.  A 
woman  emerged  from  the  car,  left  the  keys  in 
the  ignition  and  entered  the  building.  A  man  ap- 
proached the  car,  opened  the  door,  started  the 
car  and  sped  down  Commonwealth  Avenue.  Un- 
known to  the  car  thief,  a  young  boy  was  sleeping 
securely  in  the  back  seat.  Kidnapping  a  child 
was  more  than  he'd  bargained  for. 

The  female  witness  knew  instinctively  what  to 
do.  She  ran  to  the  nearest  telephone  and  called 
9-1-1.  She  gave  a  detailed  description  of  the 
man,  the  car,  and  the  situation.  The  9-1-1  opera- 
tor entered  the  information  into  the  C.A.D.  Sys- 
tem (Computer  Aided  Dispatch)  and  the  call  au- 


tomatically was  sent  to  a  dispatcher  for  Area  D, 
the  jurisdiction  in  which  the  crime  was  commit- 
ted. The  dispatcher  made  an  announcement  over  \ 
the  radio  frequency  for  Area  D  listing  the  details  | 
of  the  incident,  the  location  and  the  fact  that  the  j 
auto  theft/kidnapping  was  still  in  progress.  Two  | 
units  responded  to  the  call  and  were  at  the  scene  \ 
within  five  minutes. 

As  one  officer  spoke  with  the  distraught 
mother  of  the  child,  another  sped  down  Com-  , 
monwealth  Avenue  in  pursuit  of  the  stolen  vehi-  I 
cle  which  was  headed  towards  a  local  hotel.  The  \ 
blue  car  was  found  abandoned  in  an  alley  behind  1 
the  hotel  with  the  confused  child  still  in  the  back 
seat. 

The  child  was  returned  by  the  officers  to  his 
grateful  mother.  The  car  was  towed  to  Area  D   , 
for  fingerprinting  as  an  ambulance  unit  checked   \ 
to  make  sure  the  boy  had  been  unharmed.  He 
was  fine. 

A  sigh  of  relief  was  heard  through  the  seventh 
floor  of  Boston  Police  Headquarters,  home  of  the   ' 
Operations  Division.  The  operators  saw  that  the   j 
call  had  "cleared"  and  knew  their  9-1-1  Com- 
puter Aided  Dispatch  system  had  made  a  differ-    | 
ence  in  the  life  of  a  little  boy.  j 


Sector  Integrity:  The 

NeiCphDOrnOOCl  Cop  is                      was  no  resistance  at  all,  in  fact  this  neighbor- 

Bflclc  on  tiie  Best                   ^^"^  ^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^^  ^^  which  the  city 

was  always  policed  until  the  advent  of  9-1-1  and 
Tn  June,  1987  Mayor  Flynn  and  Commissioner        computer-aided  dispatch.  Sector  integrity  has 
XRoache  were  proud  to  reopen  the  District        also  been  a  learning  process  for  9-1-1   dis- 
Seven,  East  Boston  station  after  it  was  closed        patchers  who  now  recognize  and  identify  the  sec- 
due  to  Proposition  2-1/2  cutbacks.  With  the  re-        tors  and  the  officers  who  police  them." 
opening  came  the  opportunity  to  field  test  a  pa-            The  officer  in  the  street,  by  working  within 
trol  plan  which  combines  both  old  and  new  po-        neighborhood  sectors,  gets  to  know  its  people 
licing  concepts.  This  new  method  of  policing        and  its  problems.  This  might  involve  identifying 
East  Boston  is  known  as  sector  integrity  and  is        a  high  incident  address,  talking  to  a  kid  on  the 
just  one  component  of  a  larger,  longer  term  pro-        street  corner  who  is  headed  for  trouble  or  to 
ject  entitled  RESPONSE  which  will  change  the        counsel  domestic  violence  victims  on  how  to  best 
way  the  City  of  Boston  is  policed.                               protect  themselves  from  future  victimization.  A 
Sector  integrity  is  a  patrol  plan  in  which  offi-        sense  of  identify  and  accountability  is  established 
cers  are  assigned  to  a  neighborhood  beat  (sector)         in  which  an  officer  wants  to  take  calls  in  his/her 
and  remain  within  that  beat  to  take  9-1-1  calls        sector  because  its  "his  sector"  and  his  area's 
for  service  and  resolve  police-related  problems.         problem.  As  sector  integrity  becomes  a  perma- 
Captain  Scappichio,   Commander  of  District        nent  part  of  East  Boston,  so  too  does  the  familiar 
Seven,  was  asked  if  there  was  resistance  on  the        face  of  the  patrol  officer  in  the  neighborhood, 
part  of  the  public  or  East  Boston  officers  to  this        the  officer  who  has  become  part  of  the  neighbor- 
form  of  policing  and  he  responded  "No,  there         hood's  people,  its  personality  and  its  pride. 

j 

^  v< 

r    r 

; 

Area  A 

Distncl  1      40  New  Sudbury  St  ,  Boslon,  MA 

^ 

r-^ 

1 

/ 

i 

C\.      " 

Area  A 

L^ 

Dislncl  15      City  Square,  Charlestown,  MA 

Area  B 

District  2      135  New  Dudley  St  ,  Roxbury,  MA 
District  3     1163  Blue  Hill  Ave  .  Matt.ipan,  MA 

-    Area  C 

District  6     100  W  Broadway,  S   Boston,  MA 
Detectives     273  "D*  Streel.  S  Boston,  MA 

v.^ 

^ 

d 

r 

c 

N^ 

> 

\ 

^^ 

t 

lO'"^--, 

^ 

Dislncl  11      11  Gibson  St..  Dorchester,  MA 

Area  D 

District  4      7  Warren  Ave  ,  South  End.  MA 
Dislncl  14     301  Washington  St  ,  Brighton,  MA 

Area  E 

1 

/f^'° 

\.Area 

1            * 

r^ 

L 

to 

P 

Area  E      1708  Centre  St  .  W   Roxbury.  MA 
District  5      1249  Hyde  Park  Ave  ,  Hyde  Park,  MA 

<^ 

rA   ^^  is:v 

l 

mi 

x^^ 

V^-^    \                1^/                   X 

^ 

▼ 

/ 

Q%:'\ 

\ 

7 

Vi 

\ 

<-- 

) 

1 

7      "^%^\ 

\ 

J 

lV^^.     Ar.^r 

1 

7 

Area  E          ^~^ 

^1  Existing  Stations 

*^ 

r\ 

r.              '■-. ' 

(czp  To  Be  Constructed 

^v^ 

L        "^  '^  J- 

(^^;  To  Be  Renovated 

\        1 

\  / 

1 

i        1 

\      \ 

V 

1 

i           1 

1 

7  — 

-^ 

Bureau  of  Investigative  Services 


Difficult  and  Dangerous  Jobs 


The  Bureau  of  Investigative  Services  combines  the  skill  of  the 
investigator  and  modern  technology  to  solve  crime 


The  job  of  the  Bureau  of  In- 
vestigative Services  is  to 
investigate  and  solve  crime  — 
to  get  the  criminal  off  the 
streets.  Their  work  is  difficult 
and  because  it  is  done  in  plain- 
clothes, usually  undercover, 
their  long  hours  of  investiga- 
tion are  often  unrecognized  by 


the  public.  The  Bureau  handles 
investigations  ranging  from  or- 
ganized crime  to  homicide  and 
burglary.  Many  of  the  Bu- 
reau's investigations  are  con- 
ducted with  a  "task  force"  ap- 
proach that  often  includes 
other  municipal  and  federal 
law  enforcement  agencies. 


''Fighting  Drugs  and  Violence  in  Boston's 
Neighborhoods ' ' 


There  is  no  more  dangerous 
assignment  than  the  Bu- 
reau's    Drug     Control     Unit 


(DCU).  The  sixty  men  and 
women  of  the  DCU  put  their 
lives  on  the  line  every  day  — 


making  undercover  buys,  serv- 
ing warrants  and  conducting 
surveillance.  Investigations  can 
be  long  and  frustrating  yet  the 
Unit  gets  results,  (see  inset 
box)  In  1987  drug  arrests  in- 
creased 258%  as  compared  to 
1984  and  23%  as  compared  to 
1986.  Not  only  have  the  num- 
bers increased  but.  most  sig- 
nificantly, the  quantity  of  the 
drugs  seized  has  increased. 

The  Drug  Control  Unit  con- 
ducts investigations  and  makes 
arrests  in  every  neighborhood 
of  the  City.  In   1987  the  Unit 


made  major  arrests  in  neigh- 
borhoods from  the  North  End 
to  Mattapan  and  East  Boston  to 
Roslindale.  Many  of  these 
achievements  have  been  made 
possible  by  cooperative  investi- 
gations with  the  Drug  Enforce- 
ment Administration,  the  State 
Police  and  other  local  police 
departments. 
Gang   activity   has   become 


nearly  synonymous  with  drug 
trafficking.  In  1986  the  Jamai- 
can Gang  Unit  was  formed  in 
response  to  the  particularly 
violent  nature  of  Jamaican 
gangs  called  "posses."  In 
1987.  thanks  to  the  cooperative 
efforts  of  the  Jamaican  Gang 
Unit,  the  Drug  Control  Unit 
and  the  Power  Patrol,  Jamai- 
can gang-related  violence  de- 


creased. Drug-related  homi- 
cides decreased  by  twenty- 
three  in  1987  and  the  Jamaican 
Gang  Unit,  as  a  part  of  the 
Area  B/Federal  Government 
Organized  Drug  Enforcement 
Task  Force,  has  seized  hun- 
dreds of  automatic  weapons 
from  Jamaican  gang  members. 


A  Special  Sensitivity  to 
Victims  of  Rape 

Prior  to  May.  1984  victims  of  sexual 
assault  may  have  felt  further  victimized  by 
the  system.  Today,  thanks  to  the  establishment 
of  the  Sexual  Assault  Unit,  things  have  changed 
for  the  better. 

The  goal  of  the  Department  in  forming  the 
specialized  Sexual  Assault  Unit  was  to  encourage 
victims  to  come  forward  and  report  rape  and  at- 
tempted rape.  The  Unit  is  staffed  by  eleven  de- 
tectives and  two  superior  officers.  These  offi- 
cers, once  notified  of  an  incident,  are  available 
twenty-four  hours  a  day,  365  days  a  year,  to  re- 
spond to  the  scene  and  initiate  an  investigation. 
The  courts  ensure  that  the  victim  is  helped  by  a 
victim  assistant  throughout  the  adjudication  proc- 
ess. The  Sexual  Assault  Unit  makes  itself  availa- 
ble by  assisting  the  victim  when  he  or  she  re- 
quires additional  information,  transportation  to 
the  court  or  by  offering  support  that  is  otherwise 
unavailable. 

