A Boston police officer's decision to run a red light while driving Mayor Michelle Wu earlier this year has been deemed a contributing factor to a motor vehicle crash. The findings, revealed through documents obtained by 25 Investigates, indicate that while Officer Keyanna Smith did contribute to the incident, disciplinary action will not be pursued as reported by the Boston Police.
On a seemingly ordinary day in June, what should have been a standard escort to an event transformed into a scene of flashing lights and crumpled bumpers as a police cruiser with activated emergency signals sped Mayor Wu to a library event, only to clash with another vehicle. The collision, unfolding amidst Roslindale's busy streets, involved a mother and her one-year-old, who, fortunately, sustained only minor injuries according to The Boston Globe.
While an earlier June police investigation by Sergeant Detective Cary Chin initially cleared Officer Smith of any wrongdoing, stating she followed procedures and did not cause the crash, Captain Facey's subsequent report suggests otherwise. "I do not fully agree with the findings of Sergeant Detective Cary Chin in this investigation," Facey expressed in his letter to Police Commissioner Michael Cox, as 25 Investigates uncovered in their months-long push for transparency, which included an appeal to the Secretary of State's office for the crash investigation records.
As per Boston News, despite video evidence indicating Officer Smith did indeed stop at the red light before proceeding, it seems that her cautious approach into the intersection did not absolve her of responsibility. "However, by driving her vehicle contrary to the traffic signal, the officer did contribute to the accident," Captain Facey wrote. Even with this acknowledgment, Facey's stance pivots towards leniency, as he underpins his recommendation on the officer's training in "dignitary protection procedures" and her apparent discretion exercised with "care and due regard," per his letter to Cox.
This incident has fueled a conversation regarding the policies of BPD's Dignitary Protection Unit and raised questions about the protocols for transporting public officials. After the crash, 25 Investigates sought Mayor Wu's perspective on policy changes that could address red light crossings during non-emergency events. A spokesperson for Mayor Wu deflected these inquiries back to the BPD, stating, "reach out to BPD directly with these questions about the captain’s findings and their dignitary protection policies." Boston Police, however, have confirmed there are no adjustments to their policy in the pipeline, according to a BPD spokesperson told Boston 25 News.
