The BPD is prepared for the critically sizable safety operation that’s the 127th Boston Marathon, based on town’s new police commissioner.
“We have a whole host of law enforcement agencies — including federal — that are involved in making sure that it is a safe event,” Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox mentioned.
Cox, talking with WCVB’s Sharman Sacchetti and Ed Harding for his or her Sunday politics present On the Record, mentioned that although this yr’s race would be the first with him main the Boston Police Department, it will likely be the “30-something-th” marathon he’s attended as a legislation enforcement official within the metropolis.
“I’m confident that, going into it, we’re doing all we can to continue to make sure that it’s a safe event,” he instructed the hosts.
The race, which yearly sees practically 30,000 individuals from over 100 nations take a look at their velocity and endurance by means of 26.2 miles of Massachusetts’ roadways, doesn’t begin in Boston, a although sizable portion of the trek sees runners winding their means by means of town’s neighborhoods earlier than they cross the end line in the course of Boylston Street.
This yr will mark a decade since a terrorist bombing on the race’s finish killed three, injured a whole bunch and shocked town and state. Cox mentioned the Boston Police Department has made changes to their safety operations since that tragedy, however didn’t go into specifics.
“We’ve been doing it for a long period of time. We’re confident that our plan is certainly robust and everyone should know coming in that it’s always going to be a family friendly event,” he mentioned. “This year will be no different, but we’ve learned quite a few lessons and adjusted over the years.”
Cox was additionally requested to answer questions on violent crime within the metropolis, the place there have been 11 murders thus far this yr. The commissioner mentioned that Boston is, in reality, fairly secure.
“Boston is one of the safest cities in America, period. Our crime statistics show that,” he mentioned. “That being said when someone dies — for the family, for the community — that’s too much. One death is too much.”
The commissioner mentioned that he needs residents to know the police division is doing all they will to fight violent crime, however that town’s officers alone can’t resolve the violence downside.
“Safer communities exist when everyone in the community is involved in the safety of the community,” he mentioned, earlier than encouraging residents to work with cops and get to know each other.
The 127th Boston Marathon units off subsequent Monday with racers within the wheelchair division beginning at 9:02 a.m. The males’s skilled begin is at 9:37 a.m., adopted by the skilled ladies at 9:47 a.m..
Source: www.bostonherald.com”