Boston Police Officers Must Now Wear Nametags in Push for Transparency and Community Trust

Boston’s patrol officers will soon wear nametags on duty — a long-debated change now officially mandated under a new contract between the city and the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association (BPPA).

City officials and community leaders are calling the move a major step toward rebuilding public trust and improving transparency within the Boston Police Department. While some critics say it was long due

The new rule was announced Monday as part of a one-year contract extension, covering July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, with an estimated cost of $6.7 million. The agreement also delivers wage increases, free gym access for officers, a streamlined detail system, and a more rigorous evaluation process for officer performance.

While superior officers were already required to wear nametags, patrol officers had previously only displayed badge numbers.

Mayor Michelle Wu, who has maintained a notably strong relationship with the BPPA, said the change is about connecting officers and residents on a human level.

“Real public safety requires transparency, and knowing someone’s name makes a difference,” Wu said at a press conference. “It means that when you’re in crisis, you’re not facing down a stranger behind a uniform — you’re speaking to a person, a neighbor, a fellow member of our community.”

Wu contrasted the city’s community-first approach with the tactics of federal agents, whom she accused of hiding behind anonymity while “staking out” schools and churches during immigration enforcement operations.

“The goal isn’t safety — it’s creating fear,” Wu said.

The issue has drawn attention statewide, with lawmakers pushing legislation to prevent federal agents from covering their faces or concealing their identities while operating in Massachusetts. However, Attorney General Andrea Campbell cautioned that enforcing such a measure could be “nearly impossible.”

Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox praised the new policy as an extension of the department’s ongoing commitment to community policing.

“Across the country, there’s a lack of trust with police because people can’t see who they are,” Cox said. “Wearing nametags sends a message — that our officers are part of the community, not apart from it.”

BPPA President Larry Calderone applauded the mayor’s collaborative approach, crediting their “shared vision” for producing fair contracts and modern reforms.

“Our goal is to make the department more professional and respected,” Calderone said. “This step strengthens the bond between officers and the neighborhoods they serve.”

Boston’s latest police contract continues to slow walk reform under Wu’s administration — one that’s was expected to make accountability and transparency the standard, not the exception.