Chief McDonald announced his plans to retire today, one day after Mayor Fuller called for a full review of the police department.
Here’s John’s Hilliard’s story in the Globe.
Here’s the statement from Mayor Fuller:
Chief David MacDonald of the Newton Police Department told me this morning of his intention to retire.In the last few weeks, the Chief and I have worked closely together as we began to consider the ways in which our Department can reimagine law enforcement and be a leader in Massachusetts for just policing. We have spent many hours contemplating what we are doing well and what we can do better. I was proud to see Chief MacDonald talk thoughtfully about the results of his hard work these past five years as the Chief and I looked forward to tackling this great task together.Chief MacDonald had been contemplating his retirement from the City for some time. He recently recognized that with all of the work we have ahead, that his successor would be best off starting that important work from the beginning stages, rather than at the implementation stage. I understand that and appreciate that even while making this difficult decision, he again, considered the needs of the City of Newton Police Department.Chief MacDonald shared with me that he wants to focus more on his health and his family, so it made sense to him, that this summer would be the time for him to hand over his gold badge after 27 years of service. He will now be able to spend more time with his wife and their two children.Chief MacDonald was hired as a City of Newton Police Officer on February 21, 1993. He was promoted to Sergeant in April of 1999, then to Lieutenant in December of 2004 and Captain in August of 2015. He served as the Executive Officer for the Department beginning in 2013 where he worked side by side with former Chief Howard L. Mintz. MacDonald became Chief when he was appointed by former Mayor Setti Warren on November 30, 2015.Chief MacDonald was also a Narcotics Investigator and Supervisor for the Middlesex County Drug Taskforce for seven years. He earned his Bachelor Degree in Political Science from UMass Amherst and his Masters of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from New England College.Chief MacDonald has proudly served in the role of Chief for almost five years. During that time, he has worked to enhance community policing efforts in the City and to ensure the Newton Police Department lives up to its mission of guaranteeing respect and dignity for each individual while preventing crime, solving problems and enforcing the law. I am proud of his commitment to procedural justice and treating all people with dignity and giving residents a voice. I am grateful for his dedicated service to the City of Newton.This week we will work together to decide on the date of his retirement. I will also be deciding on who should serve as Acting Chief as we undertake the search for Chief MacDonald’s replacement.
A good person. A job well done.
Does anyone know how old Chief McDonald is?
Newton’s reputation of being one of the safest cities in America is no coincidence..
A big thanks to Chief MacDonald for keeping us all safe.
Received an email from the Newton Patch yesterday announcing this story. The email put quotes around the word “retirement”.
Having watched many hours of the City Council’s budget deliberations last week and the Chief’s demeanor throughout though questioning, I wonder if he just didn’t just throw up his hands in frustration.
Defund the Police is a machete being hacked across police departments all over the country. Many deserve closer examination and require change. But while no police department is 100% free of incidents, Newton’s is (much) better than most, as we wake up this morning to the blanket of protection they provide.
Sorry to see Chief go.
The Chief ‘retires’ the morning after The Mayor’s announcements and everyone’s believing that?
The amount of support the Newton Police have received over the past weeks has been embarrassing. Newtonians know this and they still do nothing.
Best to the Chief. Hopefully he’ll be supported in his future endeavors.
Fedup,
Support for Local police “at this time” is viewed as supporting racism
Its a sad time
If Newton PD had bad reputation, i would understand… but this is crazy
The Newton Police under MacDonald (editor should note that it is MacD not McD) have a sterling reputation.
There have been no incidents in my memory where the Newton PD has held an innocent, unarmed black man at gunpoint. This is not the sort of thing that our officers would do.
One of the systemic issues that we have to come to terms with is understanding the impact of our socioeconomic makeup on the outcomes that our City delivers. Newton is the wealthiest city in Massachusetts. It is also very safe, and its children achieve fantastic results. We often draw the conclusion from that reality that our police and schools are doing an *excellent* job. Correlation and causality are not the same – are they doing a good job, or do the dynamics of our city just make it really easy to achieve great outcomes?
