BOSTON (WHDH) - The city has a new top cop after police department veteran Michael Cox was sworn in as Boston’s new police commissioner Monday morning.
A native of Roxbury and member of the Boston Police Department for some 30 years, Cox was sworn in by Mayor Michelle Wu at City Hall Plaza, taking on the role of commissioner after a four-year stint as the chief of the Ann Arbor Police Department.
“I am proud that today a boy from Roxbury is going to serve as the commissioner for the Boston Police Department, the first and finest in the country,” said Wu.
During his acceptance speech, the new commissioner said he would give the department the tools they need to be successful and safe, while also holding them accountable for their actions, supporting them, and listening to the community on how they want officials to police.
“This department has, from time to time, failed. It’s stumbled. It’s fallen occasionally throughout history,” said Cox.
Cox also talked briefly about an incident in 1995 where he believed he was racially profiled and beaten badly by a group of Boston police officers.
“While this incident has absolutely informed who I am, it doesn’t define me. I’ve worked to change policing since that incident occurred, and I will continue to do all I can,” said Cox.
He said he has overcome that and wants to erase the “us vs. them” mentality in the city towards police.
“Work with us as we try to certainly face challenges that the city has and service you the way you need to be served,” said Cox.
Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis was among the several of former commissioners who watched the torch get passed to Cox.
“I think Michael is the perfect person to repair that here in the city,” said Davis speaking about relations between the police force and the Boston community.
Cox is replacing former police commissioner Dennis White, who was fired over resurfaced domestic violence allegations from his ex-wife in June 2021 by then-acting Mayor Kim Janey just two days after he took office. White fought those charges, delaying the appointment of a new commissioner.
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