Brian Shortsleeve for Massachusetts BOSTON, MA – Today, Marine Corps Veteran, successful business leader, and proven government reformer Brian Shortsleeve, Republican candidate for governor, called for sweeping bail reform after a wave of violence against police in Boston and Randolph.
Despite the severity of the incidents, suspects were released on shockingly low bail amounts, underscoring what Shortsleeve describes as systemic failures in public safety and backing the men and women who put their lives on the line to keep us safe every day.
“These are not harmless disturbances. These were brazen attacks on law enforcement,” said Shortsleeve. “Four officers could have been killed or seriously injured. Instead, a judge released suspects for $500 and $1,000 bail. That’s not justice. That’s negligence.”
Two Rhode Island residents — Julian Bowers, 18, and William Cantwell, 19—were arrested on charges including malicious destruction of property, assault and battery on a police officer, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct. Cantwell also faces a drug possession charge. Prosecutors had requested $20,000 cash bail for Cantwell and $15,000 cash bail for Bowers, but a judge instead set bail at $1,000 for Cantwell and $500 for Bowers. After the bail order, the two teens reportedly fist bumped in court.
Shortsleeve strongly believes that such lax bail practices embolden future criminals. He called the bail amounts granted in Boston “a national embarrassment.” As the next governor, Shortsleeve will:
1. End cashless bail
2. Institute mandatory minimum bail floors in cases involving attacks on law enforcement or arson/destruction of public property.
3. Require judges to justify low-bail orders publicly, including risk assessments and consideration of community safety.
4. Strengthen pretrial detention laws so that violent offenders can be held when they pose a serious threat, even before conviction.
“The judge just handed these two alleged violent criminals who are charged with attacking police officers a get out of jail almost free card by setting the bail so low. And we wonder why we have a crime problem despite what Maura Healey and Michelle Wu claim. When I’m governor, we’ll hold the criminals accountable and appoint judges who understand what justice means,” Shortsleeve said.
Shortsleeve emphasized that these events are a poignant illustration of what’s at stake in the 2026 governor’s race: whether Massachusetts tolerates ideology over public safety, or returns to a posture of law, order, and accountability.
“These attacks are not isolated. They are a warning. If we don’t fix our bail laws, support our police, and strengthen public safety now, we risk more violence and less justice. Maura Healey’s failure to take action is speaking volumes to criminals. We need a governor who will fix our broken system,” added Shortsleeve.