Boston Police Department

The Boston Police Department was formally organized in 1854, but the department traces its origins to the establishment of a night watch of six men and an officer in 1631. At a town meeting in 1701, watchmen were instructed to be &quote;on duty from ten o'clock till broad daylight. . . . They are to go about silently with watch bills, not using any bell, and no watchman to smoke tobacco while walking their rounds; and when they see occasion, to call to persons to take care of their light.&quote; Today, the duties of the Boston police officer are supported by advanced forensic technologies and modern equipment. Officers walk neighborhood beats, control local crime, and are ready at a moment's notice to respond to acts of terrorism. Boston Police Department, the first comprehensive photographic history of the department, details one hundred fifty years of crime fighting in Boston. The collection includes images of the 1919 Boston Police Strike; an overview of specialized units, vehicles, uniforms, and equipment; and an honor roll of officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

Donna M. Wells established the Boston Police Departments Record Center and Archives in 1997 and serves as the department's records manager and archivist. She has a master's degree in library and information science. Prior to joining the Boston Police Department, Wells worked for the Pinkerton detective agency at the 1980 Winter Olympics, and as an operative for a private investigations firm. Paul F. Evans was appointed a Boston patrolman on December 30, 1970, and has served as police commissioner since 1994. The author will donate a portion of the royalties from the sale of this book to the Boston Police Relief Association.