Boston at a glance


Population by race and Hispanic origin


Cities in this database with the most similarly-sized populations

Full-time law enforcement staff, Boston Police Department

  • 2,091 Officers
  • 683 Civilian staff

Full-time law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents

  • 3.25 Boston
  • 2.4 National average, cities with 250,000+ population
  • 2.2 National average

These figures reflect the Boston Police Department only, and do not include state or other police agencies that may be present in this location.

Federal grant funding for Boston

Data was last updated December 18, 2022


We identified over $64.5M in federal grant funding, FY 2014-2024

Grant funding over time

Grant funding by federal department

Recent grants

USA spending grants for: Boston
Amount Start and end dates Recipient and description Awarding agency CFDA program Type
$59,405.30 9/1/2022
2/28/2025
CITY OF BOSTON THE BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT LEMHWA IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT SPECIFICALLY AIMS TO PROVIDE PEER SUPPORT TO 911 CALL-TAKERS/DISPATCHERS AND FORENSICS ANALYSTS BY 1) STRENGTHENING THE PEER SUPPORT GROUP FOR CIVILIAN BPD EMPLOYEES; 2) TEACHING 911 CALL-TAKERS/DISPATCHERS AND FORENSICS ANALYSTS ABOUT VICA… Department of Justice Offices, Boards and Divisions 16.710 Public Safety Partnership and Community Policing Grants Prime
$441,825.00 10/1/2021
9/30/2025
CITY OF BOSTON THE EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM ALLOWS UNITS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING TRIBES, TO SUPPORT A BROAD RANGE OF ACTIVITIES TO PREVENT AND CONTROL CRIME BASED ON THEIR OWN STATE AND LOCAL NEEDS AND CONDITIONS. GRANT FUNDS CAN BE USED FOR STATE AND LOCAL INITIATIVES, … Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs 16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Prime
$13,520,000.00 9/1/2021
8/31/2024
BOSTON, CITY OF URBAN AREAS SECURITY INITIATIVES Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency 97.067 Homeland Security Grant Program Sub
$425,881.00 10/1/2020
9/30/2024
CITY OF BOSTON CITY OF BOSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT BJA FY 21 EDWARD BYRNE MEMORIAL JUSTICE ASSISTANCE GRANT (JAG) PROGRAM Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs 16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Prime

View all grants

Military equipment transfers


We were unable to locate any military equipment transfers for this location using the LESO Property Transferred to Participating Agencies database published by the Defense Logistics Agency. It is possible that this location has acquired military equipment for policing via other sources or programs.

Local police misconduct data, consent decrees, and settlements

Data last updated January 26, 2022


Settlements

We identified 2 publicly reported settlements that resulted in $37,300,000.00 in monetary compensation to victims.

Settlements
Year Description Outcome
2021

The City of Boston will pay $1.3 million dollars to a man who was arrested by Boston police for intoxication but who was actually experiencing a stroke.

Police arrested Al Copeland, a 64-year-old Black man, on the belief he was slumped in his car and intoxicated.

Copeland was arrested and taken to a holding cell. During his detainment, Copeland lost his balance and banged his head on the wall. It was not until five hours into his detainment that officers realized Copeland’s health was in danger, he was then sent to a hospital. Police claimed that they smelled alcohol on him, but Copeland contends that he has not had a drink since 1995. Doctors at the hospital confirmed that no alcohol or drugs were in Copeland’s system that night. Despite an internal investigation into the incident, no disciplinary actions have been taken.

Compensation
$1,300,000.00
2015

In 2015, Boston spent more than $36 million on 2,000 legal claims and lawsuits filed against the Boston Police Department, nine of which were worth over $1 million.

In 2015, The Boston Globe reported that the City of Boston spent more than $36 million to remedy 2,000 legal claims and lawsuits filed against the Boston Police Department since 2005. Twenty-two of the payouts were worth over $100,000, including nine worth over $1 million.

Compensation
$36,000,000.00