Boston Police Staffing Hearing Draws No City Officials Days Before Major Parade

BOSTON -- March 13, 2025, Boston's police staffing hearing drew no city administration witnesses, leaving councilors to question an empty panel days before the Evacuation Day Parade. The City Council's Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice, chaired by Councilor Henry Santana, convened Thursday on Docket 0421 to examine a staffing shortfall that co-sponsor Erin J. Murphy put at roughly 135 officers below last year's levels, with the current academy class capped at approximately 118 recruits despite funding for more. Co-sponsor Edward M. Flynn, who said he chaired a law enforcement coordination meeting the prior day with Police Commissioner Cox, demanded on the record that the committee disclose which BPD officials had been invited and why none appeared; Santana confirmed one originally confirmed official had requested a rescheduling. Councilor Benjamin J. Weber flagged a published report that the department's top seven overtime earners collectively made more than $500,000 in the past year, calling for fiscal accountability alongside safety improvements. The committee voted to submit all councilor questions to the administration before Sunday's parade, which Murphy warned could draw up to one million people to South Boston with BPD already relying on State Police and regional departments to fill gaps.