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Office of the Commissioner

Cambridge Police Commissioner Christine Elow

The Office of the Commissioner oversees the following:

About Commissioner Elow:

Christine Elow was appointed Police Commissioner for the City of Cambridge Police Department in January 2022.

Elow has been with the Cambridge Police since joining as an officer in 1995 after serving in the U.S. Navy for four years. She served in the Patrol Division and oversaw the Professional Standards Unit, where she was responsible for receiving, processing, and investigating complaints made against members of the Department. She later served as Deputy Superintendent for Day Patrol and Community Services. In 2017, Elow was appointed Superintendent, making her the highest-ranking female officer in the history of the Department. She is a strong proponent of community-driven policing, juvenile justice issues, procedural justice, police training and innovative hiring practices. Elow holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Curry College and a Master's Degree from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Program.

A Message from the Commissioner:

It is a tremendous honor to lead this nationally renowned and accomplished department. My entire career has been dedicated to serving the Cambridge community. I grew up in Cambridge and love working in this city.

For me, the most fulfilling aspect of working in policing has been in the building of meaningful working relationships with members of the communities where I have served. To be meaningful, a relationship must be built on trust; for me, this has always meant that we as police must continually show that we are worthy of the public’s trust. I have found that as long as we continually show that we are trustworthy, the public will strongly support us.

I am most excited about having the opportunity to continue with and advance the progressive nature of policing that has become synonymous with the Cambridge Police Department, continue to build and/or establish meaningful relationships in the City of Cambridge, and strengthen the innovative social service programs that assist and protect vulnerable populations.

Sincerely,
Christine Elow
Police Commissioner

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