Where are all the Village 14 commentators? This is a huge issue, I’m surprised everyone’s so quiet…or am I?…
Also, very few comments on Mayor Fuller’s press release or whatever we’re calling that…
Greg, Nathan, Sean where are you?
Donald
The case you are referring to involves a suspect who very matched the description of a murderer (the height listed on records were within range)
The police were certainly guiltly of being over cautious (the suapect murderer ) as he was just casually walking down the street. The police should have observed a little longer.
But are you saying if the murder suspect was white and someone fit the description, that the police would not draw a gun on that murder suspect? We would have to look back at other murder suspect arrest records to prove that.
I believe the mayor approved $ to review the records to look for bias.
Just laying out facts and not emotion
“There have been no incidents in my memory where the Newton PD has held an innocent, unarmed black man at gunpoint. This is not the sort of thing that our officers would do.”
What?
Did Prof. Jabari Asim ever get an apology from the Newton PD for the 2015 incident?
Nathan-
If you read the Boston Globe story, the ticket was vacated by a clerk magistrate after a hearing. As to your question, the lawyer for Professor Asim is quoted as saying the officer was within his jurisdiction… So no, I don’t believe there was any apology.
Every government entity can use some reform somewhere. The Newton police department has a good track record of not using deadly force. Isn’t that the main point that’s being stressed around the country?
The Newton PD has most certainly held an innocent, unarmed black man at gunpoint, within very recent memory—Tim Duncan.
Holly,
Do you disagree that the murder suspect matched the description? (Height on record was in range)
In your professional opinion, how should police approach murder suspects?
If they only approach black murder suspects with guns drawn then I absolutely agree that Newton PD should be held accountable.
The height estimates ranged by a full 7″, and it’s not clear why the PD didn’t have accurate height info.
@bugek The main point stands: it’s factually inaccurate to say it hasn’t happened.
To answer your question, there are a lot of facts I’d want to have before making a judgment. I haven’t seen a picture of the suspect to compare him to Duncan. The height difference was quite a lot. I haven’t seen the two addresses – the one where they thought the suspect was, vs. where Duncan was stopped. Those facts might be out there, I just haven’t seen them.
Based on the facts I do know, if I were a cop I would judge it highly unlikely that a nicely dressed man ( that’s an assumption I’m making, based on Duncan’s profession and photos I’ve seen of him) walking with his wife in broad daylight was a murder suspect. I would not have approached him with a gun drawn, nor would I think it required six officers and four cars.
In the past, not being a trained officer myself, I would have deferred to the police, almost anywhere, to make these judgments, even if they seemed to contradict common sense. Now, however, I don’t trust them; they’ve lost my confidence.
Since the Mayor and PD have apparently deemed this incident not to merit an independent investigation, I guess the public is left to simply speculate.
Holly,
I’m sorry that the actions of police outside of Newton have soured your trust with Newton PD.
hopefully they can win back your trust next time you, your friends & family have the urgent need for their protection
Re Chief MacDonald: His statement regarding George Floyd sounded weak and boilerplate, bordering on forced.
At the Newton protest, at City Hall, he and the mayor knelt along with the demonstrators, but none of the officers did, which shows to me his leadership is weak and/or he’s made no effort to change the culture of the department.
According to a tweet from Bill Humphrey, he “was an adamant and uncompromising opponent of the protesters on police issues. He also opposed Welcoming City protections for immigrants in 2016.”
I appreciate very much living in one of the safest cities in the United States. I’m sure the police have something to do with that. But I believe the economic demographics of our city are a much bigger factor.
I’m not sorry to see him go. We need more flexible and forward-thinking leadership.
@bugek that sounds like a threat.
@Bugek
The “he looks like the description of the suspect” excuse is a terrible excuse. Terrible.
