Francis Roache
Encyclopedia
Francis M. "Mickey" Roache is an American law enforcement officer and politician who is the Suffolk County
Register of Deeds. He previously served as Boston Police
Commissioner from 1985 to 1993 and was a member of the Boston City Council
from 1996 to 2002.
.
During his tenure as Commissioner, Roache instituted mandatory drung testing for BPD employees.
Roache was Commissioner during the Charles Stuart case
. The police's mishandling of the case caused African-American leaders to call for Roache's resignation.
In December 1990, the Massachusetts Attorney General
's office released a report which detailed a variety of civil rights violations committed by the Boston Police Department. Violations described in the report included random frisking of minority youth and coercing witnesses to testify in the Stuart case.
After several shootings of unarmed victims by police, alleged mismanagement in the Internal Affairs Department, and a report issued by United States Attorney
Wayne Budd
detailing allegations of police misconduct, Mayor Flynn was pressured to fire Roache. Flynn refused to fire Roache, which caused critics of the police department to claim that Roache's friendship with the Mayor was the reason he was still Commissioner. During the 1991 mayoral election
, candidate Edward J. Doherty promised that if elected, he would fire Roache. Flynn appointed a commission lead by Boston attorney James St. Clair to investigate the Police Department. The commission recommended that Flynn fire Roache. On June 24, 1993 Roache announced his resignation effective June 30.
, who resigned to become United States Ambassador to the Holy See
. He finished in seventh place with 3.01% of the vote.
He was elected to the Boston City Council in 1995 as an At-Large councilor. He was reelected in 1997, 1999, and 2001. In 2002, he left the City Council to become Suffolk County Register of Deeds.
Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Suffolk County has no land border with Plymouth County to its southeast, but the two counties share a water boundary in the middle of Massachusetts Bay.-National protected areas:*Boston African American National Historic Site...
Register of Deeds. He previously served as Boston Police
Boston Police Department
The Boston Police Department , created in 1838, holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the oldest police departments in the United States...
Commissioner from 1985 to 1993 and was a member of the Boston City Council
Boston City Council
The Boston City Council is the legislative branch of government for the city of Boston. It is made up of 13 members: 9 district representatives and 4 at-large members. Councilors are elected to two-year terms and there is no limit on the number of terms an individual can serve...
from 1996 to 2002.
Law enforcement
On February 1, 1985, Roache, a lieutenant who headed the Boston Police Department's Community Disorders Unit, was appointed acting Police Commissioner. On March 13 he was sworn in as permanent Commissioner by Mayor Raymond FlynnRaymond Flynn
Raymond Leo Flynn , also known as Ray Flynn, served as Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts from 1984 until 1993. He was later appointed United States Ambassador to the Holy See by President Bill Clinton.-Early life:...
.
During his tenure as Commissioner, Roache instituted mandatory drung testing for BPD employees.
Roache was Commissioner during the Charles Stuart case
Charles Stuart (murderer)
Charles "Chuck" Stuart was a man from Reading, Massachusetts who murdered his pregnant wife and inflamed racial tensions in the Boston area by concocting a fictitious African-American assailant.-Murders:...
. The police's mishandling of the case caused African-American leaders to call for Roache's resignation.
In December 1990, the Massachusetts Attorney General
Massachusetts Attorney General
The Massachusetts Attorney General is an elected executive officer of the Massachusetts Government. The office of Attorney-General was abolished in 1843 and re-established in 1849. The current Attorney General is Martha Coakley....
's office released a report which detailed a variety of civil rights violations committed by the Boston Police Department. Violations described in the report included random frisking of minority youth and coercing witnesses to testify in the Stuart case.
After several shootings of unarmed victims by police, alleged mismanagement in the Internal Affairs Department, and a report issued by United States Attorney
United States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
Wayne Budd
Wayne Budd
Wayne Budd is senior executive vice president and general counsel, U.S., of John Hancock Financial Services, Inc., a division of Manulife Financial. He joined Hancock in 2000 and directs all of the company's legal activities.Before joining Hancock, Mr...
detailing allegations of police misconduct, Mayor Flynn was pressured to fire Roache. Flynn refused to fire Roache, which caused critics of the police department to claim that Roache's friendship with the Mayor was the reason he was still Commissioner. During the 1991 mayoral election
Boston mayoral election, 1991
The Boston mayoral election of 1991 occurred on Tuesday, November 5, 1991 between Mayor Raymond Flynn and Edward J. Doherty, president of the Boston Teachers Union. Flynn was re-elected to his third term....
, candidate Edward J. Doherty promised that if elected, he would fire Roache. Flynn appointed a commission lead by Boston attorney James St. Clair to investigate the Police Department. The commission recommended that Flynn fire Roache. On June 24, 1993 Roache announced his resignation effective June 30.
Politcal career
After his resignation, Roache became a candidate for mayor in the special election to succeed Ray FlynnBoston mayoral election, 1993
The Boston mayoral election of 1993 occurred on Tuesday, November 2, 1993 between Acting Mayor Thomas Menino and State Representative James Brett...
, who resigned to become United States Ambassador to the Holy See
United States Ambassador to the Holy See
A U.S. Ambassador serves as that country's official representative to the Holy See since formal diplomatic relations began in 1984. Before the establishment of official relations, Myron Taylor served during World War II as an emissary for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1951, President Harry S....
. He finished in seventh place with 3.01% of the vote.
He was elected to the Boston City Council in 1995 as an At-Large councilor. He was reelected in 1997, 1999, and 2001. In 2002, he left the City Council to become Suffolk County Register of Deeds.