Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans To Retire After All

BOSTON, MA — Boston Police Commissioner Bill Evans is stepping down after nearly 40 years on the Police force to take a job leading the Boston College police department, after all. He has about another week on the job before Superintendent William Gross a 33 year veteran on the department will take his place, the first African American man to hold the position.

"It's been an honor to serve as commissioner," said Evans getting a bit choked up in a press conference confirming the news that he would be retiring from the Boston Police Department. He joked that he knew it was time to step down when he tried to jump rope with some kids in the neighborhood and couldn't.

He told reporters it was a difficult decision. "In my heart I will always be a police officer," he said.

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But, he said, it was time to step back. "I'm going up to BC," he said. "There's no better place to go than up to BC for me." His commute will go from 4 miles to 6 miles, he joked.

Evans will become the executive director of public safety and chief of police for Boston College beginning August 6. Boston College has been searching for a new campus police chief since April when Police Chief John King announced his retirement.

An emotional goodbye

He took the time during the press conference to thank everyone including his family and the police department for their support over the past 38 years.

"I'm fortunate to work with a mayor like Mayor Walsh," he said. No one cares more about the safety of this city than Mayor Walsh," he said thanking the mayor and then his family for their support.

Walsh praised his wife of 30 years for her support.

"A lot of times I'm grumpy and they put up with that," he said. He also thanked his brothers, including Paul who was also a commissioner.

Mayor Martin Walsh also thanked him, and apologized to Paul, but told reporters Bill Evans was the greatest police commissioner in Boston history, to laughter.

Since 2014 under commissioner Evans leadership, Walsh said the department stepped up and became a leader in the nation. Walsh said "President Obama recognized Boston as a leader in community policing."

He said Evans built trust in the community, introduced training in the academy on implicit bias and diversity.

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Unconfirmed, Confirmed

The news comes after WBZ-TV reported late last month that Evans was moving to the Boston College Police Department. Boston Police did not confirm the report, and both Walsh and Evans appeared to deny the reports. Walsh stood by his denial of the earlier reports when asked about it during the Monday press conference.

"I stand by that," he said noting the decision had not been finalized until last week.

On to Boston College
Boston College officials praised Evans as an experienced professional of uncompromising integrity with a proven track record in the areas of public safety and security.

“Bill Evans’ extensive experience and his understanding of BC’s commitment to student formation make him an ideal choice to lead our department,” said Financial Vice President and Treasurer John Burke. Evans is the father of a BC graduate.

“Throughout my career I have been guided by the principle that building good relationships and partnerships is the key to good policing,” said Evans in a statement. “I look forward to working with BC administrators, BC Police, faculty and students—as well as community members—to build relationships that will help provide a safe environment for all.”

38 years on the force

Evans came on as a police cadet in July 9, 1980.

"There's been a lot of challenges out there, but I think we're in a good place," he said.

He noted that arrests are down 23 percent. "We're doing that through a lot of good community work," he said. Use of force complaints are down 46 percent since the early 2000s.

Evans replaced Edward Davis III who served as commissioner from December 5, 2006 to October 2013.

The commissioner was born in South Boston and grew up in a triple-decker apartment there raised by his four older brothers after the death of his mother when he was 3 years old. He joined the Boston Police Department in 1982, spent five years as a patrolman, and was awarded the Medal of Honor for his role in nabbing an armed robbery suspect following a high-speed chase, according to the Boston Police webpage.

As a captain, Evans was first stationed at Allston–Brighton. In 2009 he was promoted to Superintendent in charge of the Bureau of Field Services, overseeing special events and the Department's patrol division.

And perhaps most well known Evans worked alongside the former chief handling Boston's 70-day occupation of Dewey Square and then the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings, including giving the order not to shoot at the surviving suspect when he was found in a boat in Watertown.

On November 1, 2013, Mayor Menino appointed Evans interim commissioner of the Boston Police Department. In January 2014, Mayor Marty Walsh asked him to take the commissioner job. Evans appointed the first black superintendent-in-chief, William Gross, and upped command staff with a 40 percent representation of minorities and women.

"As a Boston police officer for over thirty one years, I have seen first-hand how the department has evolved. Today, we are a very well trained, well resourced, and incredibly professional organization committed to serving and protecting our residents, visitors, businesses, and institutions," he said in a statement after he was appointed in 2014.

In 2016 he made $245,300 according to public records.

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Photo courtesy Boston Police