I can only imagine the hell I would raise if the PD held me at gunpoint based on the fact that I’m tall and white.
So, in gathering the facts on this particular matter, I notice the following discrepancy repeated:
In stories that are primarily about Tim Duncan, it is commonly reported that:
“The suspect in the murder, which occurred in Boston, was taken into custody by Boston Police the following day, when he exited the address that was under surveillance, according to the Newton Police.”
(https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/06/03/tim-duncan-northeastern-newton-police)
and
“The real murder suspect, Yaliek Allah-Barnes, was arrested the next day coming out of the house the police had been watching.”
(https://www.wgbh.org/news/local-news/2020/06/04/university-athletic-director-tim-duncan-on-his-false-stop-by-police-because-he-fit-the-physical-description)
Fair game, the NPD had it right, just mistaken identity and this guy was hiding out in Newton all along.
**BUT**
Articles that are about the arrest of Yaliek Allah-Barnes (the suspect) UNIFORMLY report that he was arrested: “In the area of 1165 Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester”.
(https://www.wcvb.com/article/dorchester-homicide-arrest-yaliek-allah-barnes/32641490#)
(https://bpdnews.com/news/2020/5/18/death-investigation-fy3aa-msd43)
So, the Newton PD tells us that the suspect was arrested (by the Boston PD) in an undisclosed Newton house that they were surveilling…while the Boston PD report puts the arrest on Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester. In my experience, Washington Street in Newtonville and Blue Hill Avenue in Dorchester are *effectively* on different planets…hard to see how our boys in blue could have been confused on this.
Holly,
if the moderators intepret it as a threat, by all means “ban me”. It was in no way meant to be threatening… simply hoping a future interaction with police will change your judgement.
Seriously, does it sound threatening? I re-read it and can’t see how it could be
@bugek I appreciate you responding.
Your implication that I would definitely have “urgent need of their protection”—when, not if— was, shall we say, concerning…
In our lovely low-crime burb, the probability of that is, hopefully, low 🙂
@All: Many thanks to Chief David MacDonald for his many years of dedicated service to the residents of Newton. I served on the City Council Public Safety and Transportation Committee for 6 years interacting closely with the police, fire, and traffic professionals, and I must say the Chief was always well prepared and professional. The Newton Police enjoy National Accreditation and this is no small part due to Chief MacDonald. Prior to becoming Chief, he was the Executive Officer for 8 years meaning that for the past 13 years Chief MacDonald was in the leadership role that propelled Newton into being one of the safest cities for its size in the country (a reason that many of you moved to Newton).
Too young to retire for good, I wish Chief MacDonald all the best and offer best wishes to his successor!!!
So Big Sister has decided to partially defund the Newton Police Department, to hire a “consultant” and to form a Newton Police Reform Task Force to “undertake a holistic assessment of the department.” And nobody…at least publicly…is wondering why our Police Chief resigned the very next day?Duh….
Why not save even more funding just by completely eliminating the Police Department and requiring all citizens to step outside when summoned to check for villians….oh, I forgot…Newton is not a dystopian society… yet.
@Jim
Newton was twice named the Safest City in America – in 2004 and 2005 – before the 13 year time horizon you put on Chief MacDonald’s leadership.
I’m not being critical of the job he has done, but it is not accurate to say that he “propelled Newton into being one of the safest cities”…it was already there when he arrived.
@DonaldRoss: You are correct that Newton has been safe for awhile, and getting there and then maintaining this through multiple changes in staffing and budgeting over the years is an enviable accomplishment.
Probably the finest police force in Massachusetts. Amazing that so many of you ungrateful citizens, who live under the umbrella of their protection, now question the manner which Newton PD provides it. Newton borders Boston in West Roxbury, Chestnut Hill and Brighton. 7 MBTA stations, the commuter rail, route 128, the turnpike, routes 9, 16, and 30. And you fools think it’s a coincidence that you’re in one of the safest cities in America. Wake up! This isn’t Minneapolis, our PD is fabulous.