The  officers  of  the  Sexual  Assault  Unit  attend 
a  Rape  Investigations  Course  which  is  given  by 
the  Massachusetts  Criminal  Justice  Training 
Council.  During  this  forty-hour  training  period 
the  officers  learn  how  to  interview  victims  and 
are  trained  in  the  particulars  of  investigating  sex- 
ual assault  crimes.  This  training  helps  the  offi- 
cers to  become  sensitive  to  the  special  needs  of 
the  sexual  assault  victim. 

In  addition  to  investigations,  the  Unit  is  also 
active  in  efforts  to  educate  the  community  in 
rape  prevention.  In  1987  the  Sexual  Assault  Unit 
attended  fifty  community  meetings  and  provided 


residents  with  information  which  included: 
"What  to  do  if  you  are  a  rape  victim  ..." 

•  Get  help.  Go  to  a  safe  place  and  call  the 
police.  The  police  can  take  you  to  the 
hospital  and  get  your  description  of  the 
attacker. 

•  Do  not  shower,  bathe,  brush  your  teeth 
or  destroy  any  of  the  clothing  you  are 
wearing.  If  you  must  change  your  clothes 
before  going  to  the  hospital,  place  each 
article  of  clothing  in  separate  paper  bags 
so  the  evidence  is  not  destroyed. 

•  If  you  go  to  the  hospital  on  your  own  for 
tests  and  still  do  not  wish  to  contact  the 
police,  the  hospital  will  keep  the  evi- 
dence you  bring  for  six  months  in  case 
you  elect  to  contact  the  police  later  on. 

These  education  efforts  are  very  important,  but 
the  Unit's  most  important  role  is  investigative.  In 
1987  there  were  414  reported  rapes  and  the  Unit 
conducted  867  investigations  of  rape,  attempted 
rape  and  indecent  assault  and  battery.  The  Unit 
effected  215  arrests,  testified  in  34  rape  hearings 
and  issued  20  outstanding  warrants,  all  of  which 
contributed  to  the  clearance  of  280  cases. 

Statistics  can  only  tell  part  of  the  story.  The 
real  difference  for  victims  of  rape  is  that  the 
Boston  Police  Department  has  identified  one  Unit 
sensitive  to  their  concerns.  As  Dave  Rodman  of 
the  Suffolk  County  District  Attorney's  Office  has 
said,  "Ever  since  the  Sexual  Assault  Unit  was 
established  the  victims  of  sexual  assault  have  re- 
ceived better  emotional  support  and  understand- 
ing." 

The  commitment  will  continue  in  1988. 


Behind  the  scenes  of  an  investigation 


The  ncpartincnt's  dctcc- 
ti\os,  whether  they  work 
in  the  Sexual  Assault  Unit,  the 
DruiZ    Control     Unit     or    the 


Honiieide  Unit  depend  upon 
inereasingly  sophisticated  tech- 
nology to  help  them  do  their 
jobs. 


In  1987  the  Boston  Police 
Department  expanded  its  net- 
work of  computers  which  are 
directly  linked  to  the  National 
Crime  Information  Center 
(NCIC).  This  network  now  en- 


Boston  Police  Department 


1984  -  1987 


1984 


1985 


1986 


1987 


Since  1984  the  total  number  of  arrests  effected  by  the  Boston  Police  Department  have  progressively  in- 
creased. In  1987,  arrests  increased  sixteen  percent. 


Detective  Richard  Doyle  of  the  BPD  Video  Unit 
displays  a  laser  disk  that  holds  thousands  of  mug 
shots,  and  the  video  pallette  that  is  used  to  ac- 
cess the  images  and  alter  them  to  account  for  a 
mustache  that  has  since  been  shaved  or  perhaps 
approxinuUe  what  he  might  look  like  with  a  hat. 


Technology  as  a  Weapon 
Against  Crime 

As  she  prepared  for  her  early  morning  jog, 
the  last  thing  on  the  young  woman's  mind  was 
the  possibility  of  becoming  a  victim  of  crime.  After 
completing  her  first  few  laps  around  the  Chestnut 
Hill  Reservoir  she  was  brutally  attacked  from  be- 
hind by  an  assailant  who  stabbed  her  several  times. 
Although  injured,  the  jogger  was  able  to  break  free 
from  her  assailant  and  obtain  help  from  a  passerby. 
Fortunately  the  Boston  Police  Department  had  re- 
cently obtained  a  video  identification  computer 
which  it  makes  available  to  various  police  agencies 
in  surrounding  cities  and  towns.  The  computer  is 
utilized  to  identify  suspects  who  use  weapons  in  vio- 
lent crimes,  drug  related  robberies  and  sexual  as- 
saults —  types  of  crime  which  are  characterized  by 
repeat  offenses.  This  highly  sophisticated  equip- 


ment searches  an  extensive  data  base  of  arrest  re- 
cords, mug  shots  and  personal  descriptions  to  iso- 
late offenders  whose  behavior  and  appearance  fit 
characteristics  described  by  the  victim.  Gender, 
race,  color  of  hair  and  eyes,  build,  nicknames  and 
gang  affiliation  are  only  some  of  the  variables  by 
which  the  system  can  isolate  a  likely  suspect.  If  the 
computer  does  not  contain  a  photo  record  matching 
the  victim's  description,  the  victim  can  easily  con- 
struct a  computer  generated  photo  composite. 

As  the  young  woman  provided  the  detectives  with 
a  description  of  her  assailant  that  morning,  the  in- 
formation was  entered  into  the  computer  and  a 
group  of  photos  was  generated  which  fit  the  descrip- 
tion of  her  attacker.  Within  hours  of  what  was  a 
traumatic  morning  for  the  runner,  her  assailant  was 
identified  and  apprehended  by  Boston  Police  detec- 
tives. 


10 


ables  Boston  Police  detectives, 
assigned  throughout  the  City's 
-)olice  districts,  to  directly 
[ucry  the  powerful  NCIC 
clearinghouse  about  crime  oc- 
curring throughout  the  nation. 
Included  in  NCIC  are  volu- 
minous data  bases  on  wanted 
and  missing  persons.  Details 
such  as  age,  sex,  race,  aliases, 
extensive  personal  descriptors 
and  criminal  offenses  are  in- 
cluded in  warrant  files  in  order 
to  assist  law  enforcement  agen- 
cies in  the  immediate  identifi- 
cation and  apprehension  of 
wanted  felons.  Extensive  files 
are  also  maintained  on  nation- 
wide stolen  property  which  of- 
ten travel  many  miles  to  buy- 
ers who  believe  they  are 
insulated  by  distance  from  the 
discovery    of   their    illegally 

rained  purchases. 
Because  the  computers  make 
uirect  inquiries  to  NCIC,  com- 
puter response  time  is  quick, 
efficient  and  effective.  Victims 
of  property  crimes  in  Boston 
can  be  assured  that  their  prop- 


erty, if  found  by  another  law 
enforcement  agency  in  Massa- 
chusetts or  elsewhere  in  the 
United  States,  can  and  will  be 
traced  to  its  rightful  owner 
through  NCIC. 
In  addition  to  the  NCIC  net- 


work, the  Department  has  pur- 
chased a  video  identification 
computer  (see  inset  box)  and 
has  access  to  the  State  Police 
fingerprint  identification  com- 
puter which  will  speed  police 
investigations. 


Boston  Police  Department 
Citywide  Drug  Arrests 

January  through  December 
1984  -  1987 


S.OOD 

5,000 
4,500 
4,000 
3,500 
3,000 
2,500 

3534 

1984 

Aoay 

tOOr 


4122 


1985 


1986 


1987 


Citywide  Drug  Arrests  have  increased  258%  since  1984.  These  arrest  figures  represent  drug  arrests  ef- 
fected by  all  units,  including  the  Drug  Control  Unit,  area  police  officers,  detectives  and  special  units. 


The  Drug  Control  Unit: 
Operation  Dolpliin 

In  November  1986  a  major  drug  investigation 
began  when  a  confidential  informant  put  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Drug  Control  Unit  in  touch  with  an  unsus- 
pecting drug  dealer.  The  meeting  took  place  at  the 
New  England  Aquarium  and  the  investigation 
quickly  became  known  as  Operation  Dolphin. 

The  investigation  led  from  the  root  of  the  drug 
ring  in  East  Boston  to  the  neighboring  towns  of 
Everett,  Chelsea  and  Revere.  Spanish-speaking  of- 
ficers were  able  to  translate  intercepted  phone  con- 
versations and  wire  taps,  eventually  "breaking  the 
code." 

Once  the  code  was  broken,  members  of  the 
Boston  Police  Drug  Control  Unit,  search  warrant  in 


hand,  carefully  combed  through  racks  of  apparel  in 
the  closet  of  a  house  on  Nichols  Street  in  Everett. 
One  member  of  the  search  team  noticed  one  odd 
plank  on  the  floor  of  the  closet  which  was  lighter  in 
color  than  the  rest. 

He  lifted  the  blonde  plank  to  reveal  an  abandoned 
stairwell  leading  to  their  first  floor,  the  perfect  hid- 
ing place.  The  detective  reached  his  hand  into  the 
darkness  to  feel  for  what  eyes  could  not  see  and  im- 
mediately knew  it  was  all  over.  After  nine  months 
of  16-hour  days  and  seven-day s-a- week  surveil- 
lance, the  case  was  broken.  Under  the  board  inside 
the  closet  were  five  kilos  of  Cocaine.  The  ring  was 
responsible  for  the  distribution  of  approximately  30 
kilos  of  Cocaine  per  month  destined  for  the  streets 
of  Boston  and  neighboring  communities,  but  as  a 
result  of  this  investigation,  the  Drug  Control  Unit 
dismantled  their  operation. 


11 


Disrupting  Organized  Crime 

During  the  tall  of  1986,  the  Boston 
Police  Organized  Crime  Unit  began  an  investi- 
gation into  illegal  gaming  operations  in  the  Charles- 
town  neighborhood.  The  target  of  the  investigation 
was  known  to  have  links  with  traditional  La  Cosa 
Nostra  factions  and  was  the  head  of  a  lucrative 
sports  betting  syndicate. 

Between  December  1986  and  February  1987, 
with  the  assistance  of  the  Suffolk  County  District 
Attorney's  Office,  a  series  of  court-ordered  tele- 
phone intercepts  were  installed  to  obtain  evidence 
against  the  upper  levels  of  the  illegal  operation.  The 
wiretaps  not  only  produced  evidence  on  the 
Charlestown  operation,  it  also  revealed  an  exten- 
sive gaming  system  servicing  much  of  Eastern 
Massachusetts. 

