Today, Watson is a long way from his Chicago roots.

But his goals have not changed.

And with the less imposing crime rate, Watson now hopes to focus on community relations more than ever before.

As only the second commissioner to be imported from outside the Cambridge community, however, Watson may be facing an uphill battle in trying to gain the confidence and support of Cantabridgians.

"Partnerships start by working within the community," he says.

He stresses that residents' concerns need to be addressed by the police department to gain trust and improve communication.

He says comments and complaints from residents will be addressed when his police force holds its quarterly meetings in each of the city's 13 neighborhoods.

"We want to give a voice to members of the community," Watson says. "That includes going out into the neighborhoods and training people in problem-solving skills."

Watson also wants to make a point of increasing the accessibility and visibility of Cambridge police officers.

"If there's a meeting, I'll take them with me because I want people to see that the officers are just as aware of the issues as I am," Watson says. "The only way to encourage a partnership [between police and the community] is to put people in the same room."

He has come a long way in his 33 years of service, but his motto remains the same.

"It's all about communication," he says. "My job isn't just about giving people tickets: my job is to inform.