Legislation Would Allow Boston and Dedham Police to Pursue Suspects Past Borders

Let’s say that a motorist runs the red light on the Providence Highway right at the West Roxbury border – did you know that a Dedham Police officer could not pursue the vehicle because it’s out of DPD’s jurisdiction? Boston City Councilor Rob Consalvo has filed legislation that would allow Boston or Dedham police 500 yards past each border to continue pursuing suspects.

Consalvo represents District 5, which includes Hyde Park, Readville and Roslindale, but knows that the proposed home rule petition would also affect West Roxbury.

"You have streets that leave the city and go into Dedham and if you’re in continuous pursuit you can continue to chase them – that law already exists," said Consalvo. "But what happens is that you have streets that run from Boston into Dedham and houses that are in the middle of Dedham and Hyde Park, so if there were an incident in a backyard [police] don’t have the right to arrest people in the backyard because it’s not in [that police department’s] jurisdiction. If they made an arrest it would be thrown out because it’s out of district."

He added that criminals could literally step across the border and tease the police across the line and there would be nothing the officers could do – but call the bordering police department.

Consalvo said that District E-18 Boston Police Captain Robert Ciccolo suggested the legislation to him. Boston already has home-rule petitions in to go into Brookline or Newton, said Consalvo.

Dedham Police Chief Michael d'Entremont backs the plan and points to similar policies in place between Boston and Brookline, and Boston and Newton.

"We have some borders that can be confusing with regards to whose jurisdiction that you are in," d'Entremont said in an email to Dedham Patch. "We are not looking to expand our area, just allow for a buffer area which would cover us if we end up taking action just over a border."

D'Entremont used an example of a Dedham officer chasing a speeding driver into Boston, initiating a stop and finding the driver under the influence of alcohol. While the speeding ticket would stick, an aware defense lawyer could get the drunken driving charge tossed in court.

"We can only cross jurisdictional lines if we observe an arrestable offense in our jurisdiction and then follow the vehicle over the line," d'Entremont stated. 

Rep. Paul McMurtry said proposed bills that would address the "buffer" issue are currently in committee at the state level and have wide support.

A  drew more attention to this issue when a suspicious package was delivered to a Dedham address, but the Boston Police Bomb Squad responded to the address and determined the package to be safe because of the initial 911 call, but Consalvo pointed out that the BPD didn’t have jurisdiction to investigate the matter. took hold of the investigation because the package was received in Dedham.