On  February  6,  1987,  the  five-month  investiga- 
tion came  to  fruition.  Armed  with  fourteen  search 


warrants,  a  total  of  seventy-five  Boston  Police  de- 
tectives assisted  by  officers  from  the  neighboring 
towns  of  Everett,  Medford,  Revere,  Chelsea, 
Stoneham,  Somerville  and  Waltham  raided  loca- 
tions and  seized  large  quantities  of  gaming  equip- 
ment and  records,  forty  thousand  dollars  in  cash, 
quantities  of  Cocaine  and  seven  firearms. 

The  investigation  was  far  from  over.  On  March 
13,  1987,  a  Suffolk  County  Grand  Jury  considered 
the  evidence  seized  during  the  investigation  and  re- 
turned a  total  of  ninety-eight  indictments  ranging 
from  violations  of  gaming  laws,  drug  and  firearms 
violations  to  telecommunications  fraud  and  viola- 
tions of  the  Organized  Crime  Statute. 

Subsequently,  twenty-eight  persons  were  ar- 
rested and  arraigned  in  Suffolk  Superior  Court 
where,  to  date,  charges  are  pending  against  nine- 
teen defendants  involved  in  organized  crime  in  the 
Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 


Donald  Hayes,  a  crime  lab  technician  shown  here  us- 
ing a  high-powered  microscope,  compares  a  hair  taken 
from  the  suspect  after  his  arrest  to  onefourul  at  the  scene 
of  the  crime.  Clues  turned  up  by  our  forensic  experts 
become  a  crucial  part  of  many  criminal  cases. 


(oston  police  Department 
HOI^ICIDE 

1986  Versus  1987 


125 


00 


lOfo 

\fli;'j|*j|](!ii;"j|i''ifi''j  rr 


75 


1986 


1987* 


*The  1987  Homicide  total  represents  the  lowest  number  of 
homicides  reported  in  Boston  since  1978. 


illliiiilii!l[iiillliiii]|]i<nili[iiliilllli:iililliNiii!iiiii;ii|iiiiiii!i'i 


Homicides  decreased  twenty-nine  percent  in  1987.  The 
efforts  of  the  Power  Patrol.  Gang  Units  and  the  Drug 
Control  Unit  contributed  greatly  to  the  decreasing  in- 
cidence of  deadly  drug  related  violence. 


12 


Bureau  of  Neighborhood  Services 


The  Community  Disorder  Unit  (from  left  to  right)  Gail  Suyemoto.  Sgt.  Det.  William  Johnston,  Interpreter  Thong  Chalemsouk,  Int.  Chanrity  Uong,  Del.  James 
Seal.  Int.  Nguyen  Pham,  Det.  Joseph  Poggi.  Del.  William  Fredericks.  Int.  Quang  Ha.  Det.  Miguel  Novo.  P.O.  Jerome  Bowen.  Mary  Boccuzzi 


Ensuring  Access- 
Caring  for  Victims 

The  Bureau  of  Neighborhood  Services 
responds  quickly  to  changing  community 
needs  .  .  . 


Senior  citizens,  victims  of 
domestic  violence  and  recent 
immigrants  are  among  the  many 
Boston  residents  who  have  been 
assisted  by  the  Bureau  of  Neigh- 
borhood Services. 

The  Bureau  of  Neighborhood 
Services  was  established  in  1985 
by  Commissioner  Roache  and 


has  primary  responsibility  for 
investigating  and  monitoring 
civil  rights  violations,  address- 
ing issues  of  crime  prevention 
education  and  working  with  the 
victims  of  crime.  The  Bureau  in- 
cludes the  Domestic  Violence/ 
Victim  Assistance  Unit,  the  Sen- 
ior Response  Unit,  the  Officer 


13 


Friendly  Program,  the  Commu- 
nity Disorders  Unit  and  the 
Neighborhood  Watch  Program. 
Since  1985,  the  Bureau  of 
Neighborhood  Services  has  de- 
veloped and  grown  in  response 
to  community  needs.  In  1986  the 
Community  Disorders  Unit  be- 
gan to  focus  on  the  concerns  of 
homosexuals  and  recent  immi- 
grants. In  1987  the  Neighbor- 
hood Watch  Program  was 
greatly  expanded  to  comprise 
over  259  neighborhood  crime 
watches  (see  inset  boxes).  In 
1988,  as  in  the  past,  the  priori- 
ties of  the  Bureau  of  Neighbor- 
hood Services  will  revolve 
around  community  concerns, 
particularly  rape  prevention  ed- 
ucation and  family  violence. 


Neighborhood  Watch:  A 
Partnership  for  the  Future 

Chris  Hayes,  Director  of  the  Boston  Police 
Neighborhood  Watch  Program,  describes  it 
as  "a  dynamic  strategy  to  bring  together  the  di- 
verse people  of  Boston's  neighborhoods  around  a 
common  goal;  peace  and  quiet  on  their  streets." 
From    Charlestown    to    Hyde    Park,    from 
Roxbury  to  Bay  Village,  people  are  coming  to- 
gether to  prevent  crime  by  forming  neighbor- 
hood crime  watch  groups.  Neighborhood  watch 
members  keep  a  close  eye  on  their  neighbor- 
hoods —  reporting  all  suspicious  activity  to  the 
Boston  Police.  The  Department  credits  the  crime 
watch  groups  with  providing  valuable  informa- 
tion about  illegal  activities.   The  Neighborhood 
Watch  Program  has  really  brought  about  a  new 
partnership  between  neighborhoods  and  police 
officers.  Neighborhood  Justice  Network  Director 
Crisley  Wood  believes  that  "the  crime  watch 
groups  in  Boston  have  rebuilt  the  spirit  of  the 
neighborhoods." 

The  activities  of  neighborhood  crime  watches 
best  speak  for  themselves: 

•  During  1987  when  a  series  of  slashing  at- 
tacks on  women  began  south  of  Boston, 
the  Neighborhood  Watch  Program  was 
able  to  mobilize  dozens  of  blocks  of 
neighbors  to  come  together  to  still  fears 
and  to  watch  out  for  one  another.  Com- 
posite drawings  of  the  suspect  were  dis- 
tributed and  the  police  agreed  to  increase 
patrols  on  the  streets.  Three  months  later 
the  alleged  assailant  was  under  arrest. 

•  As  a  young  woman  walked  home  early 
one  evening  she  sensed  that  she  was  be- 
ing followed  closely  by  a  car  which 
eventually  cut  her  off.  A  fellow  member 
of  a  newly  formed  Hyde  Park  crime 
watch  group  was  watching  the  activity 
from  her  window  and  quickly  telephoned 
nearby  neighbors.  Within  minutes,  sev- 
eral people  appeared  on  the  street  which 
intimidated  the  driver  and  caused  him  to 
speed  away.  Thanks  to  the  "watchful 
eyes"  of  the  neighbor,  an  incident  was 


ended  before  it  could  escalate  into  vio- 
lence. 

•  In  East  Boston  residents  of  a  housing  de- 
velopment became  tired  of  drug  traffick- 
ers and  organized  a  neighborhood  crime 
watch  group.  As  a  result  of  the  group 
working  closely  with  detectives  from  the 
Drug  Control  Unit,  seventeen  tenants 
dealing  drugs  were  evicted. 

•  A  member  of  a  Mattapan  crime  watch 
group  complained  to  the  police  about  a 
house  on  her  street  that  had  become  a 
"drug  house."  Detectives  from  the  Drug 
Control  Unit  conducted  a  thorough  inves- 
tigation which  resulted  in  the  arrest  of  a 
suspect.  The  culprit  turned  out  to  be  an 
individual  who  had  been  tormenting  resi- 
dents in  the  area  for  months. 

•  Oftentimes  a  neighborhood  crime  watch 
boils  down  to  one  person's  persistent  ef- 
forts. In  the  South  End,  a  woman's  de- 
termination resulted  in  a  number  of  ar- 
rests in  her  building  and  the  return  of 
security  guards  to  the  building  despite 
budget  constraints.  Perhaps  the  most  im- 
portant thing  she  accomplished  was  that 
she  returned  a  sense  of  freedom  to  the 
residents. 

Although  259  neighborhood  crime  watch 
groups  are  currently  in  existence  throughout  the 
City  (77  new  groups  were  formed  in  1987), 
Commissioner  Roache  said  recently  "I  would 
like  to  see  a  neighborhood  crime  watch  group  on 
every  street  in  the  City.  This  sort  of  police  and 
resident  partnership  is  the  wave  of  the  future." 


Boston  Organizers  o/National  Night  Out  {from  L-R)  Lorraine  McMullm.  Mike 
Svector  of  she  BPD  as  McGruffthe  Crime  Dog.  Ed  Brooks  ofDrop-A-Dime, 
Judith  Lorei  of  Sireelsafe .  Lucy  Grover  Of  the  BPD  Crime  Watch  Program. 
Marisa  Jones  ofNJN.  and  Chris  Hayes,  director  of  Crime  Watch  Program. 


14 


Your  Civil  Rights  are  guaranteed  .  .  . 


No  resident  or  visitor  to 
Boston  will  be  denied  access 
to  any  neighborhood  or  public 
place  in  the  City  —  that  right  is 
guaranteed  by  the  Constitution 
and  ensured  by  the  Community 
Disorders  Unit  of  the  Boston  Po- 
lice Department.  The  Unit  in- 
vestigates all  incidents  of  alleged 
civil  rights  violations  and.  with 
the  District  Attorney,  prepares 


those  cases  for  trial. 

In  1988  the  Community  Dis- 
orders Unit  will  celebrate  its 
tenth-year  anniversary.  Perhaps 
in  another  ten  years  the  Unit  will 
no  longer  be  necessary  and  will 
be  disbanded.  Until  that  time  the 
Boston  Police  will  use  whatever 
means  necessary,  be  it  education 
or  arrest,  and  to  stop  civil  rights 
violations. 


The  needs  of  tomorrow,  anticipated  today.  . 


