Boston Council Budget Hearing on BPD FY27 – May 7, 2026
Boston City Council Ways and Means Committee Hearing on Boston Police Department FY27 Budget – May 7, 2026
The Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means, chaired by Councillor Ben Weber, held a morning hearing on May 7, 2026, to review the FY27 operating budget for the Boston Police Department (BPD). The hearing covered topics including mental health and substance abuse response, community policing, firearms, homicides, crime lab operations, and intelligence. A second hearing on overtime, details, officer mental health, and diversity recruiting was scheduled for the afternoon. Commissioner Michael Cox and his leadership team presented the proposed $431 million personnel services budget (up from $427 million in FY26, primarily due to collective bargaining increases) and an 11% operating budget. Public testimony raised concerns about overtime overspending, surveillance technology oversight, and the displacement of the homelessness/addiction crisis from Mass and Cass to neighborhoods like Nubian Square. Councillors pressed for expanded community policing, increased staffing, and better coordination with mental health and addiction services.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Gregory Maynard (Boston Policy Institute) stated that BPD has consistently overspent its overtime budget by tens of millions of dollars (77% to 154% in recent years) and argued that the FY27 overtime budget of $55 million is grossly inaccurate, contributing to the city's first deficit since the Great Recession. He called for better budgeting and management.
- Kate Crockford (ACLU of Massachusetts) noted that BPD has been responsive but not timely on compliance with the surveillance technology oversight ordinance, and called for annual surveillance reports to be released sooner. She also requested more precise location data in arrest records and questioned whether spending on overtime to arrest people in crisis is effective compared to investing in housing and healthcare.
- Antonia Edwards (Roxbury resident) testified that conditions in Nubian Square have become unbearable due to the spillover from Mass and Cass, with open drug use, defecation, and unsafe sidewalks. She said seniors and businesses are terrified, and that BPD's positive reports about Nubian Square do not match reality. She urged the Commissioner to walk through the area day and night.
- Aja Jackson (Roxbury resident) echoed that the crisis has been displaced, not solved, and that cuts to youth programming and prevention are harming neighborhoods. She called for real investment in mental health, violence prevention, and safe parks instead of performative safety measures.
- Clifton Braithwaite (statesman) raised concerns about runaway youth being harbored in houses with older men, sex offenders, and families being criminalized for disciplining children. He asked for a meeting with BPD to address these issues.
Discussion Items
- Community Policing and Nubian Square (Councillor Culpepper, Fitzgerald, Louie Jen, others): Councillor Culpepper expressed that BPD's community policing model in B2 (Roxbury) is not as strong as in B4 (South End), with businesses reporting they are told to call 911 rather than seeing officers on the street. Commissioner Cox defended the work of Captain Mamoney and said they are hearing positive feedback, but agreed to walk through Nubian Square with the Councillor. Councillor Fitzgerald highlighted that the NES (Nuisance Enforcement and Support) team and CRT (Coordinated Response Team) have been effective in Mass and Cass and must be expanded citywide. He noted that overtime at Mass and Cass is down 22% in hours (as of May 4, 2026). Superintendent Brown reported the NES team has 1 lieutenant, 1 sergeant, and 14 officers, and is working to train other officers.
- Staffing and Vacancies (Councillors Flynn, Louie Jen, Weber): Commissioner Cox reported 2,102 sworn officers plus 132 recruits (total 2,234), with 153 sworn vacancies and 94 civilian vacancies. Retirements are averaging 95–100 per year. Councillor Flynn advocated for hiring 300 officers annually for the next 10 years. Chair Weber questioned why new positions are added when vacancies exist; Chief O'Brien explained that vacancies are prioritized (e.g., 911) and new positions fill critical needs. The FY27 personnel increase is due to collective bargaining raises (2%). Attrition in the current academy class is 14% (152 started, 131 remain).
- Crime Lab and Firearms (Councillor Flynn): Councillor Flynn questioned the leadership structure after a period of transitional management. Commissioner Cox pushed back, stating that the current leadership under Sergeant Detective Jefferson, Kevin Larrad, and others is strong and nationally accredited. On ghost guns, Superintendent McLaughlin said BPD works closely with ATF on investigations and recently conducted a significant operation to recover parts.
