Ed Davis

Spring 2014
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Edward F. Davis has been in law enforcement for 35 years. He served as the 40th Police Commissioner of the City of Boston from December 2006 until October 2013.  Commissioner Davis was Boston’s lead police official during the tragic Marathon bombing and testified before Congress about the bombing and lessons learned. Prior to that, Davis was the Superintendent of the Lowell Police Department, a position he held for 12 years and one he rose to after starting out as a patrol officer in 1978.  
In Boston, Commissioner Davis oversaw police services for over 600,000 residents along with those visiting and working in the City of Boston.  
 
The Commissioner’s extensive law enforcement background set the tone for policing in the city, from the walking beat, to managing massive demonstrations and special events, to creating an improved and trusting relationship between the police and community, to innovative technology and social media efforts that have improved public safety and allowed open dialogue with those the police department serves. Davis’s leadership resulted in over 50% reductions in part one crime in Lowell and over 30% reductions in Boston.
 
Commissioner Davis has also worked internationally on police issues in Singapore, London, Northern Ireland, Jordan and Israel. Commissioner Davis served on the Police Executive Research Forum’s (PERF) Board of Directors and was a founding member and first President of the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs Association.  
The Commissioner comes from a police family, which allows him to better understand the needs of the police officer, making it a priority to provide the best possible resources and tools for officers to prevent, investigate and predict crime and crime trends. 
 
Commissioner Davis has been recognized for his efforts locally and nationally, including through the Police Executive Research Forum, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Major Cities Chiefs Association. He has received Honorary Doctorates from Northeastern and Suffolk Universities and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.
 

Disclaimer: This information is accurate for the time period that this person was affiliated with the Institute of Politics.

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