Kudos to Commissioner William Gross

Once again we see the big difference between politicians making sound bites and police commissioners trying to keep city neighborhoods safe (“Marty’s Ice Box,” Nov. 27). It is nice to know Boston has a police commissioner who knows what his job is. It is about keeping Boston a safe community for all. Many in the political class are now upset about what Commissioner William Gross expressed on his private Facebook page. Kudos to him for not accepting all the politically correct garbage being pushed by organizations like the ACLU. It used to be a civil liberties group, but now it has become just another partisan voice consumed in politics. Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, instead of backing his police commissioner, tried quite unsuccessfully to ride down the middle of the road because when an elected politician takes a stand, first and foremost it is about image, not substance. Too bad we don’t elect politicians with the same kind of integrity of our police commissioner, who seemingly never lets politics interfere with law enforcement and public safety. He was appointed to keep our city safe and that is his first priority. As Gross has stated, he represents the best interests of the city he proudly serves. As a retired police officer for 28 years with the state mental health police, I stand with Willie Gross for standing up and speaking out against what many see as the prevailing wind of liberal appeasement.

— Sal Giarratani, Boston