William G. Gross

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other people with similar names, see William Gross.
William G. Gross
Gross attending a Disabled American Veterans event in South Boston in 2018
Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
In office
August 6, 2018 – January 29, 2021
MayorMarty Walsh
Preceded byWilliam B. Evans
Succeeded byDennis White
Personal details
Born1963 or 1964 (age 59–60)[1]
Maryland
Alma materQuincy College

William G. Gross (pronunciationⓘ, born c. 1964) is a former American police officer who served as Commissioner of the Boston Police Department for 29 months, from August 2018 to January 2021.

Early life and education[edit]

Gross was born in rural Maryland to a single mother, the middle of three children, and moved to Boston at the age of 12.[2] He graduated from Boston Technical High School (now the John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science).[2] He then entered the Boston Police Cadet Program, becoming a Patrol Officer two years later in 1984.[3]

Gross earned an Associate in Science degree in Criminal Justice from Quincy College in 2017.[4]

Boston Police Department[edit]

As a patrol officer, Gross served in the Anti-Youth Violence Strike Force and the Drug Control Unit, and later was an instructor at the Boston Police Academy. He achieved the ranks of Sergeant and Sergeant Detective, and then became Deputy Superintendent in 2008, where he attended community meetings to address specific neighborhood crime concerns. In 2010, he became commander of the Field Support Division, which includes the Anti-Youth Violence Strike Force and the School Police Unit. In 2012, he was promoted to Superintendent, Night Commander.[5] In March 2017, Gross was again promoted, becoming the first Black Superintendent-in-Chief of the Boston police.[6]

Commissioner[edit]

Gross speaks with U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren at a 2020 Martin Luther King Jr. Day event

On August 6, 2018, Boston mayor Marty Walsh officiated the ceremony during which Gross was sworn in as Commissioner of the Boston Police Department.[7] Gross became the department's 42nd commissioner.[3][8] When Gross resigned Boston's annual homicide rate (57 killings) was at an eight year high. He oversaw a review of the department's use-of-force policies, allowed officers to arm themselves with chemical weapons, police body cameras were issued to half the force, and he established the first Bureau of Community Engagement for the Boston police.[9]

On the afternoon of January 28, 2021, Gross announced his near immediate retirement to be effective the next morning.[10] The retirement was considered "abrupt," with Gross citing the desire to spend more time with family.[11] The Boston Globe reported several months later that Gross had experienced a health scare, which prompted his retirement.[12] Superintendent Dennis White was immediately named as his successor by Walsh.[13] White was formally sworn in on February 1,[14] and two days later was placed on leave after court records documenting domestic violence surfaced.[15]

Gross, a conservative registered as an independent,[16] considered becoming a candidate in the 2021 Boston mayoral election, but stated at the time of his retirement that he decided against running.[11] In May 2021, Gross endorsed Boston City Council member Annissa Essaibi George for mayor.[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "History made as Evans bows out". The Boston Globe. July 24, 2018. p. A1. Retrieved January 29, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  2. ^ a b Levenson, Michael (July 24, 2018). "Gross offers community ties, deep experiences". The Boston Globe. p. A1. Retrieved January 29, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Valencia, Milton J. (2018-08-05). "William Gross, set to be sworn in as Boston's first black police commissioner, was an officer in the making, friends say". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  4. ^ "Photos: Quincy College 60th anniversary". Wicked Local. Retrieved 2020-07-16. Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, 2017 graduate of the Quincy College, was awarded the 2018 Quintessential Award Thursday night at the 60th anniversary gala at Granite Link Golf Course.
  5. ^ "Mayor Walsh Announces Departure of William B. Evans and Appoints William Gross as Commissioner of Boston Police Department" (Press release). Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Police Department. 2018-07-23. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  6. ^ "Mayor Walsh Appoints William B. Evans Police Commissioner of the Boston Police Department, Superintendent William Gross Named First African-American Chief in Department History" (Press release). City of Boston. March 29, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2021 – via Boston.gov.
  7. ^ Ellement, John R.; Valencia, Milton J. (2018-08-06). "William Gross sworn in as 42nd Boston Police commissioner". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  8. ^ Walters, Quincy (August 6, 2018). "Boston's Newest Police Commissioner Willie Gross Is Black, Blue And 'All Cop'". WBUR-FM. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  9. ^ "William Gross to Retire; Mayor Appoints Dennis White as 43rd Boston Police Commissioner". boston.gov (Press release). January 28, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Cotter, Sean Philip (2021-01-28). "Boston Police Commissioner Gross to retire". Boston Herald. Retrieved 2021-01-28.
  11. ^ a b McDonald, Danny; Estes, Andrea (January 28, 2021). "In Boston mayoral race, Essaibi-George says she's in and Gross says he's out". The Boston Globe. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Andersen, Travis; Ryan, Andrew (May 14, 2021). "Janey to brief reporters on Boston Police Department leadership Friday". The Boston Globe. Retrieved May 14, 2021. It was not then public knowledge, but Gross had suffered a serious health scare and wanted to retire immediately.
  13. ^ "Boston Police Commissioner William Gross Retiring, Dennis White To Take His Place". WBZ-TV. 2021-01-28. Retrieved 2021-01-28 – via cbslocal.com.
  14. ^ Gavin, Christopher (February 1, 2021). "Dennis White vows to see through reforms as Boston's police commissioner". Boston.com. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  15. ^ Cotter, Sean Philip (February 3, 2021). "New Boston Police commissioner on leave after domestic-violence allegations reported". Boston Herald. Retrieved February 4, 2021.
  16. ^ Cullen, Kevin (June 30, 2020). "The PC isn't PC enough for some, but he keeps on truckin'". The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 20, 2021. Actually, Gross is registered as an independent, but he is conservative with a small c, as most cops are.
  17. ^ Wintersmith, Saraya (May 13, 2021). "Retired Police Commissioner Gross Backs Essaibi George For Boston Mayor". WGBH-TV. Retrieved May 15, 2021.

Further reading[edit]

External links[edit]

Police appointments
Preceded by Commissioner of the Boston Police Department
2018–2021 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_G._Gross&oldid=1219700545"