In  1987  the  Bureau  of  Neigh- 
borhood Services  began  look- 
ing ahead  to  the  concerns  of 
1988.  The  Community  Disor- 
ders Unit,  with  the  assistance  of 
funding  from  the  Common- 
wealth of  Massachusetts  and  the 
City  of  Boston,  designed  a  pro- 
gram targeting  recent  young  im- 
migrants called  the  Gateway  Cit- 


ies Program.  The  program, 
which  will  be  implemented  in 
1988  in  the  Boston  Public 
Schools,  teaches  recent  immi- 
grant youth  about  their  civil 
rights  and  the  support  the  Boston 
Police  can  provide.  These  young 
people  are  a  very  important  audi- 
ence because  in  the  households 
of  recent  immigrants,  they  are 


Boston  Police  Department 

Civil   Rights   Incidents 

and   Prosecutions 

In  14X7  Ihcrc  were  four  tcwcr  incidcnisf  -3'f  I  rcptincd  [nlhc 
Comnuinil)  Disorders  Unil  than  reported  in  I9H6  Whili 
repiined  ineidenls  decreased,  enminal  and  eivil  prnseeutions  in 
ereased  The  Comniunitv  Disorders  Unit  found  sulTicienl  e\  idenet 
to  brine  fomial  eflargcs  in  twent)  seven  pereent  1 27";;  )  ol  its  eases 
dn  increase  of  l>3'^;  over  the  number  ot  charges  brought  thi 
previous  year 
170 


160 

150 


130 
120 
110 

too 


154 

150 

J 

Prosecuted 

11% 

prosecuted 

1986 


1987 


often  the  only  family  members 
who  speak  any  English. 
Through  these  children  the  De- 
partment hopes  to  reach  older 
immigrants  so  that  they  too 
know  iheir  rights  as  citizens  of 
the  United  States. 


Commissioner  Francis  '  'Mickey ' '  Roache,  with  Danny  Marsden  and  Gary  Laboy,  two  of  the  city 's  high  schoolers  who  attended  a  meeting 
at  the  Parkman  House  to  discuss  ways  to  reduce  violence  among  teenagers. 


15 


Sanla  gets  a  lift  from  BPD  Mounted  Officer  Bernie  Graves  and  his  horse  Timothy.  The  police  officer  on  a  horse  is  a  goodwill  ambassador  to  the  general  public 
and  a  highly  visible  presence  that  assures  order  in  the  busy  downtown  scene. 


New  approaches  to  family  violence  .  .  . 


Victims  are  the  priority  of 
the  Bureau  of  Neighbor- 
hood Services,  particularly  vic- 
tims of  family  violence.  By 
1987  the  Department  imple- 
mented new  procedures  for  re- 
porting incidents  of  domestic 
violence  aimed  at  increasing 


police  reporting.  In  1987  the 
number  of  family  trouble  calls 
to  9-1-1  increased  only  9% 
while  the  number  of  reports  of 
family  violence  increased 
61%.  The  Domestic  Violence 
Unit  reviews  these  reports  and 
tracks  the  resolution  of  these 
cases. 


Educating  the  young  and  old  in  personal 
safety  .  .  . 


At  seven  years  of  age,  children 
are  just  learning  about  the 
world  around  them,  and  in  1987. 
the  Boston  Police  Department 
instructed  nearly  28,000  ele- 
mentary age  children  in  how  to 
make  that  world  a  little  safer. 
The  Officer  Friendly  Program, 
sponsored  in  part  by  the  Sears 


Roebuck  Foundation,  visits 
kindergarten  through  third  grade 
classrooms  across  the  City  offer- 
ing personal  safety  lessons  and  a 
positive  introduction  to  law  en- 
forcement. 

Young  and  old  alike  can  bene- 
fit from  personal  safety  tips,  par- 
ticularly Seniors  who  are  often 


16 


Boston  Police  Department 

Who  to  Call: 

Sexual  Assault  Unit  247-4400 

Senior  Response  Unit  247-4355 

Consumer  Fraud  Unit  247-4490 

Missing  Persons  247-4687 

Officer  Friendly  247-4345 

Drug  Hot  Line  247-4697 

Domestic  Violence  247-4345 

Victim  Assistance  247-4345 

The  BPD  has  a  number  of  highly  trained  units 
which  offer  specialized  assistance  to  citizens. 


alone  and  vulnerable  to  fear  and 
crime.  The  Boston  Police  Senior 
Response  Unit  is  specially 
trained  to  ease  fears,  offer  crime 
prevention  advice  and  provide 
support  to  the  elderly  if  a  crime 
occurs,  (see  inset  box) 


Advocates  for  the  Elderly: 
The  Senior  Response  Unit 

Have  you  ever  gone  to  visit  an  elderly  rela- 
tive or  friend,  opened  up  their  refrigerator 
and  wondered  what  that  little  brown  vial  on  the 
top  shelf  was?  The  vial  is  a  part  of  the  "Vial  of 
Life"  program  sponsored  by  the  Boston  Police 
Senior  Response  Unit  and  CVS  Drugstores.  The 
Boston  Police  Department  and  Emergency  Medi- 
cal Services  Personnel  have  been  alerted  to  the 
location  of  these  vials  so  they  can  find  them  in 
the  event  of  an  emergency.  Inside  the  vials  is  in- 
formation which  could  save  an  elderly  person 
who  has  been  found  unconscious,  incoherent  or 
is  unable  to  speak  English.  The  information  in- 
cludes the  person's  name,  address  and  telephone 
number,  doctor's  name  and  telephone  number, 
pharmacy  and  telephone  number,  allergies,  medi- 
cations taken,  medical  problems,  medical  insur- 
ance number  and  persons  to  contact  in  an  emer- 
gency. 

The  "Vial  of  Life"  is  just  one  of  the  many 
programs  introduced  and  sponsored  by  the 
Boston  Police  Department's  Senior  Response 
Unit.  Created  in  October,  1984,  the  Senior  Re- 
sponse Unit  is  the  first  of  its  kind  to  be  incorpo- 
rated into  a  police  department  anywhere.  It  is 
staffed  by  two  sergeants  and  ten  patrol  officers 
each  assigned  to  a  particular  area  of  the  City.  To 
qualify  as  a  member  of  this  Unit,  each  officer 
must  graduate  from  the  Massachusetts  Criminal 
Justice  Training  Center  with  a  certificate  in 
Crime  Prevention  and  possess  a  sincere  desire  to 
help  seniors. 

The  Unit's  primary  goal  is  to  provide  Boston's 
senior  community  with  a  genuine  sense  of  secu- 
rity and  the  highest  level  of  police  services  pos- 
sible. When  a  crime  involving  an  elderly  person 
occurs,  not  only  do  the  Boston  Police  perform 
their  standard  investigation  but  the  Senior  Re- 
sponse Unit  is  also  notified  of  the  incident.  A 
member  of  the  Unit  visits  the  victim  and  spends 
the  extra  time  that  a  regular  patrol  officer  can- 
not. The  officer  listens  to  complaints,  fears  and 
problems  the  victim  may  be  having  as  a  result  of 
the  incident.  Too  often,  after  an  elderly  person 
has  been  a  victim  of  a  crime,  such  as  purse 


snatching  or  mugging,  they  become  prisoners  in 
their  home.  The  Senior  Response  officer  is  there 
to  provide  crime  prevention  tips  and  reassure  the 
victim.  One  of  Boston's  senior  citizens  and  a 
resident  of  the  Woodburn  Senior  Housing  Com- 
plex, who  feels  that  the  Senior  Response  Unit  is 
making  a  difference  stated,  "It's  been  great  hav- 
ing the  Senior  Response  Unit,  you  can  always 
depend  on  them.  During  a  twenty-hour  blackout 
in  1987,  an  officer  from  the  Senior  Response 
Unit  went  through  the  building  with  her  flash 
light  checking  on  the  tenants." 

The  Unit  also  conducts  crime  prevention  semi- 
nars during  community  meetings,  senior  citizen 
meetings  and  other  senior  functions.  In  addition 
to  the  "Vial  of  Life"  program  the  Unit  has  in- 
troduced the  Whistle  Program,  the  Bunco  Pro- 
gram, Operation  I.D.,  the  Pedestrian  Education 
Driver  Safety  Program  which  included  Selective 
Enforcement  programs  and  Elderly  Crossing 
Signs,  9-1-1  Tours,  the  Anti-Crime  Strategies 
and  the  Senior  Response  Column  in  the  Boston 
Seniority. 


Sergeant  Russell  Black,  Commander  of  the  Senior  Response  Unit,  with  Dorothy 
Bell,  an  elderly  affairs  advocate,  at  the  Woodboume  Senior  Residence. 


.17- 


Upholding  the  Values  of  the 
Boston  Police  Department 


The  Bureau  of  Professional  Standards  is  Tough  but  Fair 


In  1985  the  Bureau  of  Pro- 
fessional Standards  was  es- 
tablished by  Commissioner 
Roache  as  an  internal  monitor- 
ing and  investigation  mecha- 
nism to  ensure  that  the  values 
of  the  Boston  Police  are  up- 
held by  all   Department  em- 


ployees. The  Commissioner 
made  his  expectations  for  the 
Department  very  clear  through 
his  statement  of  departmental 
values  (see  inset  box)  and  his 
order  creating  the  Bureau  of 
Professional  Standards  in 
1985. 
18 


The  Bureau  is  comprised  of 
three  divisions  which  include 
Anti-Corruption.  Staff  Inspec- 
tion and  Internal  Affairs. 

The  Anti-Corruption  Divi- 
sion investigates  allegations  of 
employee  wrong-doing. 

The  Staff  Inspection  Divi- 


sion  reviews  and  reports  on  the 
professional  appearance  and 
bearing  of  officers  as  well  as 
adherence  to  administrative 
procedure  outlined  in  the  rules, 
regulations  and  special  orders. 
Staff  Inspection  is  also  respon- 
sible for  supervising  the  opera- 
tions and  performance  of  private 
towing  companies  working  with 
the  Boston  Police. 

The  Internal  Affairs  Division 
is  charged  with  monitoring  and 
investigating  use  of  force  by 
police  officers  and  violations 
of  the  rules  and  regulations  by 
Department  personnel. 

Based  on  conservative  esti- 
mates of  police  enforcement 
activities  in  1987,  there  were 
only  five  complaints  for  every 
10,000  interactions,  (see  table 
A)  This  ratio  of  complaints  to 
interactions  compares  favor- 
ably with  other  police  depart- 
ments. 


Values  of  the  Boston  Police 

The  Boston  Police  Department's  vision  for  excellence  incorporates 

goals  and  objectives  for  the  Department  to  assure  a  professional  and 

coordinated  response  to  the  complex  safety  issues  facing  our  city.  The 

values  of  the  Department  should  be  philosophically  compatible  with 

those  of  our  citizens  we  serve. 

