Boston Police Department commissioner Dennis A. White was released on Wednesday – just two days after he was sworn in – because allegations of past domestic abuse led the city to open an investigation.
Mayor Martin J. Walsh put Mr. White, 59, on leave after The Boston Globe asked about the allegations of domestic violence involving Mr. White and his ex-wife in 1999.
The newspaper cited court documents showing that a judge issued a restraining order against Mr. White, and that his wife accused him of pushing and hitting her once. The Globe reported that court documents also showed that Mr. White denied the charges and that it was not possible to find evidence that he had been charged with a crime. The couple divorced.
“Upon learning of these serious accusations, I acted immediately, putting the commissioner on administrative leave, while the corporation’s attorney hires an outside lawyer to conduct a full and impartial investigation,” Walsh said in a statement released on Wednesday.
White, who has worked for the Boston Police for more than three decades, was previously a police superintendent and chief of staff to Police Commissioner William Gross, who abruptly announced on Thursday that he would retire on Friday.
Mr. Walsh, who was appointed Secretary of Labor for President Biden, acknowledged that Mr. White’s transition from superintendent to commissioner was rapid.
“In an attempt to create a smooth transition and to honor former Commissioner Gross’s desire to spend more time with his family, Dennis White was asked to quickly assume the role of police commissioner, starting last Friday,” said Walsh in your statement. “These disturbing issues were not known to me or my team, but they should be at the forefront.”
White could not be reached for comment Thursday. Detective Sergeant John Boyle, a Boston police spokesman, followed the mayor’s statement and declined to comment further.
Tamsin Kaplan, the lawyer hired by the city’s corporate council to conduct an investigation into the allegations, declined to comment on them. It was unclear how long the investigation would take.
Mr. White was the second black man to lead the police force in Boston; the first was Mr. Gross. At the swearing-in ceremony on Monday, the mayor called Mr. White “an experienced and well-respected veteran of the Boston Police Department, who has served the community for 32 years.” In a speech, Mr. White promised to prioritize reform and community involvement.
The Globe’s investigation into White’s past came in the context of a series of investigations into the Boston police. The newspaper reported racial inequalities within the department, as well as the lack of accountability for police officers who break rules or laws.
“This is greater than the government’s failure to properly evaluate a candidate to lead our Police Department,” said Andrea Campbell, a councilor running for mayor, in a declaration On thursday. “The lack of systemic accountability for transgressions and transparency in the BPD is a trend.”
“Every possible incident of domestic violence is a big deal,” said Annissa Essaibi-George, another councilwoman running for mayor. “There are no exceptions. We deserve to know that the leaders we trust to keep our community safe can live to the highest possible standard in their own lives. “
Boston Police Department Chief Superintendent Gregory Long was appointed on Wednesday to serve as interim commissioner.
Alain Delaquérière contributed to the research.