Ed Flynn, the president of Boston City Council, highlighted the need for the city to hire hundreds of police officers yearly to address the growing community concern about gun violence.
Flynn made the suggestion in response to the comment by Rev. Gregory Groover about the crisis in Boston concerning crime and violence.
Reverend Groover's Comment on City's Peace, Order Crisis
According to a CBS News report, Reverend Groover told the audience at Charles St. AME Church that the city of Boston is "in a crisis."
The religious leader was apparently referring to the city's crime and violence situation.
"We are in a crisis. Now, I know that elected officials and others would prefer not to use that language for whatever reasons, but it is a crisis," Reverend Groover reportedly told his audience.
Flynn's Response to Reverend Groover's Comment
Jon Keller, a WBZ-TV political analyst, asked Flynn if he agrees with Groover's statement. Flynn did not directly answer Keller's question but offered a solution to the city's peace and order problem.
"Well, what I what I know is we desperately need more police in our city. And I'm advocating for hiring at least two-to-three hundred police officers every year consistently for the next 10 years," CBS News quoted Flynn saying.
He added that addressing the crime and violence situation requires a unified approach among Boston's society members.
"It's about working together, including the clergy, bringing each other, bringing the city together. But we do have major challenges with public safety. But we have an excellent police commissioner as well, an excellent police department - the men and women of the Boston Police - working with the residents. Community policing does work. It is working. And it's about us continuing to work together," Flynn explained.
City's Capacity to Augment Police Force
When Keller questioned him if Boston could employ 200 new police officers yearly to beef up its police force, Flynn said he believes so.
"I think we can. I think we have to do a very good job of recruiting. It's not an attractive job as a police officer, like it was before. And I think we have to treat our police officers and their families with more respect as well. They are part of our community. They're our neighbors. They're our literal coaches. But we need to have a better attitude of making sure that they are treated with respect," Flynn told Keller.
About Rev. Gregory Groover
According to his website profile, Rev. Gregory Groover, Sr. became the pastor of the Historic Charles St. AME Church in 1994.
Reverend Groover attended Morehouse College in Atlanta and then the Union Theological Seminary, where he received his Master of Divinity. Meanwhile, he got his Master of Social Work from the Columbia University School of Social Work.
Finally, Groover attended the New York Theological Seminary, where he received his Doctor of Ministry.
Reverend Groover is a Long Island native who now serves Charles St. AME with his wife, Rev. Barbara Ann, who is the church's Minister to Women.
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