I.  The  Boston  Police  Department  will  utilize  any  and  all  of  its  resources 
to  protect  citizens  from  those  persons  who  would,  by  force  or  threat 
of  force,  willfully  injure,  intimidate,  interfere  with,  opress  or  threaten 
any  other  person. 

II.  If  the  Department  is  to  be  successful,  it  will  be  above  suspicion.  The 
Department  will  not  be  compromised  in  the  area  of  integrity;  every 
effort  will  be  made  to  maintain  credibility  with  the  public  by  deliver- 
ing public  service  without  personal  gain.  The  Department  recognizes 
that  integrity  is  the  cornerstone  of  an  excellent  department. 

III.  The  true  professional's  attitude  reflects  great  respect  for  the  public. 
Our  programs  instill  proper  and  professional  attitudes  based  upon 
courteous  and  respectful  interaction  with  the  public. 

IV.  Recognizing  its  primary  role  is  to  serve  the  public,  the  Department 
knows  its  success  depends  on  the  cooperation  of  the  community  -  it 
has  developed  a  partnership  based  upon  a  common  purpose  and  mutual 
respect. 

V.  The  Department  is  committed  to  the  livability  of  our  city.  Each  and 
every  member  makes  a  personal  commitment  to  earn  the  public's 
goodwill  and  becomes  an  advocate  for  the  city's  pride.  Good  polic- 
ing is  viewed  in  terms  of  human  values  rather  than  a  bureaucratic, 
mechanical  or  technical  task-orientated  mission. 


Bureau  of  Administrative  Services 


A  Highly  Professional  Team 
Working  Behind  the  Scenes 

The  Bureau  of  Administrative  Services  recognizes  that  the 
administration  must  support  the  needs  of  the  officer  on  the  street 


Public  expectations  of  Ad- 
ministrative Services  per- 
sonnel should  be  as  high  as 
our  expectations  of  police  offi- 
cers —  proficient  administra- 
tive staff  contributes  critical 


support  to  field  operations. 
With  this  in  mind  the  Boston 
Police  Department  has  re- 
cruited and  assembled  a  highly 
professional  administrative 
team.  From  the  crime  analysts 

20 


to  the  instructors  at  the  Police 
Academy  to  the  custodians, 
purchasing  clerks,  program- 
mers, auto  mechanics,  police 
artists  and  computer  operators 
—  all  are  a  part  of  a  mostly  ci- 


vilian  team  who  have  sought  to 
understand  and  meet  the  needs 
^    of  a   modern   police   depart- 
ment. 

In  1987  the  challenges  facing 
the  Bureau  included:  moderni- 


zation of  the  vehicle  fleet,  re- 
cruitment and  training  of  po- 
lice officers  and  civilian 
employees,  the  opening  of 
neighborhood  police  stations, 
administration   of  promotional 


exams  for  sergeants  and  lieu- 
tenants and  the  development  of 
specifications  for  an  all  new 
Computer  Aided  Dispatch 
(CAD)  and  Enhanced  9-1-1 
System. 


Reaching  out  to  young  men  and  women 
of  all  races  and  providing  the  training  they 
need  to  become  Boston  Police  Officers  .  .  . 


In  1987  the  Boston  Police 
Department  hired  192  re- 
cruits. The  goal  of  the  Bureau 
of  Administrative  Services  was 
to  ensure  that  these  recruits 
represented  the  diversity  of  the 
City  and  received  the  best 
training  possible.  The  Bureau 
met  the  first  part  of  this  goal 
with  the  assistance  of  the 
Massachusetts  Association  of 
Minority    Law    Enforcement 


Officers  (MAMLEO).  Of  the 
192  recruits  hired,  35.4% 
were  minorities  and  females. 

The  recruits  must  participate 
in  and  graduate  from  a  diffi- 
cult and  thorough  twenty-two 
week  training  program  con- 
ducted at  the  Boston  Police 
Academy.  The  program  in- 
cludes physical  training  and 
academics,  all  geared  toward 
producing  a  graduate  who  em- 


Boston  Police  Department 
ngth   Report 


1985  vs.  1987 


Number  of 
Personnel 


2,000 
1,950 
1,900 
1,850 
I.BOO 
1,750 
1,700 
1,650 
1,600 
1,550 
1,500 


1,762 


1.946 

.  ) 

1 

1985 


1987 


Since  Commissioner  Roache  was  appointed  in  February  of  1985,  the  sworn 
complement  of  the  Boston  Police  Department  has  grown  to  just  under  2,000 
-  despite  a  high  retirement  rate.  The  Boston  Police  Department 's  commit- 
ment to  building  staffing  levels  to  achieve  optimum  delivery  of  police  ser- 
vices is  evident  in  the  numbers  of  new  police  officers  trained  in  the  Police 
Academy  arui  placed  on  active  duty. 

1\ 


bodies  the  high  standards  and 
values  of  a  Boston  Police  Offi- 
cer, (see  inset  box) 

To  become  a  Boston  Police 
Officer  is  to  make  a  lifelong 
commitment  to  public  service. 
With  that  commitment  should 
come  a  variety  of  promotional 
opportunities.  In  the  nine  years 
prior  to  Commissioner  Roache's 
appointment,  no  promotional 
examinations  had  been  given 
by  the  Department.  In  1985 
the  Boston  Police  Department 
administered  the  first  ser- 
geant's examination  since 
1977.  From  the  1985  examina- 
tion sixty-five  officers  were 
promoted  —  eighteen  were  mi- 
norities and  seven  were  fe- 
males. In  1987  a  second  exam- 
ination for  sergeant  was 
conducted  and  from  that  exam 
a  new  group  of  sergeants  will 
be  promoted  in  1988. 

In  1987,  the  first  examina- 
tion in  eleven  years  for  the 
rank  of  lieutenant  was  adminis- 
tered and  in  early  1988  thirty- 
three  officers  were  promoted 
from  that  exam.  Among  those 
thirty-three  were  the  first 
women  to  hold  the  permanent 
civil  service  rank  of  lieutenant. 

The  personal  and  profes- 
sional impact  of  these  long 
awaited  promotional  opportuni- 
ties has  been  significant.  How- 
ever, most  significant  will  be 
the  impact  of  these  new  super- 
visors on  an  increasingly 
young  and  developing  police 
force. 


Providing  high  quality  equipment 
and  maintaining  it  well  .  .  . 


The  quality  of  an  officer's 
equipment  is  as  important 
as  the  quality  of  training  and 
supervision.  In  1985,  the  Bu- 
reau of  Administrative  Serv- 
ices initiated  an  ongoing  pro- 
gram of  regular  fleet  mainte- 


nance and  vehicle  replace- 
ment, (see  insert  box)  In 
1987,  the  Department  pur- 
chased 100  new  vehicles  and 
today  41  %  of  the  vehicles  as- 
signed to  the  patrol  force  are 
1986  or  1987  models. 


One  of  the  Bureau's  most 
significant  recent  equipment 
acquisitions  was  personal  body 
armor/bullet-proof  vests.  The 
vests  were  selected  with  the 
assistance  of  the  Boston  Police 
Patrolmen's  Association  and 
will  be  made  available  to  every 
police  officer  in  1988. 


A  Day  In  The  Life  Of  A 
Boston  Police  Recruit 


In  November  1987,  if  you  wanted  to 
become  a  police  officer  in  Boston,  you  had  to 
run  eight  and  a  half  miles  in  bone-chilling  rain. 
"The  sergeant  dropped  us  off  in  South  Boston 
and  we  had  to  run  all  the  way  back  to  the  Police 
Academy  in  Hyde  Park,"  said  a  recruit  in  the 
December  '87  Boston  Police  Academy  class.  The 
recruit  added  that  even  though  the  Mayor  and 
the  Commissioner  showed  up  to  run  the  distance 
with  them,  it  didn't  make  it  any  easier. 

The  balance  of  academic  and  physical  de- 
mands, two  hours  of  physical  training  every 
morning  followed  by  six  hours  of  intense  class- 
room study,  has  ranked  the  Boston  Police  Acad- 
emy among  the  best  police  training  programs  in 
New  England.  The  eighteen  instructors  at  the 


There  were  134  new  officers  appointed  in  1987.  further  exemplify- 
ing the  Boston  Police  Department 's  committment  to  a  larger  force. 


Academy  are  all  certified  by  the  Massachusetts 
Criminal  Justice  Training  Council  and  have  ex- 
tensive experience  in  the  classroom  and  on  pa- 
trol. Many  of  the  instructors  have  completed  a 
forty-hour  FBI  training  program  to  certify  them 
in  a  particular  area  of  expertise,  such  as  domes- 
tic violence. 

The  recruit's  day  begins  at  7:30  in  the  morning 
with  physical  training.  The  physical  training  in- 
cludes calisthenics  and  a  one  to  four-mile  run  every 
day.  By  the  nineteenth  week  the  trainees  are  timed 
in  the  one-mile  run.  By  the  twenty-second  week 
everyone  must  run  the  one-mile  course  in  less  than 
eight  minutes. 

By  10:30  a.m.  the  recruits  are  hard  at  work  in 
class  with  a  tough  exam  on  constitutional  law. 
"The  instructor  requires  verbatim  definitions  and 
exact  quotes  from  the  books,"  said  one  graduat- 
ing recruit.  "He  makes  sure  we  know  the  laws 
we  have  to  enforce." 

Every  prospective  Boston  police  officer  is  re- 
quired to  take  five  courses  covering  23  topics. 
Each  week  Academy  instructors  give  an  exam 
covering  the  past  week's  work.  Many  recruits 
reported  that  they  studied  several  hours  every 
night  and  often  all  day  Sunday  to  keep  up  with 
such  subjects  as  patrol  procedures,  the  criminal 
justice  system,  current  issues  in  policing,  and 
Massachusetts  Criminal  Law. 

Is  this  training  grueling?  Yes.  Is  it  worth  it?  A 
recent  graduate  of  the  Academy  said,  "the  Acad- 
emy is  a  good  place,  the  training  is  the  best  and 
the  instructors  are  great.  Yes,  I  would  do  it  all 
over  again  if  I  had  to,  not  just  because  it  keeps 
you  in  shape  and  gets  you  going  in  the  morning 
but  because  I  feel  that  being  a  police  officer  is 
worthwhile  and  I  am  proud  to  be  one." 


22- 


Fleet  Management: 

A  Long  Term  Commitment 

Two  years  ago,  the  commitment  was 
made  to  establish  a  first  rate  fleet  manage- 
ment program.  At  that  time.  Lieutenant  John 
Cunniffe,  Jr.,  of  the  Fleet  Management  Division 
summed  up  the  condition  of  the  fleet  in  a  letter 
requesting  more  vehicles:  "...  prayers  got  us 
through  a  mild  winter,  summertime  is  another 
matter  altogether." 

