Last week, Mass Daily News broke the story: presumptive Boston City Council President Gabriela Coletta-Zapata was kicked out of an East Boston polling site after a heated clash with a BPD officer enforcing state electioneering laws. Exclusive body-cam footage shows Coletta-Zapata raising her voice, insisting she was “not campaigning,” and pointedly asking the officer—“How many years have you worked for the Boston Police force?!”—after he told her to step outside. The officer, with seven years on the job, calmly upheld the rule barring elected officials from lingering near voters.

Next day, Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association (BPPA) President Larry Calderone stunned rank-and-file members by publicly defending Coletta-Zapata on X:

Contrary to media reports, the interaction between @BOSCityCouncil Councilor Coletta-Zapata and our officer was never disrespectful in nature. In fact, we appreciate the Councilor, her hard work and ongoing support of the hardworking men and women of the BPPA. https://t.co/aaB1O0lQ97

— Boston Police Patrolmen's Association (BPPA) (@BostonPatrolmen) November 15, 2025

The union also delivered a statement in the Herald blaming an “overzealous poll worker” and threw the officer under the bus to shield a politician. Public outrage exploded—officers and residents alike called it corrupt political favoritism, with many accusing the union of prioritizing Democrat alliances over its own members. The incident, now national news, crystallizes the moral betrayal driving BPD’s staffing collapse.

Since 2018, sworn officers have fallen from 2,139 to ~1,950, with 250+ vacancies against 2,228 authorized positions. Retirements surged from 17 in 2018 to 127 in 2022; resignations jumped from 1 to 36. Since May 2020, 416 officers have retired—outpacing hires (avg. 108/year). Overtime hit $77M in 3/4 of FY24, projected over $100M, as 16-hour shifts crush morale.

Mayor Michelle Wu and the progressive City Council have fueled this crisis. Post-Floyd reforms—OPAT oversight, strict use-of-force rules, residency mandates—were sold as equity wins but left officers feeling perpetually suspect. Budget battles saw $30.9M slashed from BPD in 2023 (vetoed by Wu), $13.3M in FY24, and $18M proposed in FY25—all while councilors like Coletta-Zapata push reallocations to social programs.

The BPPA’s defense of Coletta-Zapata—a councilor who just berated one of their own—is the breaking point. Officers now see even their union as part of the Democrat machine that devalues them. As one veteran texted Mass Daily News: “They’ll sell us out for a photo op.”

Wu touts a 5.6% overtime drop and BPPA’s 2025 endorsement of her reelection, but the numbers don’t lie: attrition accelerates, trust evaporates. Boston’s police aren’t just understaffed—they’re morally abandoned.