Dennis White (police commissioner)

Dennis A. White (born c. 1962) is an American police officer who is Commissioner of the Boston Police Department. White was placed on leave on February 3, 2021, while the city conducts an investigation into a 1999 incident.

Dennis White
Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
In office February 1, 2021 – February 3, 2021 (placed on leave)
Preceded by	William G. Gross
Succeeded by	Gregory Long (acting)
Personal details
Born	1961/1962 (age 59–60)[1] Boston, Massachusetts
Alma mater	Newbury College

Early life and education

White is a native of the Four Corners area of the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston,[2] and graduated from Jeremiah E. Burke High School in the Hyde Park neighborhood.[3] He spent five years as a member of the Boston Fire Department.[4] In 2005, he earned a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from Newbury College in nearby Brookline, Massachusetts.[3]

Police career

As of January 2021, White had been a member of the Boston Police Department for 32 years.[2] He rose through leadership roles, becoming a deputy superintendent in 2014.[5][1] In August 2018, Boston police commissioner William G. Gross promoted White to superintendent and named him chief of staff.[4] In 2020, White was one of two police officers on an 11-member task force assembled to review and recommend improvements to policing in Boston, following the killing of George Floyd.[6]

Appointment as Police Commissioner

On January 28, 2021, Gross abruptly announced his retirement, effective the next day.[2] Boston mayor Marty Walsh named White to succeed Gross, with White becoming acting commissioner on January 29.[5] Formally sworn in on February 1, White became the department's 43rd commissioner and second Black commissioner.[5][7]

Allegation of domestic abuse

On February 3, 2021, White was placed on leave, in light of "the handling of a 1999 allegation of domestic violence."[3][8] Superintendent-in-chief Gregory Long was named acting commissioner while the city of Boston hires an outside investigator to conduct an investigation.[3][8] The 1999 incident resulted in a restraining order that required White to stay away from his wife and children.[3]

References

1. Ellement, John R.; McKenna, Charlie (February 1, 2021). "Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White sworn into office; vows to reform department he now leads". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
2. Cotter, Sean Philip (January 28, 2021). "Boston's next police commissioner says top priority is continuing reforms". Boston Herald. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
3. Ryan, Andrew; Arnett, Dugan (February 3, 2021). "Walsh places new police commissioner on leave after past domestic violence allegation surfaces". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
4. Valencia, Milton J. (August 11, 2018). "Commissioner starts assembling his command staff". The Boston Globe. p. A2. Retrieved January 28, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
5. "William Gross to Retire; Mayor Appoints Dennis White as 43rd Boston Police Commissioner". boston.gov (Press release). January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
6. Lotan, Gal Tziperman (October 16, 2020). "Boston police union calls reforms costly, unnecessary". The Boston Globe. p. B4. Retrieved January 28, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
7. Gavin, Christopher (February 1, 2021). "Dennis White vows to see through reforms as Boston's police commissioner". Boston.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
8. Cotter, Sean Philip (February 3, 2021). "New Boston Police commissioner on leave after domestic-violence allegations reported". Boston Herald. Retrieved February 4, 2021.

Further reading

• Wintersmith, Saraya (February 5, 2021). "Police Reform Panel Members Question Handling Of Old Allegations Against Commissioner White". WGBH-TV. Retrieved February 8, 2021.