A probe into what city councilors on Wednesday called a “public safety and public health emergency” within the Boston Police Department is moving forward, as the policymakers warned a yearslong surge in retirements, resignations and forced overtime has pushed force ranks to a breaking point.
The warnings come as Boston police officers remain among the city’s highest‑paid employees. City payroll data showed the 54 top-paid city workers in 2025 were all members of the Boston Police Department, many of whom earned tens of thousands of dollars in overtime and detail pay alone, some more than $200,000.
Boston Police Capt. Timothy Connolly topped this list, earning $498,195 in 2025, followed closely by several other captains and lieutenants, such as Lt. Stanley Demesmin with $490,239 and Capt. Michael Hegarty with $488,434…