New Boston police commissioner placed on leave after ‘serious allegations’ surface

BOSTON — Just days after taking on his new position, the new Boston police commissioner has been placed on administrative leave.

Dennis White, who succeeded William Gross in the role of BPD Commissioner on Friday, was placed on leave Wednesday, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh confirmed. He was just sworn-in on Monday.

The Boston Globe reported that Walsh placed White on administrative leave after a past allegation of domestic violence surfaced.

“In an attempt to create a smooth transition and honor former Commissioner Gross’s desire to spend time with his family, Dennis White was asked to quickly step into the role of Police Commissioner, beginning last Friday,” Walsh said in a statement Wednesday.

“These disturbing issues were not known to me or my staff, but should have been at the forefront,” Walsh said. “Upon learning of these serious allegations, I immediately acted, placing the Commissioner on administrative leave, while corporation counsel engages outside counsel to conduct a full and impartial investigation.”

New Boston police commissioner placed on leave after ‘serious allegations’ surface

Walsh did not provide further details on the allegations or “disturbing issues” which he referenced in his statement regarding White.

According to the court paperwork obtained by Boston 25, the domestic violence allegations come from a woman that was filed in 1999. She accused White of threatening her and saying he wanted to shoot her.

Documents also show White’s teenage daughter accused White of telling her not to startle him, and White allegedly told the girl: “I sleep with a gun under my pillow.”

Toni Troop, communications director at Jane Doe Inc., questioned the vetting process of the new police commissioner.

“Whenever there’s an allegation of domestic or sexual violence, we have to ask ourselves who knew what, when, and what kind of accountability needs to be in place,” Troop told Boston 25.

Troop added, “That kind of vetting is always necessary for a position that deserves scrutiny because we’re putting someone in a position of public trust.”

In the interim, Superintendent-in-Chief Gregory Long will serve as acting Commissioner, Mayor Walsh said.

Boston Police referred all inquiries to the mayor’s office.

Boston City Council president Kim Janey told Boston 25 News: “I take any allegation of this nature very seriously. I fully support an independent investigation, and I defer any further comment until it is completed.”

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