City Councilor Ed Flynn filed a resolution last week calling for the establishment of a Commission focused on recruiting and retaining Boston Police officers and strengthening the Department’s workforce for the future.
The longstanding challenges of understaffing, overstretched resources, mandatory overtime, and looming retirements at the Boston Police Department remain a serious public safety and public health concern. These pressures not only impact the Department’s ability to effectively serve our communities but also take a significant toll on officers’ physical and emotional well-being and the well-being of their families, according to a press release from Councilor Flynn’s office.
In July of 1980, the minimum number of patrolmen at a given time for the Boston Police Department rose from 2,300 to 2,500 by law in the City Municipal Code to ensure adequate staffing for police duties. Recently, the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association said there are approximately 1,640 police officers. With such low staffing levels, it is all the more critical for the City of Boston to act urgently to ensure that the Boston Police Department is comfortably in excess of 2,500 officers. The City must make it a top priority to prevent a dynamic of overworked officers, which has resulted in this ongoing crisis.
During these challenging times, with increasing violent incidents over the summer, we must have all necessary tools to hire and retain Boston Police Officers. A commission dedicated to hiring and retaining Boston Police officers is a critical step to address our dangerously low staffing levels. The commission will work to improve public awareness of upcoming Boston Police Academy classes, promote officer wellness, and take the necessary steps to retain officers. Enhanced legislation will be needed to codify this commission in the City Code, however, it is critical that the Boston City Council indicates its support for taking concrete steps to improve officer wellness for the overall public safety of the City, police officers, and their families as well.
“We cannot accept the status quo when it comes to low staffing levels at the Boston Police Department. Our officers are being asked to do more with fewer resources, while working mandatory overtime and 16 and 17 hour days. It is critical that we both recruit and retain enough officers to maintain sufficient staffing levels, keep our neighborhoods safe, and support the health and wellness of our police officers and their families,” said Councilor Flynn in a press release.
For more information, contact Councilor Ed Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 or [email protected].