City councilors press for answers on police staffing as hearing proceeds without administration panel

The Boston City Council’s Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice held a hearing on March 13 to examine police staffing and its effects on public safety, but representatives from the mayor’s office and the Boston Police Department did not appear to answer questions.

For the record, my name is Henry Santana, at large city councilor, and I am the chair of the Boston City Council Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, "This hearing is on docket number 0421, order for a hearing to discuss public safety and police staffing in Boston," Santana said at the start of the session.

The hearing was scheduled to gather information on current Boston Police Department staffing levels, vacancy rates, recruitment and retention challenges, and implications for response times and large-event staffing. Its timing was set to precede multiple large gatherings in the city this spring, including St. Patrick’s Day weekend and annual events that draw large crowds.

Councillor Aaron Murphy, who filed the hearing order with Councillor Ed Flynn, said the goal was to address “quality of life issues and public safety.” Murphy said department data show shortages: he told the committee that the force “is down a 35 officers compared to last year” and that the current police academy class had about 18 recruits.

Councillor Ed Flynn urged sustained recruitment and retention efforts and highlighted overtime and burnout as immediate concerns. Flynn said he has spoken with officers across neighborhoods and described a wider shortfall: “Right now we're down a 130 or 135 officers compared to this same time last year,” he said. Flynn and other councilors said forced or mandatory overtime has increased and can risk officer well-being and public safety.

Several councilors said the department’s staffing shortfalls have required coordination with state police and surrounding municipalities to staff large events. Councillor O’Rourke commended recent pilot community-interactive teams and asked how minimum staffing levels and event coverage are calculated and whether alternatives to traditional police details are being considered.

Councilors also criticized the absence of administration and police representatives. Chair Santana and lead sponsors said they had invited multiple bureaus — including bureaus responsible for field services, professional standards, professional development, administration and community engagement — and asked the administration to explain who was invited and why they were not present. The committee chair said the administration had confirmed one person would attend but that that person was unavailable on short notice.

Public testimony included two speakers who addressed policing and street safety. John Provinsano of South Boston urged more police details and criticized local street repairs tied to federally funded pipe work, saying the repaving left “ruts” and describing the contractor Feeney Brothers’ work as leaving tar “2 inches below surface.” David Lopez of Roxbury criticized policing interactions and emphasized personal responsibility for job choices, saying, “An officer chooses to become a police officer ... 15 hours is a choice.”

Councilors left the record with a series of follow-up questions for the administration and the Boston Police Department, requesting: up-to-date vacancy and overtime totals; the size and scheduling of current academy classes; the bureaus and officials invited to the hearing; a breakdown of costs when outside agencies are used for event details; and plans to minimize mandatory overtime while ensuring event coverage.

Chair Santana said the committee will submit councilors’ questions and press the administration for timely responses before the weekend’s events. "This hearing on docket number 0421 is adjourned," he said.

The hearing produced no formal motions, votes or policy actions; councilors said the session was the first step in an inquiry they plan to continue with administration responses to the written questions.