2.1 min readBy Published On: July 23rd, 2018Categories: News0 Comments on Southie’s Own Bill Evan is moving on from BPD!

Well, we guess WBZ was right! A few weeks backed the local news source reported that Boston Police Commissioner William Evans would be leaving the BPD for Boston College police.  Initially both Evans and Mayor Marty Walsh denied the report.

On Monday, Evans officially announced his retirement during a press conference at City Hall.

Evans served as police commissioner for more than four years, after a 38-year career for the BPD beginning as a cadet.  Evans is also a lifelong Southie resident often seen running around Castle Island or at the local coffee shops.  Evans begins as Boston College’s executive director of public safety on August 6th.

Also announced at press conference, superintendent-in-chief, William Gross, will become the new commissioner.  Gross will be the first person of color ever to lead the department! 

As Deputy Superintendent, Gross served as the Commander of Zone 2, which is made up of Area B-2 Roxbury & Mission Hill, Area B-3 Mattapan, Area C-11 Dorchester and Area C-6 South Boston. In this role, he coordinated with District Captains in their development of strategies to address crime trends, and attended community meetings to address specific neighborhood crime concerns.

“Chief Gross is the right person, at the right time, to lead the Boston Police Department, to build the partnerships, to reach out and engage all of us to tackle public safety challenges and to continue the many effective, community policing initiatives here in the city,” said Michael Kozu and Emmanuel Tikili, interim co-director of Project RIGHT. “We have worked with Chief Gross for a number of years in Grove Hall and while we have made progress, he also understands the issues that are holding us back, in our neighborhood and in our city. He knows so many people, from young to old, and is accessible to all.”

In 2010, Deputy Superintendent Gross became the commander of the Field Support Division, which included command over the Youth Violence Strike Force (Gang Unity), and the School Police Unit. In 2012, he was promoted to Superintendent, Night Commander, responsible for oversight of all police responses to incidents on a citywide basis in the evening hours. Throughout his career, Superintendent Gross has maintained a strong connection with the community, and has been awarded numerous awards for bravery, meritorious service and community partnership. Boston is in good hands! 

We will miss you Billy Evans!  You did an amazing job and we’re proud to call you one of our own!  We’ll see you around the neighborhood!  

 

Leave A Comment