Councilor Flynn Statement re: National Night Out

August 6, 2024

I am honored to once again work with the Boston Police, City of Boston employees, and our neighbors to celebrate National Night Out. It is critical that we continue to highlight the value of community policing, strengthen relationships and the trust between our police officers and neighbors, and support our immigrant neighbors and communities of color on public safety and quality of life issues.

In every neighborhood of District 2, residents continue to request additional public safety resources. For years, I have consistently called for the City of Boston to hire hundreds of additional Boston Police officers every year to confront long-standing, public safety issues of overstretched resources, forced overtime, and looming retirements. These staffing issues are significant concerns for not only our officers and their families, but potential public safety impacts to all of our neighborhoods – including our ability to address pedestrian safety issues, like reckless driving from speeding cars and mopeds that we continue to see in Boston. I will call for a hearing tomorrow on Boston Police staffing levels with Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy.

During my time on the City Council, I have also voted each year to protect the Boston Police budget, led the efforts to pass a $13 million anti-terrorism grant, and passed an ordinance with Councilor Brian Worrell that requires an annual report on the flow of illegal firearms. Moreover, I continue to work for increased funding for the Boston Police Department Crime Lab for both personnel to work to help us become compliant with state law in testing sexual assault kits within 30 days, as well as more resources to utilize “Y screening” – a DNA testing technique understood to be a quicker, more efficient method that is utilized by the Massachusetts State Police.

The Boston Police play an invaluable role in our city, as they address public safety challenges and quality of life issues. I have the utmost respect for our Boston Police officers, who are dedicated to serving their communities, and who often have to work long hours away from their families. I look forward to continuing to collaborate with my constituents, Mayor Wu, and Boston Police on public safety and quality of life issues in District 2 and across the city.