Walsh avoids conflict with hasty replacement

Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s quick move to name Boston police Superintendent-in-Chief William Gross as the new police commissioner is a first step toward restoring trust and defusing tensions with the city’s black community.

Gross will become the city’s first black police commissioner when he takes over next month, a pivotal moment in the city’s long history of racial strife. Gross got the job after Commissioner William B. Evans accepted a post as head of security at Boston College.

Gross’s appointment comes just weeks after Walsh passed over a person of color to fill the vacant job of schools superintendent. Walsh picked a white woman, Laura Perille, as interim superintendent, replacing Tommy Chang, who was forced out by Walsh.

That pick drew some criticism from some minority leaders and civil rights advocates, with some complaining that Walsh left education and community leaders out of the decision-making process.

Walsh’s choice of Gross is hardly surprising — Gross had been superintendent-in-chief since 2014, second in command to Evans.

But the speed of the mayor’s decision is unusual; in the past he has named interims for major jobs and sometimes relied on nationwide searches to fill top posts. It also could lead to some criticism that he didn’t reach out to other cities and police forces to find a new person to lead the city’s 2,200-member force.

But no nationwide search this time. Walsh decided to unveil his new choice of police commissioner in the very same press conference that Evans announced his departure. The decision to pull the trigger quickly prevented any speculation about whom Walsh might name or whether he would face pressure to pick a black candidate.

Walsh’s pick, in fact, drew immediate praise from some black leaders like Bishop John Borders of the Morning Star Baptist Church and City Council President Andrea Campbell.

Gross has been credited by supporters with helping to lead the city’s community policing efforts and developing good relationships with community leaders.

He has often been the face of the police force at high-profile events, like the Free Speech rally on the Boston Common last August. Gross was credited with helping defuse tensions at the rally and preventing any major clashes among the protesters.

Gross last month received the Robert F. Kennedy Embracing the Legacy Award.

At the press conference yesterday, Gross paid tribute to his own family, especially his mother. He also spoke at length about the city’s history of racial divide.

But running the city’s police force is a tough job and Gross will find that out soon.

Gross will need to muster all his skills to make a good commissioner and a lot is riding on his performance — including Walsh’s reputation.