Civil Rights and equity

Hingham Police Department's Commitment to Equity

At the Hingham Police Department, we are committed to promoting and upholding principles of equity, fairness, and justice in all aspects of our operations. Like many institutions, policing has an unbalanced history.  We recognize the importance of treating all members of our community with respect, dignity, and impartiality, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or any other characteristic.

Our mission is to serve and protect all individuals within our jurisdiction equally, without discrimination or bias. We strive to create a safe and inclusive environment where every resident feels valued, heard, and understood.  We want to continue to serve using the perspectives we gain from partnerships with all of our community members, including those of marginalized populations.

To achieve these goals, we are dedicated to:

1. Community Engagement:

We actively seek to build strong partnerships with all members of the community through open communication, dialogue, and collaboration. We listen to the concerns, needs, and feedback of residents to better understand the challenges they face and work together to find solutions.

2. Training and Education:

We provide ongoing training to our officers to enhance their understanding of cultural diversity, implicit bias, and de-escalation techniques. By fostering a culture of continuous learning, we aim to improve our ability to serve the community effectively and fairly.

3. Accountability:

We hold ourselves accountable for our actions and decisions. We strive to be transparent in our practices, ensuring that our policies and procedures align with the principles of equity and justice. Any complaints or allegations of misconduct will be thoroughly investigated, and appropriate actions will be taken.

4. Fair and Impartial Policing:

Our officers are committed to practicing fair and impartial policing in all interactions with the public. We do not tolerate racial profiling, discrimination, or abuse of authority.

Through these commitments, we aim to create a police department that is responsive, compassionate, and just. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone feels safe, heard, and valued, and where mutual trust and respect are the cornerstones of our relationship with the community we serve.

Our Department has a dedicated Civil Rights Officer, Lieutenant John Marquardt.  If you would like to learn more or have a conversion he can be contacted at civilrights@hpd.org or (781) 804-2230. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.

Hate Crimes

Hate crimes are against the law.  It is the policy of the Hingham Police Department to safeguard the State and Federal rights of all individuals irrespective of their race, religion, ethnicity, handicap, sexual orientation, and gender and to treat seriously any acts or threats of violence, property damage, harassment, intimidation, or other crimes that infringe upon these rights.  All hate crimes are taken seriously by the Hingham Police Department.  Our department will use every necessary resource to rapidly and decisively ensure your safety, identify the perpetrators, arrest them and take vigorous enforcement action.

What is a Hate Crime?

Any criminal act to which a bias motive is evident as a contributing factor, 

Any act which constitutes a violation of:

  • M.G.L. c. 265, ss. 37 or 39;
  • M.G.L. c. 266, s. 127A;
  • M.G.L. c. 272, s. 92A.

What is a Hate Incident?

Any act whether consisting of conduct, speech or expression, to which a bias motive is evident as a contributing factor, without regard for whether the act constitutes a crime.

What can you do if you or someone you know has been the victim of a hate crime or incident?

If you believe you have been a victim of a hate crime:

  • Emergencies should immediately be reported by dialing 911 
  • For non-emergencies call (781) 749-1212 to report the incident to a police officer.

Reported incidents involving a potential hate crime will be immediately forwarded to our Civil Rights Officer.

Our department's Civil Rights Officer may be reached via email or by calling (781) 804-2230.

Hingham Police Civil Rights Officer
Lieutenant John MarquardtLt. Marquardt

Lieutenant John Marquardt is a 18 year law enforcement veteran with over 13 years of service to the Town of HIngham. Throughout his tenure, Lieutenant Marquardt has exemplified versatility and dedication by serving in various pivotal roles within the department. He has served as a Patrol Officer,  School Resource Officer, Detective, Patrol Sergeant and most recently, a Lieutenant Shift commander. 

Lieutenant Marquardt also serves as an adjunct instructor for the Municipal Police Training Committee. In this influential role, Lieutenant Marquardt is able to impart his extensive knowledge in critical areas of law enforcement, specializing in fair and impartial policing, implicit bias awareness, ABLE Project (Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement) and crisis and conflict resolution. Helping to shape the next generation of  police officers ensures that these individuals enter the field with a profound understanding of ethics, fairness, and effective conflict resolution. 

Lieutenant Marquardt holds both a Bachelor's Degree and Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Curry College. Lieutenant Marquardt and his Curry College cohort worked extensively with the City of Boston to help work on the addiction crisis at the Mass and Cass Blvd. Lieutenant Marquardt is a decorated US Army Combat Veteran with overseas service in Afghanistan and a Purple Heart Medal recipient.

The Hingham Police Department is dedicated to the principles of fair and impartial policing, understanding implicit bias and the ability to navigate crisis situations.

useful links

Hingham Human Rights Commission

Hingham Unity Council

Anti-Defamation League

ABLE Project


Hingham Police Dept Nickel Coin Massachusetts MC AR