The  first  step  in  rebuilding  the  fleet  came  in 
February,  1987  when  Ron  Mason  was  hired  as 
Director  of  Transportation.  Mason's  key  projects 
have  included  modernizing  the  facilities  at  Area 
garages  and  moving  the  central  garage  to  a  facil- 
ity on  Frontage  Road  which  is  better  equipped  to 
handle  the  extensive  Boston  Police  Department 
fleet. 


The  Department 's  committment  to  rebuilding  its  fleet  was 
clearly  illustrated  in  1987  by  the  addition  of  38  cars  to 
the  fleet. 


Since  many  problems  can  be  avoided  with 
"preventive  maintenance,"  vehicles  are  now  be- 
ing serviced  at  earlier  intervals,  a  responsibility 
of  each  district.  Minor  repair  work  is  also  per- 
formed in  the  Areas  now  that  each  garage  has 
been  supplied  with  new  equipment.  The  central 
garage  at  Frontage  Road  concentrates  on  all 
other  repairs. 

The  presence  of  mechanics  at  Area  garage 
sites  has  made  life  easier  for  the  officers.  Officer 
James  Hawkins  from  Area  E  described  the  con- 
dition and  availability  of  cars  as  "vastly  im- 
proved." He  went  on  to  detail  a  recent  situation 


where  the  mechanic  at  Area  E  completed  a  brake 
job  for  him  within  an  hour,  "that  would  have 
taken  a  week  to  complete  in  the  past." 

Officer  George  Luongo  of  Area  C  shared  simi- 
lar enthusiasm.  He  said  that  service  at  the  Area 
has  gotten  "100  percent  better;  the  service  at 
District  11  is  excellent."  He  explained  that  offi- 
cers used  to  avoid  sending  cars  in  for  minor  re- 
pairs since  it  took  so  long  for  them  to  be  re- 
turned. 

Twenty  percent  more  time  is  being  spent  on 
the  upkeep  of  the  fleet.  The  garage  is  now  open 
six  days  a  week  enabling  "down"  cars  to  be 
back  on  the  street  sooner,  fourteen  percent  faster 
than  December,  1986. 

Many  more  improvements  are  planned  for  the 
Fleet  Management  Division.  A  tested  method  of 
improving  vehicle  maintenance  is  to  assign  spe- 
cific units  to  specific  officers.  The  introduction 
of  sector  integrity  during  the  coming  year  will 
permit  this.  The  "Assigned  Sector  Car"  pro- 
gram will  be  implemented  to  increase  the  ac- 
countability for  the  operation  of  each  car. 

Other  areas  to  look  forward  to  are  the  comput- 
erization of  fleet  management  information,  the 
"in-house"  training  of  mechanics  and  the  stan- 
dardization of  equipment. 

Since  a  strong  fleet  is  essential  to  ensure  the 
safety  and  protection  of  citizens  living  in  Boston 
as  well  as  the  sworn  personnel  operating  each 
vehicle,  the  Fleet  Management  Division  demon- 
strates how  a  long  term  commitment  can  pay  off. 


Since  Ron  Mason  took  charge  of  the  Fleet  Maintenance  Division,  he  has  pur- 
sued an  aggressive  preventive  maintenance  program.  Mason  has  also  made 
great  strides  through  procurement:  Over  70  percent  of  the  BPD  cruisers  are 
under  three  years  old.  Shown  here  is  Motor  Equipment  Repainrum  Robert 
Norton  servicing  a  cruiser. 


23 


Vera  Mahoney.  a  long-time  employee  of  the  BPD, 
works  as  a  cashier  keeping  track  of  the  money  that 
flows  through  the  Property  Clerk's  Office. 


Upgrading  technology  to  meet  the  needs 
of  a  growing  population 


The  Bureau  of  Administra- 
tive Services  must  not  only 
concern  itself  with  purchasing 
equipment  to  meet  the  needs  of 
the  patrol  force,  but  must  pro- 
vide the  technology  necessary 
for  the  Department  to  meet  the 
immediate  public  safety  needs 
of  the  neighborhoods.  In  1987 
the  Department  made  progress 
on  a  three-year  project  which 


will  include  the  opening  of 
eight  neighborhood  stations, 
the  establishment  of  sector  in- 
tegrity and  the  installation  of  a 
new  Computer  Aided  Dispatch 
System  and  Enhanced  9-1-1 
System.  In  the  final  analysis 
the  Bureau  of  Administrative 
Services  provides  a  vital  sup- 
port system  for  Police  Patrol 
forces  and  the  public  that  they 
serve. 


Educating  Boston's  Youth 

The  Boston  Police  Department's  School  Pro- 
gram to  Educate  and  Control  Drug  Abuse 
(SPECDA)  was  adopted  for  Boston  in  1986  by 
Commissioner  Roache  and  Mayor  Flynn  after 
visiting  the  New  York  Police  Department's 
SPECDA  program. 

The  staff  of  the  Bureau  of  Administrative 
Services  was  charged  with  designing  and  imple- 
menting the  program  and  in  January,  1987,  the 
Boston  SPECDA  Program  was  up  and  running  in 
Boston  schools.  Since  that  time  the  program  has 
become  a  centerpiece  of  the  City's  long-term 
strategy  to  reduce  the  demand  for  drugs  in 
Boston. 

During  SPECDA'S  first  year  in  existence  eight 
police  officers  visited  public  and  parochial 
schools  and  reached  an  audience  of  approxi- 
mately 5,000  students.  The  eight- week  curricu- 
lum includes  such  topics  as  self-awareness/self- 
esteem,  peer  pressure,  consequences  of  drug 
abuse  and  alternatives  to  drugs.  The  eight  les- 
sons are  presented  in  the  form  of  lectures,  films, 
role  playing,  guest  speakers  and  are  followed  by 
a  question  and  answer  period.  Upon  completion, 
each  pupil  submits  an  evaluation  of  the  program. 
The  comments  of  the  students  themselves  are  the 
best  evidence  of  the  program's  success.  They  in- 
clude: 

•     "S.P.E.C.D.A.  has  helped  me  to  believe 
in  myself." 


•  "This  program  has  showed  me  that  even 
if  I  take  drugs  once,  they  can  be  very 
harmful." 

When  SPECDA  personnel  reviewed  questions 
asked  of  them,  one  of  the  more  commonly  asked 
questions  was,  "Can  we  have  this  class  again 
next  year?" 


George  Noonan,  of  the  SPECDA  Unit,  instructs  students  in  the  fifth  grade 
at  the  Corulon  School  in  South  Boston.  Through  lectures  and  role-playing 
the  SPECDA  officers  teach  children  about  the  dangers  of  drugs. 


-24- 


IN  MEMORIAM 


Police  officers,  their  families  and  friends  are  acutely 
aware  of  the  ever  present  hazards  of  law  enforcement. 
In  1987,  and  early  1988  that  hard  reality  was  dealt  to 
Boston  in  three  terrible  blows. 

On  October  2,  1987,  Detective  Roy  Sergei  became  the 
first  Boston  Police  Officer  to  be  killed  in  the  line  of 
duty  in  eleven  years.  In  a  horrible  postscript  to  1987  two 
officers.  Detectives  Thomas  J.  Gill  and  Sherman  Grif- 
fiths were  killed  in  February,  1988. 

Detective  Roy  J.  Sergei 

Date  of  Appointment  -  February  5,  1970 
April  14,  1945  -  October  26,  1987 

Detective  Thomas  J.  Gill 

Date  of  Appointment  -  October  7,  1970 
June  13,  1949  -  February  10,  1988 

Detective  Sherman  Griffiths 

Date  of  Appointment  -  April  23,  1980 
December  3,  1951  -  February  18,  1988 


—  25- 


1987  Awards 


In  1987  the  Boston  Police  Department  Awards  Board,  comprised  of  Deputy 
Superintendent  Joseph  V.  Saia,  Jr.,  Deputy  Superintendent  Maurice  C. 
Flaherty,  Deputy  Superintendent  Willis  D.  Saunders,  Captain  Joseph  P. 
Sheridan,  Lieutenant  Paul  T.  Conway,  Sergeant  Detective  George  L.  Sheri- 
dan, and  chaired  by  Superintendent  Paul  F.  Evans,  after  due  deliberation  has 
selected  the  following  named  Department  personnel  as  being  worthy  recipi- 
ents of  the  Medals  and  Awards  designated: 

^Ae  ^c/iAc^^leyt  ^to^(Ae/t^  KAie^nvcAi€i^  ^ji/ie^la/l 

TO:  Police  Officer  Roy  J.  Sergei,  Area  D 
Police  Officer  Jorge  L.  Torres,  Area  D 


At  about  1:05  a.m.,  Friday,  October  2, 
1987,  Police  Officers  Roy  J.  Sergei  and 
Jorge  Torres,  assigned  to  Area  D,  responded 
to  371  Commonwealth  Avenue  relative  to  a 
woman  screaming.  Officers  Sergei  and 
Kennedy  went  to  the  front  of  the  building 
while  Officers  Torres  and  Rogers  went  to  the 
rear  alley. 

Shortly  thereafter.  Officer  Torres  trans- 
mitted a  message  that  they  had  a  suspect  in  the 
alley.  Officers  Sergei  and  Kennedy  proceed- 
ed around  the  building  to  the  rear  alley. 

Meanwhile,  Officers  Torres  and  Rogers 
had  the  suspect,  an  Oriental  male,  positioned 
facing  a  wall  preparatory  to  searching. 

Suddenly,  a  barrage  of  gunfire  came  from 
under  the  suspect's  jacket  striking  Officer 
Torres. 

Seeking  cover.  Officer  Torres  went 
towards  Massachusetts  Avenue,  only  to  be 
followed  by  the  suspect  discharging  an 
automatic  weapon. 

Officer  Torres,  who  returned  fire  and 
suffered  from  multiple  gunshot  wounds, 
collapsed  upon  reaching  Massachusetts 
Avenue. 


Officers  Sergei  and  Kennedy  approached 
the  alley  on  Massachusetts  Avenue  and  were 
suddenly  confronted  by  Officer  Torres  who 
collapsed  on  the  sidewalk,  immediately 
followed  by  the  suspect  wielding  and  firing 
his  automatic  weapon  toward  Officers  Sergei 
and  Kennedy. 

Officer  Kennedy  discharged  one  round. 
Officer  Sergei,  who  collapsed  on  the 
sidewalk,  suffered  from  multiple  gunshot 
wounds,  but  was  able  to  radio  for  assistance. 

