Even before his police commissioner sails off to Ireland, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino moved quickly today to implement his vision for a beefed-up police force just as the summer high-crime season looms.
Not only did the mayor name Al Goslin, 63, superintendent-in-chief of the department — basically making him the heir apparent to the top cop's seat — he also tabbed Lt. Det. Daniel Linskey as chief of staff.
Linskey, 39, is currently the head of the Bureau of Special Services, which includes the municipal police and City Hall security. He was Menino's driver from 1994 to 1996.
Linskey is now positioned to help the mayor merge the municipal force with the BPD, a move that is being fought by the police union.
All this comes as Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole, the first female police commissioner in Boston's history, prepares to leave for the newly created job of chief inspector of Ireland's national police force.
Michael McCarthy, a spokesman for the Boston police department, said Goslin will work as superintendent until O'Toole leaves this summer, and then will become acting police commissioner until a new commissioner is found.
O'Toole's resignation comes after 27 months in Boston's top job, and in the midst of a recent surge in violence that's seen seven people murdered in seven days. In 2005, the city had 75 homicides, the largest number in a decade.
O'Toole, 52, was the only candidate for the new position of chief inspector of the Garda Siochana, Ireland's 12,000-strong police force. She said her nomination is expected to be presented formally to Prime Minister Bertie Ahern at the Cabinet meeting next week. She said she expected to leave her job in Boston around July 1.
Menino said the appointments of Goslin and Linskey are aimed at maintaining stability within the police department as it prepares for the summer months, which traditionally see a spike in violence.