Boston Struggles to Deliver on Police Reform Promises

Five years after pledging sweeping changes, the city still lacks clear evidence that reforms are working.

Apr. 4, 2026 at 7:55am

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A cinematic painting of a solitary police car parked on a dimly lit city street, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and unresolved tensions around police accountability.The promise of police reform in Boston remains unfulfilled, as the city struggles to build a transparent and accountable system of civilian oversight.Boston Today

Five years after Boston promised sweeping police reform in the wake of the 2020 protests, the public still lacks clear evidence that those reforms are working. Recent events, including a police shooting that led to a manslaughter charge, have raised concerns about transparency and accountability in the city's oversight system.

Why it matters

Police reform is ultimately about building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Without transparency and clear evidence that reforms are being implemented, Boston risks undermining the credibility of its entire reform framework.

The details

In the aftermath of the 2020 protests, Boston convened a Police Reform Task Force that recommended sweeping changes, including the creation of the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT) to oversee a Civilian Review Board and an Internal Affairs Oversight Panel. However, reports indicate OPAT and other oversight bodies continue to face resistance from the police department, with officers at times declining to participate in investigations. Disciplinary recommendations from the Civilian Review Board are also only advisory, not binding.

  • In March 2026, Boston police shot and killed a carjacking suspect in Roxbury.
  • On Sept. 11, 2025, an unidentified man died following a 'brief struggle' during an encounter with Boston police at a Bay Cove Human Services facility in Mattapan.

The players

Michael Cox

Boston Police Commissioner.

Boston Police Patrolmen's Association

The union representing Boston police officers.

Evandro Carvalho

Executive Director of the Office of Police Accountability and Transparency (OPAT).

Sam Harold

Chair of the Civilian Review Board.

Anthony Fugate

Chair of the Internal Affairs Oversight Panel.

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What they’re saying

“When even the most high-profile cases leave the public with unanswered questions, it raises a deeper concern: whether the city's oversight system is functioning as intended.”

— Ed Gaskin, Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations

“If civilian oversight is to mean anything, its findings must carry real authority.”

— Ed Gaskin, Executive Director of Greater Grove Hall Main Streets and founder of Sunday Celebrations

What’s next

The Boston City Council should hold a public oversight hearing to determine whether the tensions between the police department and the oversight system stem from policy disagreements, legal constraints, or resistance to reform. The hearing should also address delays in responding to public records requests.

The takeaway

Boston promised residents a system of civilian oversight that would make policing more transparent and accountable, but five years later, the public still lacks clear evidence that those reforms are working. Without transparency and accountability, the credibility of Boston's entire police reform framework is at risk.