Boston, MA (July 18, 2013) – Dr. Thomas M. McGovern, President of Fisher
College, has been appointed Clerk of The Boston Police Foundation,
Inc.’s Board of Directors. The Board voted unanimously on June 21 to
name Dr. McGovern to the leadership position.
The Boston Police Foundation was formed in 1993 to provide private
financial support for critically-needed resources to the Boston Police
Department (BPD), the oldest police department in the country. The
Foundation funds special equipment, advanced training, new technology,
officer safety and wellness, and youth outreach programs not covered in
the police department’s annual budget.
As Clerk of The Boston Police Foundation, President McGovern will
play a critical role in fostering communication and diligence through
proper management of important records, such as the organization’s
bylaws. He will also provide advice and resources to the Board on topics
relating to governance issues and amendments to state laws.
"I am honored to be appointed Clerk of The Boston Police Foundation’s
Board of Directors and to serve with its members and leadership,” said
Dr. McGovern. “In recent months, the Foundation’s slogan - ‘Back Up
Boston’s Finest’ – denotes a renewed sense of pride for and commitment
to the brave men and women of the Boston Police Department, who put
their lives on the line every day to protect our city. I look forward to
supporting them in any way that I can and furthering the Foundation’s
goal of improving connection and communication between the Police
Department and the community.”
During his tenure, Dr. McGovern has
demonstrated a strong belief in and commitment to public, campus and
student safety. In 2007, he created the Center for Leadership and Public
Service (CLPS), a division of Fisher College that encourages and
inspires students to pursue careers in public safety and criminal
justice through real-life research projects and work experience.
“On behalf of the Boston Police Foundation’s Board of Directors, I’d
like to thank Tom not only for joining our Board but for accepting the
role of Board Clerk. His dedication to public safety, philanthropy and
our great City of Boston is remarkable, which makes him a truly valuable
addition to the Foundation,” said Bob Long, the Boston Police
Foundation’s President.
Since its inception, The Boston Police Foundation has funded many
vital programs that continue to improve safety and quality of life for
Boston residents, visitors to the city and its police officers. These
programs include:
- Crime Stoppers: The Crime Stoppers
Program provides a non-traceable and unrecorded hotline for citizens to
provide information anonymously to trained personnel of the BPD relative
to perpetrators of crimes and/or criminal activity.
- Text a Tip: Formed in 2007, Text a Tip
is a part of Crime Stoppers. It was the first program of its kind in
the United States and has pioneered efforts to use text messaging from
cell phones as a means of fast communication between concerned citizens
and the police.
- Crime Watch: A community-based crime
prevention program that encourages the community to partner with
government and police organizations to combat crime.
- Kids at Risk: A program that provides
scholarships to “at-risk” youth who are identified by community police
officers and gang officers of the BPD.
- Summer of Opportunity: The program
offers six-week paid summer internships and training programs, followed
by a school-year internship program, to Boston youth.
- Officer Wellness and Safety: A program
that provides stress reduction services and peer support to members of
the BPD through its Peer Support Unit and Critical Incident Stress
Management Team.
- Technology: The Foundation provide
state-of-the-art technology for BPD to improve public safety in all
areas of the Department. Recently, this included a donation of 100
custom iPads to be used by undercover officers.
Dr. McGovern will serve on The Foundation’s Board of Directors
alongside Robert Long, President; Christopher Fox, Treasurer and George
Bugler, Director. For more information about The Boston Police
Foundation, please visit www.bostonpolicefoundation.org.