New In The Phoenix -- BPD's Bad Reputation

In this week's issue of the Boston Phoenix -- out tomorrow, online now -- I reveal just how low the public's opinion of the Boston Police Department plummeted as gun violence tore through the city.

In the fall of 2006 -- shortly before Commissioner Ed Davis took over the BPD -- the department conducted a city-wide survey of residents' opinions about crime and police. This was the 5th such survey conducted over a 10-year period. The results -- which have never before been made public -- show a huge rise in public fear, and a huge drop in public confidence in the police department's ability to prevent and solve crime.

I take a look at the survey results, and why things may have (or may not have) improved since then -- and get comments from Commissioner Davis and Mayor Tom Menino (and possible Mayoral candidate Michael Flaherty).

It's here [Update -- link now fixed]:

Does Boston Hate The BPD?