Boston Police Boston Police Department: The Department: The

Impact of Technological Impact of Technological Innovation on Police Innovation on Police

PerformancePerformance A Summary of Peter Manning’s A Summary of Peter Manning’s

Case Study of the BPDCase Study of the BPDProfessor Byrne, October 28, 2009Professor Byrne, October 28, 2009

Five landmark Changes in the Five landmark Changes in the Boston Police Department 1989 to Boston Police Department 1989 to

2003 2003 The first landmark event was the Charles Stuart Murder The first landmark event was the Charles Stuart Murder

Investigation( 1989),where Stuart killed his pregnant wife, Investigation( 1989),where Stuart killed his pregnant wife, Carol DiMatti-Stuart. Carol DiMatti-Stuart.

The second event was the issuing of the The second event was the issuing of the St. Clair Report St. Clair Report in in January, 1992. This was a turning point in reforming the police January, 1992. This was a turning point in reforming the police department.department.

The third major event (1995) a spike in publicly noted youth The third major event (1995) a spike in publicly noted youth violence. The media began to focus on youth gang violence. violence. The media began to focus on youth gang violence.

A fourth event is in fact a series of related issues arising from A fourth event is in fact a series of related issues arising from concerted attempts to control youth violence, resulting in a concerted attempts to control youth violence, resulting in a new initiative: Operation Ceasefire(1995)and the Ten Point new initiative: Operation Ceasefire(1995)and the Ten Point Coalition.Coalition.

A fifth turning point was the continuing focus on guided and A fifth turning point was the continuing focus on guided and rational change within the Boston department. The rational change within the Boston department. The department continues to innovate, focusing on community department continues to innovate, focusing on community policing. They have a policy that officers will spend at least policing. They have a policy that officers will spend at least 60% of their patrol time in a given designated area or 60% of their patrol time in a given designated area or "neighborhood beat” "neighborhood beat”

Charles Stuart Murder Charles Stuart Murder InvestigationInvestigation

The Stuart murder of his pregnant wifeThe Stuart murder of his pregnant wife Investigation: Focus on the Investigation: Focus on the

predominantly African-American Mission predominantly African-American Mission Hill neighborhood in the search for the Hill neighborhood in the search for the killer killer

Evidence planting in connection with the Evidence planting in connection with the Stuart investigationStuart investigation

Reaction of the African American Reaction of the African American community to events. community to events.

St. Clair ReportSt. Clair Report The Mayor at that time, Raymond The Mayor at that time, Raymond

Flynn, then appointed a commission Flynn, then appointed a commission headed by Boston lawyer, James St. headed by Boston lawyer, James St. Clair, to investigate the Department Clair, to investigate the Department and make recommendations. and make recommendations.

As a result , the Police Commissioner As a result , the Police Commissioner (Mr. M. Roach) was forced to resign, (Mr. M. Roach) was forced to resign, and a new Commissioner, William and a new Commissioner, William Bratton, was appointed.Bratton, was appointed.

Recommendations for ChangeRecommendations for Change Increased supervision (lowering the sgt. Increased supervision (lowering the sgt.

to officer ratio),to officer ratio), Developing New leadership,Developing New leadership, Improved training,Improved training, Developing written policy and the Developing written policy and the

mission,mission, Improving information technologies, and Improving information technologies, and Institutionalizing more systematic citizen Institutionalizing more systematic citizen

complaint procedures. complaint procedures.

Media Depiction of Youth Media Depiction of Youth ViolenceViolence

In 1995, an assassination of a prosecutor In 1995, an assassination of a prosecutor who was known to be focused on who was known to be focused on prosecuting gangs, Paul McLaughlin prosecuting gangs, Paul McLaughlin (1995).(1995).

The shooting and stabbings at Morning The shooting and stabbings at Morning Star Baptist Church in May, 1992. These Star Baptist Church in May, 1992. These events were touched off by the funeral of events were touched off by the funeral of a murdered gang member, and gang a murdered gang member, and gang members’ wish for retaliation and members’ wish for retaliation and revenge.revenge.

Operation Ceasefire(1995)and Operation Ceasefire(1995)and the Ten Point Coalitionthe Ten Point Coalition

In the Mid-90’s, a Number of New In the Mid-90’s, a Number of New Police Initiatives were in place:Police Initiatives were in place:

The named projects included The named projects included ““Operation Night Light” Operation Night Light” (teaming (teaming probation officers, street workers and probation officers, street workers and police); “police); “Operation Scrap Iron” Operation Scrap Iron” (to (to cut off the flow of illegal guns into cut off the flow of illegal guns into the city) and the city) and “Operation Ceasefire.”“Operation Ceasefire.”

The Ten Point Coalition: Key The Ten Point Coalition: Key PrinciplesPrinciples

Inner city violence should be dealt with Inner city violence should be dealt with as a crime problem rather than as as a crime problem rather than as symptom of other social effects and symptom of other social effects and forces (broken homes, unemployment forces (broken homes, unemployment and so on). and so on).

Only a small percentage of youth cause Only a small percentage of youth cause the vast majority of crime problems.the vast majority of crime problems.

The community should have a say in the The community should have a say in the disposition of some offenders disposition of some offenders

If the police behave badly, they are to If the police behave badly, they are to be held accountablebe held accountable

Community Policing in BostonCommunity Policing in Boston They have a policy that officers will They have a policy that officers will

spend at least 60% of their patrol time spend at least 60% of their patrol time in a given designated area or in a given designated area or "neighborhood beat”"neighborhood beat”

They seek to maintain their reputation They seek to maintain their reputation for success in reducing youth violence for success in reducing youth violence and crime in general.and crime in general.

In December 2003, The BPD introduced In December 2003, The BPD introduced of crime analysis meetings(CAM).of crime analysis meetings(CAM).

Crime Analysis Meetings: Key Crime Analysis Meetings: Key Features of Good PolicingFeatures of Good Policing

Accurate and timely information;Accurate and timely information; Rapid and coordinated deployment Rapid and coordinated deployment

of resources to address problems;of resources to address problems; Utilization of effective strategies and Utilization of effective strategies and

tactics; and tactics; and Relentless follow-up and assessment.Relentless follow-up and assessment.