Brookline Officials To Discuss Police Task Force

BROOKLINE, MA — The Select Board is set to discuss and possibly vote on exactly what the mission of the Task Force To Reimagine Policing in Brookline might be, Tuesday night.

The select board proposed a task force after residents called on the city to rethink the Town's police department and funding. The push in Brookline comes amid a national civil rights movement following the May 25 death of George Floyd while he was handcuffed by Minneapolis police.

It also comes just two days after about four dozen protesters from Boston and Brookline stood outside of Chair of the Select Board Bernard Greene's home Sunday morning, demanding that the Brookline Police Department budget be cut by 50 percent. The outgoing police chief has said because of union contract commitments cuts could negatively impact the department.

• Read more: Brookline Police Chief Steps Down Abruptly
  

The department survived two votes on June 30 that proposed to cut more than $1 million and $2 million from its budget. Instead, the town's legislative body of more than 240 elected representatives choose not to make such major slashes in the $17 million budget, before the task force made recommendations. Despite a large protest with hundreds of young people calling for 50 percent cuts, the elected representatives said such cuts should be more closely vetted.

A public hearing is scheduled for 6:15 p.m. on Zoom.

For those interested in commenting during the public hearing: Click on this link to register and find the information to join as an attendee via a confirmation email.

To watch and comment via chat, head to BrooklineInteractive.org/Live:

Read more:

• Police Budget Protest To Happen Outside Brookline Official's Home ...
• How To Support Black-Owned Businesses In Brookline
• Brookline To Raise Banner To Support Black Lives Matter: Greene
• Juneteenth Rally Draws Hundreds In Brookline

Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.