The Boston Police Department is facing scrutiny following a reported failure in its main radio communication channel during an active shooting incident, prompting calls for a thorough investigation from city councilors.
Police Chief Owens stated that officers adhered to department protocol by switching to an alternate communication channel immediately.
“Preliminary information I got, we’re working with Motorola to determine exactly what transpired, but that lapse that you’re referring to, it was very short,” Owens explained.
He emphasized that communication disruption was minimal, saying it lasted only seconds and did not impede officers’ ability to respond effectively to the shootings.
“Absolutely not,” he asserted when asked if communication among officers was compromised.
However, councilors Flynn and Murphy expressed concern, noting in their statement that communication failure persisted for nearly 30 minutes, which they said hindered officers’ responses to the crisis.
The councilors detailed their concerns in a letter, urging a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the radio breakdown, its impact on the police response, and the measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
They called for the findings of this investigation to be made public, asserting, “Boston officers deserve the tools and support they need to protect our neighborhoods, and our residents deserve the assurance that public safety systems will not fail in moments of crisis.”
The violent incidents began just before 1 a.m. on Monday when officers intervened in a dispute among a group on Ellington Street.
During this intervention, police observed two individuals exiting an unmarked cruiser, appearing anxious and subsequently fleeing the scene.
One of these individuals, a 17-year-old, was apprehended with a loaded 9mm pistol containing 11 rounds.
Police reported that this teenager now faces multiple gun charges as a juvenile.
Amid this situation, other officers received reports of a shooting on Ellington Street.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) transmitted updates indicating that a man had sustained gunshot wounds to both legs, although his injuries were deemed non-life-threatening.
Approximately 25 minutes later, officers responded to a car crash at the intersection of Dorchester and Talbot avenues, where they discovered a loaded firearm hidden in a rear passenger seat pouch.
One individual in the vehicle has since been charged with gun-related offenses, marking the second firearm arrest within the three-hour span of these events.
At 2:50 a.m., police were dispatched to Kingsdale Street in Dorchester after reports surfaced of another man being shot; his injuries, too, were not life-threatening.
Initial investigations indicated this incident likely occurred within a nearby baseball field adjacent to 116 Talbot Avenue.
Shortly thereafter, at approximately 2:52 a.m., officers in proximity to Dorchester and Melville avenues attempted to stop two individuals riding a dirt bike believed to be involved in the shooting at the baseball field.
The suspects fled, resulting in a crash that led to a foot pursuit.
During this chase, officers discovered an adult male passenger of the dirt bike hiding under a vehicle, but he had also sustained a gunshot wound that required hospitalization, although it was not life-threatening.
Police managed to recover a gun and ammunition during the incident.
A fourth shooting transpired around 2:53 a.m. near 98 Talbot Avenue, where multiple gunshots were detected by ShotSpotter technology.
Upon arrival, officers found another man with gunshot wounds, which were also not considered life-threatening.
The police investigations are treating each shooting as a separate crime but are looking into possible connections between the incidents.
In light of the communication challenges faced during these violent events, the Boston Police Detectives Benevolent Society expressed support for the councilors’ letter, thanking them for advocating for necessary changes and improvements.
As the investigation unfolds, the city awaits definitive answers regarding the radio communication issues and how they may have affected the swift response to gun violence in Boston.
image source from：bostonglobe