- Mental Health and Crisis Response (Councillors Murphy, Braden, Fitzgerald): BPD partners with Youth Connect and BEST clinicians. The CIT (Crisis Intervention Team) program has trained over 300 officers, and a new ICAT training will improve tactical decisions. Superintendent Brown noted that CIT teams have shrunk due to staffing, but the NES philosophy is being spread to all districts. Commissioner Cox emphasized that de-escalation is a priority, but many encounters are unpredictable.
- Surveillance Technology Ordinance (Councillors Durkin, Santana, Louie Jen): Councillor Durkin noted that BPD did not seek City Council approval before implementing a surveillance technology, citing exigent circumstances. Commissioner Cox apologized for any non-compliance and committed to meeting the ordinance's deadlines. Councillor Santana, as Public Safety Chair, will continue oversight.
- Cold Cases and Homicides (Councillor Santana): Superintendent McLaughlin explained that active squads revisit unsolved cases, and a cold case squad triages cases with new DNA/forensic genealogy technology. A website lists cases back to 1965. Councillor Weber noted a loss of external funding for a cold case project, which Chief O'Brien said she would look into.
- FIFA and Human Trafficking (Councillors Murphy, Flynn): BPD has been working on plans since last year to address anticipated increases in prostitution and human trafficking during FIFA. They are coordinating with the Family Justice Center, FBI, and hotels. Superintendent McLaughlin said a network is ready for demand reduction and incident response.
- BRIC and Intelligence (Councillor Louie Jen): The Bureau of Intelligence and Analysis (BRIC) has a $4.18 million operating budget funding 33 city positions and 16.5 grant-funded positions. Partner agencies (FBI, DHS, Boston Fire, EMS) also sit in the BRIC.
- Diversity and Promotions (Councillors Pipin, Weber): Of recent promotions, 40% of new captains were women (2 out of 5), 25% of lieutenants were people of color, and 31% of sergeants were people of color. Commissioner Cox stressed that diversity starts with recruiting a diverse patrol force.
Key Outcomes
- Mass and Cass Overtime: Hours are down 22% compared to the same period last year (43 weeks into FY26 vs FY25). The reduction is attributed to intentional operational changes and the NES/CRT strategy.
- Commitment to Nubian Square: Commissioner Cox agreed to walk through Nubian Square with Councillor Culpepper (date to be scheduled, not May 22). Superintendent Brown will attend the emergency community meeting at the Urban League that evening.
- Surveillance Compliance: BPD will prioritize timely reporting to the City Council under the surveillance ordinance.
- Cold Case Funding: Chair Weber noted a missing $150,000 external grant for the cold case project; Chief O'Brien will investigate.
- Future Budget Amendments: Councillor Fitzgerald indicated he will file an amendment to increase funding for the Coordinated Response Team (CRT) to expand citywide.
- Staffing: BPD will continue hiring classes of about 150 recruits twice a year. Councillor Flynn plans to advocate for 300 annual hires. The academy attrition rate has improved to 14%.
- Next Steps: The afternoon hearing (2:00 PM) will cover overtime, the detail system, officer mental health, and diversity recruiting. Public testimony will be taken after the first round of council questions.
