Police Chief Selection Process

Shumeane Benford is a veteran Police Officer, Emergency Manager and Adjunct Professor with over 30 cumulative years of law enforcement, Emergency Management and teaching experience.

Background on Incoming Chief Benford

Shumeane Benford has held positions as a field Officer, Academy Instructor, Recruit Investigator and the Office of the Police Commissioner. In addition to serving as the Chief of Emergency Management, he also has been dually serving as the Chief of the Boston Housing Authority Police Department for the past 3+ years, where he led reform efforts in fiscal accountability, department stabilization and growth, operational enhancements, and instituting best practices in policing to include community-driven and equitable practices. He is a lifelong resident of the City of Boston save for a brief period where he lived with his family in the City of Somerville.

He received his Master’s Degree from Suffolk University and a BA from Curry College. He also completed Harvard University’s, National Preparedness Leadership Institute, The Police Executive Research Forum (PERF),Senior Management Institute for Police, FBI LEEDA-Trilogy, Roger Williams University-Command Training- Executive Development Course and is currently enrolled in the Naval Post Graduate-Center for Homeland Security and Defense-Executive Leaders Program (Anticipated completion July 2024).

He currently lives in Dorchester with his family and enjoys traveling and family-centered events. Providing opportunities for the next generation of professionals and leaders, ideating on creative ways to give back and increasing transparency, accountability and developing pathways for having the difficult conversations that lead to tolerance and understanding are sustaining personal and professional passions.