Evans leaving Boston Police Dept., Chief Gross named new commissioner

BOSTON — The Commissioner of the Boston Police Department is leaving for a job at Boston College.

William Evans, who has been commissioner since January 2014, is leaving the Boston Police Dept. and moving on for a job with the Boston College Police Dept., he announced at a news conference Monday.

A frequent runner, he had finished the Boston Marathon in 2013 and was at the Boston Athletic Club when he was informed of the bombing. Evans, along with then-Commissioner Ed Davis, planned the city's response and led operations in the aftermath.

Evans has been with the department since he joined as a cadet in 1980.

"I love this job," said Evans. "My heart and soul is in this job but the best thing for my family at this time is to move on here and take a step back."

Evans will start his position as executive director of public safety and chief of police at Boston College on August 6.

Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross has been named the new commissioner of the Boston Police Department. Gross is the first African American commissioner of the Boston Police.

At Monday's announcement, Gross thanked Mayor Marty Walsh and Evans and shared why he's honored to work alongside both men.

"One thing that resonates with all three of us is that the community helped raise us," said Gross.

RELATED: Police, city leaders congratulate Gross as Boston's new police commissioner

MORE:

• Boston's top cop tells Congress lessons learned from marathon bombings
• Commissioner Evans heads to Washington for security summit
• Boston Police wants to be able to respond to crimes in booming Seaport

Cox Media Group