By Tom Ambrosino, City Manager
Public safety deserves constant attention from any urban leader, and I want to acknowledge that while I haven’t extensively discussed general public safety matters since arriving here—apart from substance abuse issues in the Square—this silence should not be mistaken for indifference. Creating a better City before my tenure concludes requires both reducing actual crime and bolstering residents’ sense of security. Sunday’s violent incident makes this objective considerably harder to achieve.
Before I became City Manager, the City and its Council had already established a robust Ten Point Public Safety Plan, which remains largely operative today. My role centers on preserving those resources and allowing our exceptionally professional Police Department, under Chief Brian Kyes’ leadership, to execute its mission effectively.
That Ten Point Plan merits closer examination. The City maintains a force of 111 Police Officers—surpassing Everett, Revere, Malden, and Medford in officer count. For a municipality of Chelsea’s size, this financial commitment represents a substantial public safety investment.
This robust police presence has made possible several key initiatives. A permanent Street Robbery Task Force operates continuously. Officers deploy to regional efforts, including recent operations that dismantled MS-13 leadership. Additionally, dedicated personnel support the state’s Safe and Successful Youth Initiative, a ROCA partnership targeting at-risk young adults aged 17-24.
Beyond these, we maintain a HUB & COR roundtable convening Thursday mornings at the Police Station with stakeholders from various organizations, working to identify vulnerable youth and families and provide intervention services before violence or crime emerges. Walking patrols operated through much of last summer and fall in Bellingham Square, the Broadway Corridor, and around City Hall, resuming this spring. We also fund a prostitution prevention program, emphasizing stings this year with potential expansion toward dedicated services for those trapped in sexual exploitation next year.
Regrettably, these investments cannot wholly prevent senseless gun violence like Sunday’s tragedy. I must speak plainly on this matter, though some will disagree: until national leaders confront the alarming proliferation of firearms flooding American streets—weapons frequently reaching young men under 20 whose neurological development hasn’t equipped them to manage their impulses, disproportionately harming minority communities like Chelsea—adding a hundred more officers couldn’t stop this violence.
What we can do, and what I’m committed to doing, is sustain the efforts outlined above, gradually reducing crime while making such incidents isolated occurrences and ultimately delivering the safety and comfort residents deserve.
City government acting alone cannot succeed, however. Parents and guardians must seek available support when concerned about their children’s direction. Tenants must report problematic landlords to our Inspectional Services Dept. Residents need to stay engaged, alerting police to suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
City officials lack all answers. I remain open to suggestions from residents and the Council about strengthening our safety efforts.
One final observation: when incidents like Sunday’s occur, the broader perspective becomes difficult to maintain. Telling someone whose friend or loved one fell victim to gun violence that crime is improving feels nearly disrespectful, let alone futile.
Yet stepping back, Chelsea’s crime trajectory shows positive movement. The Council’s financial commitment has produced tangible results. This City contains countless encouraging narratives and genuine potential for continued growth. Healing from this weekend’s events will require time and sustained effort, but we must not permit one incident to erase the progress Chelsea has achieved in recent years.