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Commish touts accomplishments of police department

E-mail|Link|Comments () June 16, 2009 04:45 PM

By Maria Cramer, Globe Staff

Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis today touted the accomplishments of his department in the face of criticism from mayoral challengers who are attempting to make crime a central campaign issue.

Without mentioning any candidate by name, Davis enumerated specific steps the department had taken to combat crime in a speech this afternoon at police academy graduation at the Hyde Park Community Center which drew a crowd of an approximately 350 people. Mayor Thomas M. Menino shared the stage and joined the crowd in applause when Davis reached the high point of his remarks.

"Our focus on prevention and not simply responding to crime has resulted in the lowest levels of … violent crime seen by the City of Boston in over 40 years," Davis said. "1967 was the last time we had a lower crime rate than we do today."

Davis seemed to be offering a point-by-point rebuttal of an anticrime plan offered by City Councilor and mayoral challenger Michael F. Flaherty, which was detailed in today's Globe.

The commissioner today highlighted the addition of 13 new street workers; the collaboration over the last three years with federal authorities to prosecute and imprison violent criminals in the city; and the use of technology to crime statistics to residents and business owners.