William B. Evans is the Executive Director of Public Safety and Chief of Police for Boston College. Previously, Evans was the Commissioner of the Boston Police Department from January 2014 until August 2018. Evans served as Interim Commissioner from November 2013 until he was permanently appointed by newly-elected Mayor Marty Walsh. He announced his retirement from the Boston Police Department in July 2018.
A lifetime Boston Police officer who began his career as a patrol officer in 1982, he rose steadily through the ranks to become the city’s police commissioner. Evans served for nine years as captain of District D-14 in Allston/Brighton from 1997 to 2006, as captain of District D-4 (South End/Back Bay) from 2006-2009, and superintendent in 2009, where he oversaw all police districts and special events in the city as the chief of the Bureau of Field Services. He was named interim police commissioner by former Mayor Thomas M. Menino in 2013, and was appointed police commissioner by Mayor Martin J. Walsh in 2014.
While superintendent, he led the strategic response team that was instrumental in capturing the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, and was responsible for security at all major events in Boston, including parades, marches, demonstrations, and championship celebrations.
A graduate of Suffolk University, Evans holds a master’s degree in criminal justice from Anna Maria College. He is also a graduate of the FBI’s National Academy, and received several certificates from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in subjects ranging from homeland security to preparedness leadership. He is active in several professional organizations, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Major Cities Chiefs Association, and has served as an adjunct professor at Boston University and guest lecturer at Boston College and Northeastern University.
A lifelong resident of South Boston and the youngest of six brothers, Evans and his wife, Terry, are the parents of three children: Carolyn, John, and William. An avid runner, Evans has completed 53 marathons, including the Boston Marathon 20 times.
