The committee received public safety approved (see the report and watch the meeting video):
- A new public auto license for Gamaleldin Mohamed, EF&M LLC (4-0) 2251 Washington Street, Newton, MA 02462
- Six renewal bus licenses for Mass General Brigham (4-0) for patients and employees.
The committee received public safety briefings and operational updates:
- Police. Year-to-date domestic-related incidents, disposition trends, and multi-year patterns in domestic and mental-health-related calls were reviewed, along with community-education priorities and partnership models for response. Robberies are up from 1 to 4. Larcenies up 10%. Motor vehicle theft is down 35%. Violent crimes are up 14% including domestic violence. Pedestrian crashes are up 10%, bicycle crashes are up 5%. Operating Under the Influence is up 21%. Last year there were 14 OUI, this year 17 to date. 139 arrests year to date. Calls for service are “way up”. Last year 40,000 calls, this year is on tract for 43,000 calls. Hate crimes down 26%, domestic violence up 15%, increased since COVID. 1/3 of arrests were to Newton residents. Most are for warrant services, domestic violence and OUIs. Staffing is down to 133 officers from 149. 1 recruit is in the academy, 14 are being interviewed. 5 officers out on injury on duty to retire. The Department is consistently down 10 to 12 officers. Top pay for entry level officers is $62,000., top step in 8 years in $82,000 “needs discussion.”
- Body Cameras for Police: Patrol officers have not agreed via contract. Every officer will be outfited with a taser.
- Fire Department: Structure Fires -Total for 2024 = 7 working fires, 7 multiple alarm fires (25 total). Total year to date 2025 = 2 working fires, 1 multiple alarm fire (10 total). 9201 calls for service in 2025; 8631 calls for service in 2024. 8430 Coastal Ambulance calls to date. 5894 of the calls had a Fire Department response with them. Overtime was down 16% in 2024; 11% in 2025. Currently they have 5 vacencies and are in the process of hiring 5 new members. 3 members are out on long-term disability, 3 members are out on short-term disability. New Engine 7 was delivered in September 2025. Old engine 7 will be a spare. Ladder 3 is ordered with a wait time of approximately 2-2½ years. Lithium-ion batteries and battery chargers continue to be a fire problem. They will be putting out a report on it soon.
Present: Councilors Grossman (Chair), Downs, Lucas and Bixby
Absent: Councilors Block, Greenberg, Lipof and Wright
City Staff: Captain Devine and Chief McMains, Newton Police Department; Chief Gentile and
Assistant Chief Bianchi, Newton Fire Department
Others Present: Gamaleldin Mohamed, Attorney Frank Stearns, Holland & Knight and Traci
Ritucci, Director, Transportation Mass General Brigham
