The Boston City Council Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, chaired by Councilor Henry Santana, held a hearing on April 13, 2026, at 7:00 PM to consider three dockets: a port security grant (Docket #0320), a counter-unmanned aircraft systems grant (Docket #0759), and an order for hearings on all BPD grants (Docket #0476). The committee also discussed the VAWA grant for domestic violence advocates. The hearing featured presentations from BPD officials, council questions, and public testimony.
For the record, my name is Henry Santana, at large City Councilor, and I'm the chair of the Boston City Council Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice. Today is April thirteenth, twenty twenty-six.gov slash city dash council dash TV and broadcast it on Sfin Channel eight, RCN channel eighty two and files channel nine six four.ps at Boston dot government and available to all counselors. Written comments may be sent to the committee email at CCC.ps at Boston.gov and will be made part of the record and available to all counselors. Public testimony will be taken at the end of this hearing. Individuals will be called on in the order in which they signed up and will have two minutes to testify. If you are interested in testifying in person, please add your name to the sign-up sheet near the entrance of the chamber. If you are looking to testify virtually, please email our central staff liaison Ron Cobb at Ron.com at Boston.gov for the link and your name will be added to the list. Today's hearing is on dockets number 0320. Message and order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of five hundred five five hundred and seventy-seven thousand five hundred dollars in the form of a grant. The FY25 port security grant awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security to be administered by the police department. The grant will fund the purchase of the new 31 life proof boat, the replacement of engines on the 31 safe boat and 38 safe boat. And finally, the recallering of the recog patrol boat and ice rescue training. This matter was sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and was referred to the committee on February 11, 2026. And docket number 0759 message and order authorizing the city of Boston to accept and expend the amount of 10 million dollars, 10 million 925, 140 dollars and seven cents in the form of a grant, the FY26 counter unmanned aircraft systems grant program awarded by the United States Department of Homeland Security, passed through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security to be administered by the police department. The grant would fund increase in BPD's ability to detect, identify, tracked, and monitor unmanned aircraft systems within the city of Boston. This matter was sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and was referred to the committee on April 8th, 2026. And the final document we're covering tonight today is Docket number 0476. Order for a series of hearings regarding all city of Boston's grants administered by the Boston Police Department. This matter was sponsored by myself, Councillor Flynn, and Councillor Warr, and was referred to the committee on March 4th, 2026. Today I am joined by my colleagues in order of arrival. Councillor Flynn, Councillor Aaron Murphy, and Councillor Liu Gen. And we've also been joined with Councillor Fitzgerald. Um before we start today's uh before we start um I pass it over to the panel. I'm going to give my colleagues the opportunity to give brief opening remarks. Um, and I'll start with um Councillor Flynn. You have the floor. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you for your leadership on these these issues and these grants, Mr. Chair. And want to say thank you to the administration team and the Boston police that are present today. Had the opportunity to work with all four individuals and four outstanding leaders on the Boston Police Department as well. Um I'm looking forward to learning more about the grants. I've voted for them in the past. I know how important they are to the residents of Boston to keep us safe, but I also know that it's important to get this funding into the appropriate into the Boston police to do for the appropriate reason, and that is also to protect and and serve not just Boston residents but the thousands of visitors and tourists that come in here, whether it's this upcoming soccer tournament, um, whether it's tourists coming in for other reasons, um, but it's also about working closely with cities and towns across the greater Boston area, and I know that's what Boston Police does exceptionally well. Also, is it's not just about Boston, it's about Chelsea, it's about Cambridge, it's about Somerville, and it's about working together. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Councillor Flynn. Counselor Murphy, you have the floor. Thank you, Chair. Thank you for being here, everyone, to talk about these specific ones, but I know Maria, you'll be able to um talk us through all the others. I know the chair last couple years has been doing this with the fire grants where they come in once at the beginning and talk through all of them, so we're not calling you in each time. So just looking forward to hearing about them. And I know you have people behind you also who do a lot of work, you know, making sure that they're being used properly and that we're getting these grants so important, especially in the fiscal time we're in now, making sure whatever grants we can get to keep our city safe. We always do an exceptional job. We always prepare for you know the what we need the most, but this summer will be a lot. So thank you in advance. And we'll have to say it to you often, preparing that you know, not just our residents but visitors come have fun and you know leave failing, you know, but we know that this is the best city in the world. So thank you for being the best police department and looking forward to the conversation. Thank you, Chair.