Donald – 1165 Blue Hill Avenue is the address of the Boston Police District B3 station. It’s likely that NPD picked him up in Newton on the Boston warrant and brought him to BPD where he was actually placed under arrested. BPD can’t arrest in Newton.
Big sister and her husband have got to go. She is Such a phony. And she doesn’t like the flag. Adios sister.
All the police and law enforcement experts here, their experience drawn from years of watching television and movies…is nauseating. Next time you get robbed, assaulted, raped, or just need police response…call a social worker instead. Longtime Chief William F Quinn, who transformed Newton PD into a respected and large force, is rolling in his grave.
Lisap, once again you bring up an important point of law. But I had to ponder this. Despite a clear & even bizarre miscarriage of justice, even the lawyer for the exonerated admits the officer was within his jurisdiction.
So I went back to the article, and what this amounts to legal racial profiling based solely on someone who, in an officer’s view, “looked suspicious”. No call-in, no violation, just how someone looked to an officer. And apparently no one questioned why it is that an innocent, law-abiding black person in Newton, as across America, might feel and look uncomfortable after making eye contact with a police officer.
Even though a gun wasn’t drawn in this 2015 case, in an important way it reveals even more about racial profiling in the Newton PD. And that there hasn’t been acknowledgment or an apology is a wound that has not healed.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/09/08/emerson-college-professor-wins-traffic-case-alleges-racial-bias-from-newton-police/f7Vbx2MJ1BD3QhioFjAmyI/story.html
FWIW – Nobody should ever be pulled over by a law enforcement officer with a gun for “looking suspicious”. No matter who they are. What is wrong with our society that anybody thinks that is OK?
Bryan,
Would you be interested in riding along with the police a few weekend nights?
You can view first hand the work and people they deal with on a daily basis. I expect Newton to be quite uneventful compared to say Chelsea
@Bryan,
If you only had a clue.
Let’s play this out….Citizen Bryan calls the police because he sees a “suspicious person” walking down his lovely tree lined street in Newton. When asked, all Citizen Bryan can say is that he has never seen this person before so he MUST be suspicious. Citizen Bryan provides a description of the “suspicious person” which happens to include the fact the person is black. Citizen Bryan expects the police to respond and investigate because after all, this person is “suspicious”. Oh, and one last thing….Citizen Bryan wants to remain anonymous. So a Police Officer (yes, with a gun) responds and engages this “suspicious person”. All is well and everyone goes on their merry little way. Except the “suspicious person” thinks that cop was racist because he was stopped for merely walking down the street. But really, who is the racist person in this story? And let me just say, this kind of call happens in Police Departments all over the country…and yes, even here in Newton.
@TheWholeTruth – Agree completely that this is a problem. We all need to actively check ourselves and our pre-conceptions, especially before deciding to involve the police.
However, that call should not be a call the police respond to. They are there to uphold the law, and there is no law against looking suspicious. I do, actually, want “reasonable suspicion” to mean “reasonable suspicion that a crime is being committed”, not “reasonable suspicion that someone looks out of place or like trouble or something”.
@Bryan,
Tell that to the people who make these calls. They expect a response and if the police don’t go, complaints are made. Damned if you do and damned if you don’t…”See something, Say Something”. This is the reality.
TWT, Bryan can correct me if I’m wrong, but I think he was responding to my comment about a high-profile incident of racial profiling initiated by a Newton Police Officer, not by a resident.
TheWholeTruth
We need to look at facts. What % of suspicious calls lead to an actual arrest?
If its less than 5% then clearly Newton residents are overly paranoid. If its 60%, then what do we do?
Should the mayor encourage residents to not call unless they see an actual crime comitted?
@Bugek – It’s actually not a useful statistic what % of calls lead to an arrest. If you have cocaine in your pocket and are stopped because you look suspicious, that will end in an arrest. But you’re not going to look suspicious if you’re a rich white guy in a suit and have cocaine, much more likely if you’re a less affluently dressed person of color.
