So why would this important post suddenly net a 25-year veteran of the BPD a demotion from deputy superintendent to sergeant detective of the department’s Civil Rights Unit in Charlestown?
It seems there are multiple explanations, and that leaves the department open to the perception that politics could be at play here.
Chrispen told the Globe that Police Commissioner Michael Cox gave him an ultimatum to either give up his seat on the POST Commission or face losing his post on the command staff because it posed a conflict of interest. The demotion means a $40,000 pay cut.
Mariellen Burns, chief of internal and external communications for the police department, called Chrispin’s explanation, “not accurate.” She was otherwise short on details, saying in a statement, “From time to time — to strengthen the command staff’s work to fulfill the mission and to promote cohesion of the team — changes are made.”
She also noted in her statement that Chrispin had been appointed “by a previous Commissioner.” Chrispin was named to the command staff by former commissioner William Gross.
Mayor Michelle Wu backed up the commissioner’s decision during an interview on GBH’s Boston Public Radio, saying, “There’s basically a policy that he’s decided that … POST positions should be held by those who are not on the command staff in Boston to keep those entities both fulfilling their respective missions fully.”
The mayor added that Cox “needs to have every ability to shape the team around him.”
Both the executive director of POST, Enrique Zuniga, and Campbell have expressed their disappointment, not to mention bewilderment, at the move.
In a statement posted on the commission’s website, Zuniga urged “BPD to reverse its decision and immediately reinstate Commissioner Chrispin to his prior rank. We see no legitimate reason why Commissioner Chrispin’s appointment to the POST Commission should result in his demotion.”
The statement noted that “We understand BPD demoted Commissioner Chrispin claiming to have concerns about conflicts of interest due to his position on the command staff.” It added that the commission has dealt with potential conflicts through disclosure or recusals. And other commissioners have either been police chiefs — the chief of the Framingham Police Department is currently a member — or members of their department’s command staff.
So why should Chrispin be any different?
Campbell, speaking on Boston Public Radio Wednesday, said “The POST statute, and every policy practice, encourages folks to be active law enforcement, and also to serve in some meaningful role to serve on POST, because there’s a perspective they bring. And I was confident, as was my team, that he would not have violated any secrets of Commissioner Cox or anyone else serving in that role.”
She urged Cox to “be crystal clear on the rationale and reasoning,” something she said has been lacking to date.
She’s right. The lack of clear and convincing explanations for Chrispin’s demotion has given rise to speculation that more is at play here.
Yes, commissioners can choose their own command staff. And, yes, Chrispin was chosen by Cox’s predecessor, Will Gross, the city’s first Black police commissioner, who after he retired from the department gave some thought to running for mayor himself. Instead, however, he endorsed Wu’s rival, City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George in 2021.
Meanwhile, Cox’s decision does real damage to the role of the POST Commission.
As Zuniga put it in his statement, “This unwarranted decision by the BPD sets an unfortunate precedent and undermines the decisions of the appointing and nominating authorities while also undermining POST’s work toward police reform.”
He continued, “The Legislature was unmistakably clear that it intended for the POST Commission to be an independent police oversight body. Yet, BPD has taken employment action against Commissioner Chrispin, a duly nominated and appointed commissioner, which has nothing to do with his performance for the BPD and everything to do with his service on the POST Commission.”
Cox was named as Boston’s police commissioner nearly two years ago. If he wanted to make changes in his leadership team, he’s had a fair amount of time to do that.
Doing so at this particular moment and by demoting this particular officer sends an unfortunate message about the department, its priorities, and its support for police reform.
Editorials represent the views of the Boston Globe Editorial Board. Follow us @GlobeOpinion.
