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Office of the Police Commissioner

Cambridge Police Deputy Superintendent Pauline Wells

The Office of the Commissioner oversees the following:

About Commissioner Wells:

Acting Commissioner Pauline Wells:

Acting Police Commissioner Pauline Wells joined the Cambridge Police Department in 1993 and was appointed to her current position in April of 2026. Most recently, she served as the Superintendent of Operations, overseeing the department’s uniformed elements, namely the Patrol, Traffic Enforcement, and Special Operations Divisions. Prior to her appointment as Superintendent of Operations in 2023, Acting Commissioner Wells spent time as the Commanding Officer for Criminal Investigations and Administration Services. During her career, Wells has served in various units within the department, including time in both the Operations Division and Support Services Division. Wells is known for numerous accomplishments, including as a co-founder of the Cambridge / Arlington / Belmont High Risk Assessment Team (CABHART) which targets cases with a high likelihood of lethality, using specialized danger assessment tools to identify victims in immediate danger, leading the CPD Peer Support Team that seeks to help improve the emotional and physical well-being of our officers, and spearheading the department response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A Cambridge native, Wells is deeply involved with the local community and is the second woman to hold to hold the role of Police Commissioner.

 

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