Cambridge Police Leadership Team

Acting Police Commissioner:

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.

Superintendent for Support Services: 

Superintendent Frederick Cabral, who was raised in Cambridge and graduated from Cambridge Rindge and Latin, joined the Cambridge Police Department in 2003. He has served in a variety of units within the department, including Patrol Operations, the Community Relations Unit and the Family and Social Justice Section. Cabral oversees the Support Services Division, which includes the Criminal Investigations, the Family and Social Justice Section, and Administrative Services for the department. Superintendent Cabral holds a bachelor’s degree in Crime, Law and Deviance from Suffolk University.  

Deputy Superintendent - Criminal Investigations Section:

Deputy Superintendent John Boyle joined the Cambridge Police Department in 2003 and brings over 22 years of dedicated service to the City of Cambridge. Throughout his career, he has served in every major unit and division, including Traffic Enforcement, Patrol Operations, Investigations, Administration, and Tactical Operations. He currently serves as the Commanding Officer of the Criminal Investigation Section, overseeing detectives and leading the nationally accredited Identification and Crime Scene Unit.

Deputy Superintendent - Administrative Services Section: 

Deputy Superintendent David Brown began his law enforcement career in 1996 with the Arlington Police Department. In 2004, he joined the Cambridge Police Department as a lateral transfer and has served with distinction for over 20 years. He has held supervisory roles for more than 15 years in both the Patrol Division and the Criminal Investigation Section. Currently, he oversees the Administrative Services Section. Deputy Superintendent Brown holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Western New England College.

Deputy Superintendent - Night Patrol:

Deputy Superintendent Michael Logan brings nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience, characterized by strong leadership, integrity, and a steadfast commitment to public safety.  He transferred to the Cambridge Police Department 20 years ago, where he has since built deep community trust while demonstrating operational excellence and ethical leadership.

Logan spent eight years in the Criminal Investigations Section, managing complex cases and advancing victim-centered investigations.  As a sergeant in the Professional Standards Unit, he conducted internal affairs investigations that reinforced accountability, transparency, and professional integrity.

Deputy Superintendent Logan oversees the 3rd and 4th Platoons during Night Operations, as well as leading the Community Action Team. Additionally, he manages the Department’s Field Training Program, mentoring new officers to uphold the high standards expected of all Cambridge Police Officers.

Logan holds a Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice Administration, both from Western New England University. His leadership reflects the core principles of 21st-century policing: trust, transparency, and strong community partnerships.

Deputy Superintendent - Day Patrol and Traffic Enforcement:

Deputy Superintendent Steven B. Magalhaes began his career with the City of Cambridge in 2003 as a dispatcher with Emergency Communications before joining the Cambridge Police Department in 2004. Born and raised in Cambridge, he has served in a wide range of roles within the department, including Patrol Operations, Traffic Enforcement, and the Family & Social Justice Section, where he spent the majority of his career as a Juvenile Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and ultimately Deputy Superintendent. He also served as the Commander of the Tactical Operations Unit. Deputy Superintendent Magalhaes played a key role in launching several initiatives aimed at improving youth and community safety, including the Youth-At-Risk Information Sharing (YARIS) initiative, the Firesetters Education Program, and the Multi-Disciplinary High-Impact Community Action Team (HI-CAT). He has presented nationally on juvenile diversion and crisis intervention and has served as a Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) instructor with a focus on juvenile behavioral health. Deputy Superintendent Magalhaes is bilingual in English and Portuguese. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sociology from Suffolk University and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He currently serves as the Day Patrol Operations Commander.

Deputy Superintendent - Family & Social Justice Section:

Deputy Superintendent Michael Medeiros has worked for the city since 1997, first working as a dispatcher with Emergency Communications, and a firefighter with the Cambridge Fire Department, before joining the Police Department in 2003. His journey with the Police Department has been diverse with assignments in Patrol Operations, Traffic Enforcement, Family Social Justice, Criminal Investigations Section, and Tactical Operations.  He has also served as the Commander of the Tactical Patrol Force and Field Training Officer program. He currently oversees the Criminal Investigations Section. Deputy Superintendent Medeiros holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Faulkner University.

Deputy Superintendent - Procedural Justice Section:

Deputy Superintendent Peter Vellucci is a lifelong Cambridge resident who currently serves in the Cambridge Police Department’s Procedural Justice Unit. He leads the implementation of the Body-Worn Camera initiative, oversees crime analysis, and manages the PD Data Dashboard. These efforts are central to the Department’s mission to enhance transparency and build trust with the community. With more than 20 years of law enforcement experience and a Master's degree in Police Administration, he recognizes the importance of ongoing community partnerships and is committed to advancing the use of technology and data-driven practices to support initiatives and strengthen community engagement.

Deputy Superintendent - Night Patrol & Special Operations:

Deputy Superintendent Buckowe Yam joined the Cambridge Police Department in 1995, and has served in a Supervisor capacity for five years in a variety of units, including Patrol Operations, the Family and Social Justice Section, and the Special Response Team. Most recently, he worked as a Lieutenant in the Family and Social Justice Section, where he was responsible for providing coordinated, person-centered case management to individuals in mental health crisis’, unhoused individuals, senior residents, and businesses. Yam oversees Night Operations and serves as the Commanding Officer for Special Operations.

Director of Planning, Budget & Personnel: 

Angela Alfred has served as the Director of Planning, Budget & Personnel since 2026

Director of Clinical Support:

Dr. James Barrett serves as the Director of Clinical Support Services at the Cambridge Police Department. Dr. Barrett works out of the Department’s newly structured Family and Social Justice Section and oversees the Clinical Support Services Unit. He is responsible for directly managing the Department’s licensed social workers, the professional staff community outreach and case management teams, as well as providing clinical support to officers in the Unit. Dr. Barrett has worked closely with the Cambridge Police since 2007, when he helped found the nationally recognized Safety Net Collaborative.

Director of Professional Standards:

James Mulcahy, Esq. serves as the Director of Professional Standards for the Cambridge Police Department, where he is the Director of the Professional Standards Section and oversees the operations of Professional Standards Unit and Training & Certification Unit. He is also the Legal Advisor for the Cambridge Police Department, where he advises the department’s Command Staff, provides in-service training, drafts policies and procedures, and works on a number of other collaborative projects. He previously served as a Law Clerk for the Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court and subsequently joined the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office where he served as an Assistant District Attorney for seven years.