Boston City Council Panel Reviews $11.5 Million in Police Grants for World Cup Summer

BOSTON — April 13, 2026 — Boston City Council committee reviews $11.5 million in police grants ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, chaired by At-Large Councillor Henry Santana, held an April 13 hearing on a $10,925,140.07 federal Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems grant — the first of its kind nationally, created specifically for World Cup host cities — and a $577,500 Port Security Grant to replace a 27-year-old harbor patrol boat and upgrade two boat engines before their warranties expire. Boston Regional Intelligence Center Director Ryan Walsh told councillors that the city's existing drone-detection capability covers only one drone manufacturer, DJI, which is losing market share, saying flatly, "We are not detecting all the drones that we should be detecting." A $150,327.96 VAWA grant covering one Spanish-speaking domestic violence advocate and unit-wide overtime was added to the agenda during the hearing; Lieutenant Detective Nicole LaPointe confirmed five of Boston's 11 police districts still lack a dedicated on-site DV advocate. All three principal dockets are expected on the full Council floor for a vote in the coming week.