Commanding officer is demoted
Was reprimanded for incident at headquarters
A high-ranking member of the Boston Police Department command staff has taken a demotion, and a prominent detective has been named to replace him.
Deputy Superintendent Robert M. Merner has voluntarily stepped down and will assume the rank of lieutenant detective, Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis said in a phone interview last night. The department has named Sergeant Detective Kevin J. Buckley to replace him as head of the Criminal Investigative Division, responsible for all police investigations.
“Deputy Buckley’s work ethic and dedication is highly regarded by all Boston police personnel,’’ Davis said in a statement.
Davis said Merner took the new assignment for personal and family reasons.
The move is a significant step down for Merner, who spent the past year on the command staff after he had headed the homicide division as a lieutenant detective. Merner will be in charge of detectives in West Roxbury and Hyde Park, officials said.
“The Boston Police Department would like to thank Lieutenant Detective Merner for the outstanding contributions he has made in his time as a deputy superintendent,’’ Davis said.
“Under Lieutenant Detective Merner’s efforts, the clearance rates are up, the quality of the detectives training is enhanced, and community relations with the public have improved.’’
Merner was disciplined by the department in January for mistreating other officers. The Jan. 20 written reprimand from Davis said Merner failed “to be civil, courteous, and respectful’’ to other officers during an incident on or around Dec. 29 at police headquarters.
Davis said the reprimand had nothing to do with the move.
“Bobby’s a tremendous investigator. Everybody has a bump in the road, but the truth of the matter is he worked through all that,’’ Davis said. “We owe him a debt of gratitude.’’
In 2008, Merner earned about $195,000 as a lieutenant detective. He earned less, about $189,000, last year. Buckley earned just over $164,000 as a sergeant detective last year.
As a detective lieutenant and the head of the department’s homicide division in April 2009, Merner coordinated the arrest of Philip Markoff, who has been charged with killing a woman he met via Craigslist. He was promoted a month later to deputy superintendent.
Buckley’s notable cases include the 2007 killing of Tyrice Brown, in plain view of a Dorchester convenience store security camera.
Jose Delacruz, formerly of Dorchester, was convicted of the killing after a trial that included prosecutors showing the footage of the shooting to the jury. Buckley testified at trial that Delacruz’s mother identified him from the camera footage, causing Delacruz to burst out in the courtroom, swearing at Buckley.
John M. Guilfoil can be reached at jguilfoil@globe.com 
