Sandy MaloneBoston, MA – The eldest daughter of Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White said Monday that the more than 20-year-old domestic violence allegations against her father that resulted in his suspension were not true.
“It was a lie. It was a lie,” Tiffany White told WGBH on Feb. 15.
Tiffany, now 38, said she had never witnessed her father being violent toward her mother.
She said she had, however, seen her mother be physically aggressive toward her father, WGBH reported.
“I have seen my mother put her hands on my father, throw stuff at him. And I have seen him try to get away,” the new police commissioner’s daughter said.
Commissioner White was sworn in on Feb. 1 by Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, the Boston Globe reported.
Former Boston Police Commissioner William Gross retired unexpectedly on Jan. 29 after 37 years on the Boston Police Department.
The mayor said Commissioner White, the 43rd head of the nation’s oldest police force, had been asked to quickly step into the role in order to create a smooth transition, the WCVB reported.
Commissioner White is a 32-year veteran of the Boston police force.
He lasted two days before Walsh suspended him pending investigation because of some “disturbing issues” of which he’d learned.
The mayor announced on Feb. 3 that he had placed Commissioner White on leave while an outside group would be hired “to conduct a full and impartial investigation” into a 1999 allegation of domestic violence, The Boston Globe reported.
Commissioner White allegedly pushed, and then threatened to shoot, his wife at the time, who was also a Boston police officer.
The Boston Globe reported that a judge issued a restraining order against him on May 5, 1999.
Commissioner White was ordered to vacate the home, stay away from his family, and surrender his service weapon, according to the Boston Globe.
Court records showed that Commissioner White denied the allegations at the time.
“These disturbing issues were not known to me or my staff, but should have been at the forefront,” the mayor said in a statement. “Upon learning of these serious allegations, I immediately acted.”
Walsh announced that he had appointed Boston Police Superintendent-in-Chief Gregory Long to serve as acting commissioner while the allegations are investigated, the Boston Globe reported.
Commissioner White’s oldest daughter, however, has said there’s nothing to investigate and her father never should have been suspended, WGBH reported.
She said that the allegations against her father felt like a gut punch.
“I can 100 percent guarantee everything on my soul – I would put that on the line – that man has never hit my mother. Ever,” Tiffany told WGBH.
She said her parents have maintained a polite relationship post-divorce and have participated in family events together in a civil manner.
“They’ve been at family functions together. They’ve been in weddings together, they’re cordial. They’re not best friends,” Tiffany explained to WGBH. “But… when they see each other, whoever initiates a hug, the other one gives a hug.”
She said she expected her father would be vindicated by the investigation but expressed frustration he had been suspended at all.
“I don’t think he should’ve been put on administrative leave,” the commissioner’s daughter said. “There’s plenty of cops that have open cases of domestic violence and other stuff, and they’re still actively working.”
Commissioner White has been a member of the Boston police brass for a long time.
He rose to the rank of superintendent and became former Commissioner Gross’s chief of staff after serving as deputy superintendent in the Office of the Superintendent-in-Chief and in the Bureau of Field Services Night Command, WCVB reported.
Holly Matkin