Meeting Transcript
Good morning. My name is Ben Weber. I'm the Boston City Councillor for District Six and the Chair of the Committee on Ways and Means. Today is May seventh, two thousand twenty six, and the exact time is ten thirteen AM. I have a few preliminaries to get through here. So the hearing is being recorded. It's also being live streamed at Boston.gov slash city dash council dash TV and broadcasts on Xfinity, Channel Eight RCN, Channel 82, and FIOS, Channel Nine Sixty Four. We strongly encourage residents to engage in this hearing process. First, you can attend one of our hearings and give public testimony. You can do so by showing up in person in the hearing chamber, sign up on the sign-in sheet that's near the entrance, and you'll be called on to testify. The full hearing schedules on our website at Boston.gov slash council-budget. You can testify by Zoom by either filling out a online form on our council budget review website, or by emailing the committee at ccc.wm at Boston.gov, or by emailing uh Chris Machohan at K-A-R-I-S-H-M-A.CHOUHAN at Boston.gov, and you'll be sent a zoom link for this hearing. You can also uh come to our public testimony listening session. We'll have our fourth of four of these, will be Thursday night on May 26th at 6 p.m. here in the chamber. When you're called on to testify, you'll have two minutes. Please state your name and residents or and if you have any affiliation with an organization, name the organization, and uh please watch the clock for when your two minutes are up. In lieu of test testifying at a hearing, you can also submit written testimony to the committee at ccc.wm at Boston.gov. Uh lastly, you can submit a two-minute video of your testimony through the form on our website. For more information on the city council budget process and how to testify, please visit the city council's budget website at Boston.gov slash council-budget. In-person testimony will be taken after the first round of questions from my council colleagues. Again, you'll have two minutes to testify. And if you if you haven't signed up, uh please do so uh here in the chamber or again email our legislative uh uh budget analysis director, Karishma at K-A-R-I-S-H-M-A.CHOU-HA-N at Boston.gov for the zoom link, and your name will be added to the list. Uh we are having two hearings today uh on docket numbers 0733 to 0740 and 0749 to 0750 on the Boston uh with the Boston Police Department. Um this morning's hearings, uh well, you know, so hold on. So the hearings will be with the Boston Police. We'll cover the Boston Police Department, police revolving funds uh specifically uh this morning regarding to um mental health and substance abuse of response, community policing, firearms, homicides, and the crime lab. I encourage my colleagues to stick to these topics during questioning this morning. This afternoon's two o'clock hearing will cover over time the detail system, officer mental health and diversity and recruiting. So uh, you know, it could be some of the questions could be that you have, could be deferred to this afternoon. Again, uh so again if you're we have questions about police overtime, the detail system, officer mental health and diversity recruiting. That will be covered in this afternoon's hearing. Um these matters were response or we're sponsored by Mayor Michelle Wu and referred to the committee on April 8th, 2026. I'm joined by my colleagues in order of arrival, Councillor Murphy, Councilor Culpepper, Councilor Braden. Uh, we've received a letter of absence from Councilor Mejia. Um we generally waive opening statements from the counselors at our budget hearings, and we will stick to that this morning. I'm gonna introduce the panel. Uh we're joined uh this morning by police commissioner Michael Cox, uh Chief of Staff Nicole Taub, uh Chief of Bureau of Administration and Technology, Lisa O'Brien, uh Superintendent of the Bureau of Field Services, John Brown, uh Superintendent of Bureau of Investigative Services, Paul McLaughlin, and Superintendent of Bureau of Intelligence and Analysis, Lenita Kulinane. Right. Okay. So with that uh said, I'm going to oh, we've been joined by uh Councilor John Fitzgerald. Yep, uh, but there's another John Fitzgerald who's who's here, uh, my constituent so uh from the police department. So we have two John Fitzgeralds in the room. Um, so again, thank you, panel, for for coming in this morning, and uh I'm gonna the floor is now yours. Good morning, Council President Breden, Committee Chair Weber, and the city councilors. I appreciate the opportunity to testify before the ways of meet committee today today regarding the FY uh 27 operating budget for the Boston Police Department. Um you've already introduced my panel here with me today, but I want to just start off by saying I appreciate that the proposed 27 year budget represents a significant commitment to our taxpayer dollars for public safety in a time when not only the city uh is facing financial struggles but the state and uh maybe the country as well. Uh for those who are at home that may not understand that our budget uh is uh represents 89% of it is goes to personnel cost, and 11% of it goes to the operating uh budget of what we do, basically keeping the lights on. And so we're focused on using our resources efficiently and transparently in ways to support public safety and community trust. Uh a key area of focus is controlling overtime spending through improve staffing deployment, uh, stronger supervision, and ongoing monitoring to ensure that we're using our overtime appropriately and aligning operational needs.
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