Meet Jamaica Plain's New Police Captain

There's a new commander for Boston Police District E-13, which is mostly Jamaica Plain.

Capt. Paul Russell's first day was last Thursday. He replaces Capt. , who was reassigned.

Here are a few things to know about Russell:

Year Joined Boston Police: 1985 (Joined police academy as cadet in 1982)

Experience: Russell has worked in a wide range of areas, including the undercover drug unit, Mobile Operations (such as protecting dignitaries when they visit Boston), operations (communications) and Internal Affairs. He made sergeant while in Brighton.

Other Commands: District C-6 (South Boston) and B-2 (Roxbury)

Innovations: In South Boston, piloted a "diversion program" with Gavin House which gave adolescents with alchohol problems treatment instead of being arrested. Russell said he will examine whether a similar program might work in the E-13 district.

Awards: Roosevelt Award, 2004.

Personal: Russell has had bouts with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

On Community Policing: Russell said he wants to see officers out on foot as much as possible. "Often we meet people in an adversarial situation," Russell said. "[This] gives us a chance to meet people under other circumstances." He said he would like to add more walking beats, but "resources are what they are."