Boston police commissioner to resign

Updated 6:05 PM ET

Boston Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis is expected to announce his resignation on Monday, a source close to Davis with knowledge of those plans told The Boston Globe on Sunday.

According to the source, Davis is quitting his post to pursue other opportunities, some of which may include teaching at Harvard part-time.

The newspaper reported it is uncertain when Davis' resignation becomes effective.

Davis has recently been criticized by the Massachusetts Association of Minority Law Enforcement Officers, who had called for his resignation over allegations that the department disciplines minority officers unfairly and that there is a lack of promotion of those officers. The group vowed to oppose any Boston mayoral candidates who would keep Davis in their administration if elected.

In response, Davis had accused the group for engaging in "divisive efforts" and wrote in an open letter that it "hasn't proposed legislation or undertaken any valuable initiatives to help its own members or the community."

The Boston Globe report does not cite whether those allegations had anything to do with his plans to resign.

In a statement to the newspaper, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino "thanked Davis for his work as commissioner over the last seven years."

Davis was thrust into the national spotlight on April 15 when twin explosions near the marathon finish line killed three people and wounded more than 260.

Along with Menino and Gov. Deval Patrick, Davis ordered a daylong, city-wide lockdown after the two bombing suspects were involved in a shootout with police.

Once suspect died following the gun battle, a second was later taken into custody and is awaiting trial.

Delivering the commencement address at the University of Massachusetts Lowell a month later, Davis said the bombing taught him much about police work — and the resiliency of human beings.

"I learned to think the unthinkable," Davis said. "I learned that the most horrific of circumstances can produce the most inspirational and heroic of actions, not just by one single person, but by hundreds of them."

Davis, 57, has spent almost seven years as Boston's top cop after being appointed by Menino in 2006. He previously served as the Lowell, Mass., superintendent of police.

Davis' departure comes just as the race to replace Menino kicks into high gear. A preliminary election on Tuesday will whittle a dozen candidates down to two for the Nov. 5 election.