Cambridge Police > Police Units > Office of the Commissioner > Cambridge Police Leadership Team

Cambridge Police Leadership Team

	Police Commissioner Christine Elow was appointed as the permanent Commissioner in January 2022. Raised in Cambridge, 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.
	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.
	Superintendent Pauline Wells has been with the Cambridge Police Department for 30 years. She was recently promoted in 2023 to Superintendent of Operations. After serving as the Commanding Officer for Criminal Investigations and Administration Services, Wells now oversees all of Operations. Wells served in various units within the department, including patrol operations and criminal investigations. Wells was a founding member of CABHART, led the Department's Peer Support Team and spearheaded the Department's COVID efforts.
	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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Tactical Operations.
	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.
	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.
	Manisha Tibrewal is the Director of Planning, Budget and Personnel for the Cambridge Police Department, where she oversees all personnel and fiscal matters for the department. She most recently served as the Department's Assistant Fiscal Director and the City’s Principal Budget Analyst, where her responsibilities included coordinating the City’s annual bond sale, as well as acting as the Budget Analyst for several City Departments. Prior to working for the City of Cambridge, Manisha worked in Sarasota, Florida as a Budget Management Analyst for Public Safety and a Financial Analyst in London, U.K.

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