News  The Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society Recognizes Leaders on “Front Line” of Criminal Justice

The Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society celebrated its 40th Anniversary with the induction of 18 criminal justice leaders into its 2024 inaugural Class of “Distinguished Fellows” on October 2nd at Northeastern University’s Alumni Center.

The honorees, represented a veritable “who’s who” in policing and law. The “Distinguished Fellows” lead a wide range of state, municipal, and federal agencies as well as university police departments.

“The Justice George Lewis Ruffin Society was pleased to honor this group of Distinguished Fellows. Each leads a department which is on the front line of criminal justice in the State of Massachusetts. Their work and leadership have been transformative in the communities they serve,” said Ruffin Society Board President Anthony Owens.

Joseph Carter, retired Adjutant General of the Massachusetts National Guard, served as master of ceremonies along with Mr. Owens.

During the ceremony, Retired Boston Police Commissioner William Gross, Hampden Superior Probation Officer II Carla Tucker Kynard, Northeastern University’s Jack McDevitt, Professor of the Practice Emeritus in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Robert Ward, retired dean of the University of Massachusetts School of Law, were among the award presenters.

Judge Jonathan Tynes, an associate justice at the Dorchester Division of Boston Municipal Court, addressed the audience as keynote speaker. Retired Massachusetts Supervisor Court Judge Julian Houston and Probation Commissioner Pamerson Ifill were among the honorees. Commissioner Ifill’s daughter, Kasia Ifill, accepted the award on his behalf.

The other honorees included:

• Hon. Julian T. Houston – Massachusetts Superior Court (ret.)
• Pamerson O. Ifill – Commissioner, Massachusetts Probation Service
• Andrea J. Campbell – Attorney General of Massachusetts
• John Gibbons – U.S. Marshal – Massachusetts District (posthumous)
• Lawrence E. Akers – Superintendent, Springfield Police Department
• Lester Baker – Chief of Police, Framingham Police Department
• Robert A. Barrows – Chief of Police, Bunker Hill Community College
• Shumeane Benford – Chief of Police, Somerville Police Department
• Lisa Butner – Captain Detective, Tufts University Police Department
• Michael A. Cox – Commissioner, Boston Police Department
• Michael A. Davis – Vice President of Campus Safety/Chief of Police, Northeastern University
• Christine Elow – Police Commissioner, Cambridge Police Department
• Kenneth Green – Chief of Police, MBTA Transit Police
• Kevin R. Hayden – District Attorney, Suffolk County
• James G. Hicks – Chief of Police, Natick Police Department
• Tyrone A. Parham –Assistant Vice Chancellor/ Chief of Police, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• Yolanda Smith – Chief of Police, Tufts University Police Department
• Steven W. Tompkins – Sheriff, Suffolk County

Established in 1984, the Ruffin Society was created “to support persons of color within the Massachusetts criminal justice system, and to establish a greater understanding between communities of color and the criminal justice profession.”

The Ruffin Society is named in honor of Justice George Lewis Ruffin who was appointed to Charlestown Municipal Court in 1883.

In 1869, Justice Ruffin became the first Black person to graduate from Harvard Law School, and was likely the first Black American to obtain a law degree. He served in the Massachusetts State Legislature before his appointment as Justice in the Charlestown Court.