The Boston Police Department is in the midst of a “very deliberate pivot” meant to address growing public safety concerns in specific areas around the city, including the downtown area in and around Boston Common. 

Deputy Superintendent Dan Humphreys laid out the current strategy during a Boston City Council hearing on Tuesday. The goal is to increase the visibility of police officers in certain problem areas and to emphasize community engagement, with an eye towards addressing quality of life issues and making people feel safer in their communities. 

Crime scenes are becoming more common in and around Boston Common, one of the city's most popular tourist attractions.

A spike in crime is causing concern about the safety of Boston's Downtown Crossing.

The latest incident was a stabbing Wednesday morning. The man arrested in that attack faced a judge Thursday.