This is why we require reasonable suspicion to search someone in this country.
And those same principles should lead us to say that unless someone is reporting a crime, the police should not respond. It leads to unequal and often discriminatory enforcement of the law. Which is not justice.
@Nathan-
Glad you were able to find the article – and it was a very bizarre incident. Frankly, when confronted with overwhelming evidence that the Professor was in his office (GPS data, cell data I believe) and eye witnesses, the better part of prudence and honor would have been to admit the mistake. Instead I understand that a quixotic, two hour evidentiary hearing ensued. As for the post hearing quip by his lawyer – I’ll keep my own counsel on that one.
We have made progress understanding how cognitive bias impairs so-called “eye witness” testimony but we gave far to go!
@Bugek,
What difference does the arrest rate make? It’s really simple…everyone wants to scream inclusivity and acceptance until it’s on their street. What if the police don’t respond? What if the person is actually up to no good? Are the police supposed to ignore these complaints?
Everyone has their own definition of “suspicious”. A person walking down the street does not make me think twice but it makes another person panic? Why? Maybe that person has had their home or car broken into recently….maybe they were once attacked by a “suspicious person” walking down the street. Even if the police officer does not stop and talk with the person as it appears s/he is just simply walking down the street, don’t you think that person still feels targeted? Of course they do. That’s what this is all about. But you can’t have it both ways. People will call and police will respond. Unless of course you defund the police and then nobody comes…while the “suspicious person” either moves right along….or doesn’t.
TheWholeTruth says ‘Citizen Bryan calls the police because he sees a “suspicious person” walking down his lovely tree lined street in Newton…’, and then Bryan responds to his hypothetical, and so on.
If this were actually a summary of something specific that actually happened in Newton, then it would be useful as part of the discussion. But it’s conjecture.
I would expect that, being a trained professional, the 911 operator will ask, “why specifically do you believe the person is suspicious?” Seems like the prudent thing to do if you were a police officer. Perhaps I’m wrong, but to assume that it wouldn’t happen is, again, conjecture.
The next step, for those interested, would be to ask, “When a call for service comes in, what is the process for determining how to respond, and what safeguards are there to prevent against abuse or bias by the caller or police?” It’s a simple, interesting, illuminating question.
Had the spring’s Citizen’s Police Academy not been canceled because of COVID-19 we could have asked this question and more in person! And, in my experience, we would have gotten a detailed answer with case law, anecdotes, and procedures. And based on that information, we’d be much better suited to see if there are shortcomings, flaws, or opportunities for abuse.
For a discussion that revolves around the value and dignity of every individual, the need to look beyond one’s own experiences and preconceptions, and the danger of action based on stereotypes, this conversation has too often painted most everyone involved as caricatures of themselves using the broadest of brushes.
We won’t solve the historically grievous injustices of our society if we approach finding solutions in the same flawed way.
@Mike,
I have no doubt the trained 911 professionals ask these questions. But when the caller insists that the person is “suspicious”, as hard as they may try to get more direct information, it’s just not always forthcoming So the 911 dispatcher has a choice. Send someone to investigate…or don’t send someone. Again, damned if you do….or don’t.
My point is really that this problem is not just a police problem. People want safe streets and neighborhoods and they expect their police to make that happen.
So many comments on this thread seem oblivious or indifferent to the lived experiences of our Black neighbors. I believe my Black friends when they say they don’t feel safe around Police in Newton, and give the reasons why. And I believe my Black friends when I hear their experiences of racism in our own neighborhoods.
Here is a powerful letter from one of Newton’s pillars, Attorney & affordable housing champion Josephine McNeil: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HfM9MQ36Vi4o8YAgsFY9q0CCLWNvSPn2/view
I believe Josephine McNeil, and join with her in her two-point call to action.