With few words and much fanfare, Kathleen O’Toole was sworn in as the 37th commissioner of the Boston Police Department Thursday at a Dorchester middle school.
With a plethora of city and state and law enforcement officials on hand, O’Toole took the oath of office and became the first female commissioner of the nation’s oldest police department, promising to bring a fresh perspective to the job.
After an invocation by BPD Rev. Thomas Riley, Mayor Thomas Menino formally introduced and administered the oath to O’Toole.
“Today is a great and historic day for Boston,” Menino said. “[O’Toole has] the experience, leadership and compassion to lead the Boston Police Department. The people of Boston deserve nothing less. We are not only making history today, we are preparing for the future.”
O’Toole, who began her law enforcement career as a Boston police officer, said she plans to focus on community policing and homeland security and raise department morale during her tenure as commissioner. She added that she was “both humbled and excited” by the prospect of becoming the new police commissioner.
“Am I the luckiest person in the world, or what?” O’Toole asked the crowd.
Despite the celebrations, O’Toole shifted the focus away from herself and onto the department as a whole.
“This isn’t my day,” O’Toole said. “It’s our day.”
While critics have expressed concern that O’Toole’s gender would adversely affect her performance, those assembled gave her a ringing endorsement and said the critics are wrong.
Steve Ricciardi, special agent in charge of the Boston field office of the Secret Service, said he had nothing but confidence in her abilities.
“I don’t think [her gender] should make a difference at all,” Ricciardi said. “She is very qualified, and I look forward to working with her for years to come.”
Sgt. Danny Clark of the Massachusetts State Police, who met O’Toole when she was Secretary of Public Safety, said her gender would actually be beneficial.
“Gender will absolutely make a difference,” Clark said. “[O’Toole] makes it her mission to understand the positions of all different groups of people. I am impressed with her integrity and her unbelievable work ethic.”
Roxbury Neighborhood Council Chairman Bruce Bickerstaff agreed with Clark and added that it will help bring the department together.
“I don’t mean to be chauvinistic, but [O’Toole’s] maternal side will help her transform the police department into more of a family,” Bickerstaff said. “They all respect her as a fellow police officer. This is not a symbolic move, it is simply good.”
University police officials were also on hand for the swearing in and equally confident in her abilities.
Capt. Linda McCaul of the Harvard University Police Department said O’Toole is a strong person for the job.
“Kathleen is the kind of person with so many strengths,” McCaul said. “She is a compassionate person and police officer.”
Joseph Griffin, the director of public safety at Northeastern University, said that she is an excellent choice to lead the department.
“I think she will be a wonderful commissioner,” Griffin said. “She is very professional and a wonderful addition to both the Boston police department and the city of Boston.”
Menino said O’Toole’s gender was not a factor during her selection.
“What gender?” Menino said. “It doesn’t make a difference. She was the right person for the job, end of story.”