The  wounded  officers  were  removed  to  the 
hospital  where  Officer  Torres  recovered  from 
his  wounds  and  was  discharged. 

Officer  Sergei,  after  a  three  week  gallant 
struggle  to  survive,  succumbed  to  his  injuries 
on  October  26,  1987. 

The  Department  awards  to  Officers  Roy  J. 
Sergei  and  Jorge  Torres,  the  Schroeder 
Brothers  Memorial  Medal,  the  Highest 
award  presented  to  a  police  officer  for 
conduct  above  and  beyond  that  which  is 
expected  of  ordinary  men. 


26 


TO:  Sergeant  Daniel  J.  Harrington,  Area  A 


.  t  about  4:45  p.m.,  Friday.  November  21, 
r\l986.  Sergeant  Daniel  Harrington  with 
Police  Officers  Edward  Donofrio,  John 
Ahern  and  Mark  Harrington,  assigned  to 
Area  A,  while  on  patrol  in  the  downtown  area 
received  information  that  a  Hispanic  male  in 
Filene's  Basement  was  carrying  a  firearm. 

The  officers  sought  out  and  followed  the 
subject  to  the  entrance  of  the  Washington 
Street  M.B.T.A.  Station  where  in  attempting 
to  hurdle  a  turnstile  he  tripped  and  fell  to  the 
floor.  Sergeant  Harrington  approached  the 
subject  to  make  an  arrest,  only  to  have  a 
firearm  pointed  at  his  chest. 

The  armed  subject  fled,  followed  by  the 
officers,  deeper  into  the  crowded  station  and 
finally  sought  refuge  behind  a  cement 
column. 

The  officers  also  sought  cover  behind  other 
cement  columns  and  ordered  the  civilians  to 
do  likewise. 

Many  civilians  hid  behind  police  officers, 
others  were  lying  on  the  floor. 


Sergeant  Harrington  observed  the  suspect 
point  his  firearm  and  attempt  to  shoot  several 
civilians,  however  the  firearm  misfired. 

Now  in  fear  of  injury  to  civilians.  Sergeant 
Harrington  discharged  one  round  at  the 
gunman  and  immediately  rushed  toward  the 
suspect.  While  so  doing,  the  suspect 
attempted  to  shoot  Sergeant  Harrington, 
again  the  firearm  misfired. 

Officer  Donofrio,  now  concerned  about 
Sergeant  Harrington's  safety,  discharged  one 
round. 

A  violent  struggle  ensued  and  with  the 
assistance  of  other  officers  the  suspect  was 
subdued. 

A  loaded  Ivers  Johnson  .32  calibre 
revolver  with  four  live  rounds  was 
recovered.  An  inspection  disclosed  hammer 
marks  on  all  four  primers. 

The  Department  is  pleased  to  present 
Sergeant  Harrington  with  the  Walter  Scott 
Medal  for  his  heroic  actions. 


27- 


TO:  Sergeant  Detective  Leonard  W.  Marquardt,  Area  E 
Detective  Peter  N.  Doherty,  Area  E 
Detective  Robert  B.  Kenney,  Jr.,  Area  E 
Potice  Officer  Ernesto  R.  Whittington,  Team  Potice 


At  about  1:45  p.m.,  Thursday,  July  30, 
1987,  Sergeant  Detective  Leonard 
Marquardt,  Police  Officer  Ernesto 
Whittington,  assigned  to  Team  Police  and 
Detectives  Peter  Doherty  and  Robert 
Kenney,  Jr.,  assigned  to  Area  E,  while  on 
patrol  in  the  Archdale  Housing  Devel- 
opment, observed  a  woman  lying  on  the  front 
stairs  of  80  Brookway  Road  being  repeatedly 
stabbed  by  an  unknown  male  wielding  an 
eight-inch  carving  knife. 


The  officers  went  to  the  aid  of  the  woman 
who  was  bleeding  profusely  from  numerous 
stab  wounds.  After  a  struggle  her  assailant 
was  disarmed,  subdued  and  placed  under 
arrest.  Medical  assistance  was  summoned 
and  first  aid  rendered. 

The  victim  was  rushed  to  the  hospital  and 
underwent  immediate  surgery. 

The  alertness  and  swift  actions  of  these 
officers  unquestionably  saved  the  victim's 
life. 


i 


28 


TO:  Police  Officer  John  P.  Connor,  Area  B 
Police  Officer  Matthew  J.  Spillane,  Area  B 


A  t  about  1:35  a.m.,  Saturday,  June  27, 
A 1987,  Police  Officers  John  Connor  and 
Matthew  Spillane,  assigned  to  Area  B,  while 
in  the  Grove  Hall  area,  observed  several 
vehicles  operating  at  a  high  rate  of  speed  on 
Blue  Hill  Avenue. 

Officers  Connor  and  Spillane  pursued  a 
Pontiac  6000  into  Franklin  Park  to  Circuit 
Drive  where  the  operator,  because  of 
excessive  speed,  lost  control  of  the  vehicle. 


The  motor  vehicle  skidded  off  the  soft 
shoulder,  struck  a  large  block  of  granite, 
rolled  over  onto  its  roof  and  burst  into  flames 
with  the  occupants  trapped  inside. 

With  disregard  for  their  own  safety,  the 
officers  pried  open  a  door  of  the  burning 
vehicle  and  removed  four  unconscious 
teenagers  to  safety,  moments  before  the  gas 
tank  exploded. 

The  Department  is  pleased  to  recognize  the 
devotion  and  courage  of  these  officers. 


29 


TO:  Police  Officer  William  P.  Dunn,  Team  Police 

Police  Officer  Richard  F.  Harrington,  Team  Police 


-pouring  the  past  year,  the  number 
JLIof  arrests  effected  by  Police  Officers 
William  Dunn  and  Richard  Harrington, 
assigned  to  the  Team  Police  Unit  includes: 
145  aggravated  assaults,  15  rapes,  75 
robberies,  15  B  &  Es,  178  drug,  10 
kidnapping  and  3  homicides. 


Many  of  these  on-sight  arrests  were  made 
while  assigned  in  a  marked  police  vehicle  and 
in  full  uniform. 

This  maximum  effort  extended  by  these 
officers  on  behalf  of  the  citizens  of  the  City  of 
Boston  and  its  Police  Department  is 
commendable. 


( 


TO:  Police  Officer  Steven  F.  Blair,  Area  D 
Police  Officer  Daniel  J.  Coleman,  Area  D 


---jolice  Officer  Steven  F.  Blair 
i  and  Police  Officer  Daniel  J.  Coleman, 
assigned  to  the  Area  D-4  Anti-Crime  Unit, 
have  been  responsible  for  numerous  arrests 
and  convictions  for  incidents  occurring  in  the 
South  End,  Back  Bay  and  Fenway  Areas. 


Officer  Blair  and  Officer  Coleman  have 
recorded  a  large  number  of  arrests  for 
murder,  armed  and  unarmed  robbery  and 
numerous  violations  of  the  Narcotics  Laws. 

These  officers  are  to  be  highly  commended 
for  their  diligence  and  outstanding 
performance. 


30 


TO:  Police  Officer  John  B.  Ahern,  Area  A 

Police  Officer  Edward  F.  Donofrio,  Area  A 
Police  Officer  Mark  W.  Harrington,  Area  A 


At  about  4:45  p.m.,  Friday,  November  21, 
1986,  Sergeant  Daniel  Harrington  with 
Police  Officers  Edward  Donofrio,  John 
Ahern  and  Mark  Harrington,  assigned  to 
Area  A,  while  on  patrol  in  the  downtown  area 
received  information  that  a  Hispanic  male  in 
Filene's  Basement  was  carrying  a  firearm. 

The  officers  sought  out  and  followed  the 
subject  to  the  entrance  of  the  Washington 
Street  M.B.T.A.  Station  where  in  attempting 
to  hurdle  a  turnstile  he  tripped  and  fell  to  the 
floor.  Sergeant  Harrington  approached  the 
subject  to  make  an  arrest,  only  to  have  a 
firearm  pointed  at  his  chest. 

The  armed  subject  fled,  followed  by  the 
officers,  deeper  into  the  crowded  station  and 
finally  sought  refuge  behind  a  cement 
column. 

The  officers  also  sought  cover  behind  other 
cement  columns  and  ordered  the  civilians  to 
do  likewise. 

Many  civilians  hid  behind  police  officers, 
others  were  lying  on  the  floor. 


Sergeant  Harrington  observed  the  suspect 
point  his  firearm  and  attempt  to  shoot  several 
civilians,  however  the  firearm  misfired. 

Now  in  fear  of  injury  to  civilians.  Sergeant 
Harrington  discharged  one  round  at  the 
gunman  and  immediately  rushed  toward  the 
suspect.  While  so  doing,  the  suspect 
attempted  to  shoot  Sergeant  Harrington; 
again  the  firearm  misfired. 

Officer  Donofrio  now  concerned  about 
Sergeant  Harrington's  safety,  discharged  one 
round. 

A  violent  struggle  ensued  and  with  the 
assistance  of  other  officers  the  suspect  was 
subdued. 

A  loaded  Ivers  Johnson  32  Calibre  revolver 
with  four  live  rounds  was  recovered.  An 
inspection  disclosed  hammer  marks  on  all 
four  primers. 

The  Department  proudly  recognizes 
Officer  Donofrio,  Ahern  and  Harrington  for 
their  devotion  to  duty. 


31 


TO:  Police  Officer  Michael  P.  Harber,  Area  C 
Police  Officer  James  M.  O  'Hara,  Area  C 


»  t  about  5:00  p.m.,  Sunday.  April  12. 
A 1987.  Police  Officers  James  O'Hara  and 
Michael  Harper,  assigned  to  Area  E.  received 
information  that  a  male  wanted  on  a  default 
warrant  and  known  to  carry  firearms  was 
walking  along  Lamartine  Street. 

Officers  O'Hara  and  Harper  responded  to 
the  location  where  they  observed  the  subject, 
who  upon  seeing  the  officers  fled  on  foot 
toward  Mozart  Street. 

The  officers  took  up  the  chase  of  the 
suspect,  who  on  two  occasions  turned  and 


pointed  a  handgun  at  his  pursuers.  Because  of 
the  presence  of  innocent  pedestrians,  the 
officers  refrained  from  the  use  of  their 
service  revolvers. 

The  foot  chase  continued  for  several  more 
blocks  to  Wyman  Street  where  the  suspect 
was  finally  apprehended  and  disarmed  of  a 
fully  loaded  6  shot  Rohm  revolver. 

