This year has seen a spike in the number of police officers leaving the Boston Police Department to become firefighters in the city, a report says.
Twenty-four police officers have transferred to the fire department in Boston this year, the Boston Herald reported, based on data provided by the city. The increase is significant compared to previous years when there were four transfers in 2018, zero in 2019, six in 2020, and one in 2021.
Only one firefighter became a city police officer this year, the first time since at least 2018, according to the Herald.
Larry Calderone, the president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association (BPPA), described the sharp increase in transfers as “alarming” in a statement to the Herald and said that the fire department offers attractive positions.
“Great wages. Great working conditions. No forced overtime. A great quality of life and, arguably, greater respect,” Calderone told the Herald in his statement. “The officers leaving will tell you they’re sick and tired of being taken for granted and disrespected by the never-ending criticism associated with the ‘defund the police’ movement.”
Mayor Michelle Wu responded to a request for comment by the Herald by saying, “Mayor Wu is committed to ensuring the City workforce reflects Boston’s neighborhoods and the residents we serve, including our public safety agencies. Our administration is working to break down barriers to expand opportunities across every department in city government.”
In July, Wu faced criticism over an alleged situation where police officers worked for 24 hours straight over the weekend due to multiple large-scale events in the city, MassLive previously reported. The BPPA slammed the Boston Police Department accusing the officials of ordering some police to work prolonged hours due to the city’s Open Streets festival in Jamaica Plain, a Red Sox-Yankees game at Fenway, and a festival in the Seaport District.
At the time, BPPA stated that the Boston police had 2,051 workers, with about 105 potential future officers set to graduate from the academy by the end of the year. The Herald reported that a 1980s-era ordinance requires the department to be staffed at a minimum of 2,500 officers.
City officials reduced the Boston Police Department’s budget by about 1% — roughly $4.7 million — in their fiscal 2023 budget, but overall police spending remains the largest line item in Boston’s $4 billion budget.
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