The  Department  is  pleased  to  recognize  the 
courage  and  restraint  displayed  by  these 
officers. 


TO:  Police  Officer  Bonnie  Rivers,  Jr.,  Team  Police 


At  about  9:23  a.m.,  Sunday,  June  14, 
1987,  Police  Officer  Bonnie  Rivers  of  the 
Team  Police  Unit,  along  with  other  officers 
of  Area  B,  responded  to  Horan  Way  to  reports 
of  a  man  firing  a  gun.  Upon  arrival,  the 
officers  immediately  were  fired  upon  by  a 
subject  from  an  apartment  window.  Despite 
this  threat,  the  officers  retained  their  fire. 

Subsequently,  Officer  Rivers  observed  a 
woman  attempting  to  climb  out  a  side  window 
of  the  apartment  where  the  gunman  was 


positioned.  With  disregard  for  his  own  safety. 
Officer  Rivers  went  to  her  aid  and  assisted 
her  from  the  area  of  danger. 

The  gunman  was  apprehended  while 
attempting  to  flee  the  apartment.  A  search  of 
the  apartment  disclosed  two  innocent  persons 
hiding  in  the  bedroom.  Also  recovered  were  a 
firearm  and  several  spent  shell  casings. 

The  Department  is  pleased  to  recognize  the 
restraint  and  courage  displayed  by  Officer 
Rivers. 


32 


TO:  Detective  Kenneth  Acerra,  Area  E 


On  March  20.  1987.  a  young  female 
was  viciously  stabbed  to  death  in  her 
Roslindale  home.  The  Homicide  Unit,  joined 
by  Detective  Kenneth  Acerra  of  Area  E,  was 
assigned  to  the  case.  Despite  the  best  efforts 
of  investigating  officers,  very  little 
information  was  forthcoming. 

Subequently.  a  Quincy  detective  submitted 
to  Detective  Acerra  a  name  that  came  up  in  a 
Quincy  investigation.  Investigation  disclosed 
a  connection  between  this  subject  and  the 
Archdale  Housing  Development  where  the 
homicide  occurred.  Further  investigation  led 
the  officers  to  the  City  of  New  Bedford  and 
finally  to  the  subject. 


A  careful  and  lawful  interrogation  led  to  a 
full  statement  from  the  subject  and  the 
disclosure  of  a  murder  weapon. 

The  subject  is  also  believed  to  be  involved 
in  a  homicide  in  New  Bedford  and  he  was 
later  indicted  for  a  series  of  vicious  stabbings 
of  women  in  the  Quincy/Milton  area  that 
terrorized  those  communities. 

The  Department  is  proud  to  present  this 
citation  to  Detective  Acerra  for  a  timeless  and 
professional  investigation  that  led  to  the 
arrest  of  a  dangerous  felon. 


D 


TO:  Detective  WilHam  A.  Powers,  Identification  Unit 
PoUce  Officer  WiUiam  F.  Hussey,  Identification  Unit 

etective  William  Powers  and  Officer 


'William  Hussey  of  the  Identification 
Section  are  commended  for  their 
extraordinary  achievements  in  providing 
latent  print  identifications  for  the  Boston 
Police  Department,  Massachusetts  State 
Police,   Federal  Agencies  and  other  law 


enforcement  agencies.  Due  to  their  expertise, 
hundreds  of  serious  criminal  investigations 
have  been  brought  to  a  successful  conclusion. 
As  primary  latent  print  examiners,  they 
have  set  a  standard  of  excellence  for  police 
investigators. 


-33 


TO:  Police  Officer  William  J.  Flipping  Area  C 
Police  Officer  Francis  S.  Jankowski,  Area  C 
Police  Officer  Michael  P.  O'Connor,  Jr.,  AreaD 


At  about  5:30  p.m..  Wednesday,  April  29, 
1987.  Police  Officers  William  Flippin 
and  Francis  Jankowski  of  Area  C.  while 
enroute  to  South  Boston,  observed  three 
young  boys  about  400  feet  off  Malibu  Beach 
floating  on  a  makeshift  raft.  After  requesting 
the  Operations  Division  to  summon  the 
Harbor  Patrol,  the  Officers  went  to  the 
beach.  Police  Officer  Michael  O'Connor  of 
Area  C  heard  the  call  and  also  responded. 
Using  the  public  address  system  of  the 
vehicle,  the  officers  cautioned  the  boys  and 
calmly  told  them  to  paddle  toward  shore. 


About  thirty  yards  from  shore  the  raft, 
made  of  wooden  pallets,  suddenly  broke 
apart,  plunging  the  boys  into  the  water. 

Officers  Flippin  and  O'Connor 
immediately  jumped  into  the  water  and  went 
to  the  aid  of  the  three  boys  and  removed  them 
to  the  beach. 

Upon  arrival  at  the  hospital,  all  were 
treated  for  exposure.  There  is  little  doubt  that 
the  actions  of  these  officers  prevented  a  tragic 
occurrence. 

The  Department  is  pleased  to  present  these 
officers  with  this  Special  Citation. 


34- 


^cmt'ml^iM^i/n^^  d  ^fvecl€i4  ^itti^lo/n 


TO:  Police  Officer  William 
Police  Officer  Richard 

At  about  5:05  p.m.,  Tuesday,  December  9, 
1986.  Officers  of  Area  D  responded  to  a 
Brighton  jewelry  store  where  they  found  that 
the  two  owners  had  been  robbed,  handcuffed 
to  a  sink  and  repeatedly  stabbed  by  three 
masked  robbers.  A  female  customer,  who 
was  also  robbed,  was  able  to  furnish 
responding  officers  with  a  partial  license 
plate  number  of  a  motor  vehicle. 

At  about  7:00  p.m..  Police  Officers 
William  Dunn  and  Richard  Harrington, 
assigned  to  Team  Police,  observed  a  motor 
vehicle,  that  fit  the  description  exiting  Alton 


P.  Dunn,  Team  Police 

F.  Harrington,  Team  Police 

Place  at  a  high  rate  of  speed.  The  vehicle  was 
pursued  and  stopped  at  Parker  Street  and 
Huntington  Avenue. 

Investigation  disclosed  a  popped  ignition 
on  the  vehicle  and  ski  masks  on  the  floor. 
Further  information  was  received  on  the 
robbery  and  upon  searching  the  vehicle  the 
officers  found  the  jewelry  taken  in  the 
robbery. 

The  suspects  were  returned  to  the  scene 
and  were  positively  identified. 

The  alertness  and  dedication  of  these 
officers  is  highly  commendable. 


TO:  Police  Officer  Michael  P.  O'Connor,  Jr.,  Area  C 


At  about  11:00  p.m.,  Tuesday,  February 
10,  1987,  Police  Officer  Michael  P. 
O'Connor,  Jr.,  while  on  routine  patrol, 
observed  flames  erupting  from  a  three-story 
variety  store  and  apartment  building,  located 
at  382  Bowdoin  Street,  in  Area  C. 

Officer  O'Connor  immediately  notified 
Operations  Division  and  then  entered  the 


burning  building  and  evacuated  the  residents 
to  safety.  He  discovered  a  five  gallon 
gasoline-filled  container  near  the  doorway 
which  was  turned  over  to  the  Boston  Fire 
Department  Arson  Squad  as  evidence. 

Officer  O'Connor  is  to  be  commended  for 
risking  his  life  in  order  to  save  the  lives  of  the 
residents  of  the  burning  building. 


■35- 


BOSTON  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  9999  06313  966  9 


TO:  Police  Officer  Francis  M.  Desario,  Special  Operations 


g^n  Thursday.  June  18,  1987. 
V/Police  Officer  Francis  M.  DeSario. 
assigned  to  the  Special  Operations  Division, 
while  off  duty  and  inside  the  Hughes  Horse 
and  Rider  Supply  Shop  at  151  Randolph 
Street.  Canton,  heard  a  commotion  and 
hysterical  screaming  emanating  from  the 
outside  rear  of  the  store.  Upon  responding. 
Officer  DeSario  observed  an  unconscious 
infant  boy  lying  on  a  cement  landing  at  the 
foot  of  a  flight  of  stairs. 

The  child,  who  had  apparently  fallen  down 
the  stairs  and  struck  his  head  had  stopped 
breathing  and  was  surrounded  by  a  group  of 
people,  frozen  in  a  state  of  shock. 


Officer  DeSario  immediately  applied 
mouth  to  mouth  resuscitation  and  C.P.R. 
After  several  minutes,  the  child's  breathing 
was  restored  and  shortly  thereafter  he 
regained  consciousness. 

He  further  resisted  efforts  by  relatives  to 
move  the  child  until  the  arrival  of  medical 
assistance.  Upon  examination  at  the  hospital, 
he  was  found  to  have  a  skull  fracture. 

Hospital  doctors  and  emergency  medical 
personnel  credit  Officer  DeSario  with  having 
saved  the  life  of  this  child. 

The  Department  is  pleased  to  recognize 
the  actions  of  this  off  duty  officer  and  present 
him  with  this  award. 


TO:  Police  Officer  James  M.  Doyle,  Area  C 
Police  Officer  Dennis  P.  Harris,  Area  C 

Between  November.  1986,  and  Octo- 
ber, 1987,  Police  Officer  James  M.  Doyle 
and  Police  Officer  Dennis  P.  Harris  have 
been  responsible  for  the  arrest  of  a  total  of  96 
individuals  in  Area  C- 1 1 ,  Dorchester. 

The  statistics  indicate  that  the  performance 
of  Police  Officers  Doyle  and  Harris  make 
them  worthy  recipients  of  this  award. 

These  two  officers  have  distinguished 
themselves  by  their  consistent  sense  of 
responsibility   and   professionalism,   their 


devotion  to  duty,  their  alertness  and  keen 
power  of  observation.  These  two  officers 
have  effected  arrests  for  armed  robberies, 
burglaries  and  other  serious  crimes. 

Area  C-11  neighborhood  groups  have 
displayed  their  gratitude  to  Officer  Doyle  and 
Harris  by  bestowing  them  with  various 
citations  and  this  evening  the  Boston  Police 
Department  is  pleased  to  present  these 
officers  the  prestigious  William  J.  Taylor 
Award. 


36 


Editor: 
Contributing  Staff: 


Contributing 
Photographers: 


Lauren  Smith-Louison] 

Dorothy  Novak 
Allison  Woodhouse 
Meg  Maimer 
Lisa  Tutty 


Jonathan  Eisenthal 
Greg  Mahoney 
Boston  Globe 


Layout  &  Design:     Greg  Mahoney