Mayor Sarno states, “These ongoing sessions will continue discussion and the community’s input on enhancing police/community relations. Everyone is welcomed to participate. We want to thank those members of the community and the organizations who participated. Their input, opinions, and ideas were greatly appreciated. In addition, I am deeply appreciative of retired Chief State Supreme Court Justice and Springfield native Roderick Ireland for his participation. His continued advice, wisdom and guidance has been invaluable to me.”
Mayor Sarno added, “These police-community relations public forums are a continuation to my and Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood’s efforts in implementing police reforms and enhancing community relationships. I acknowledge again, that past police misconduct was wrong and hurtful. I know that our community has been adversely effected by this past police wrongdoing, which has created a cloud of negativity on the values and reputation of our City. My goal, our goal, going forward is to make sure that this type of behavior does not happen again in the future and that all our police officers follow the laws and the constitution. Commissioner Clapprood and I are strongly committed to reforms, many of which she has already implemented, but there is much more to be done in working with the Department of Justice and our community for systematic change. These efforts will continue to make our Springfield Police Department one that all citizens can be proud of. I want to make it perfectly clear that, as we have done in the past, any officer found guilty of violating a citizens civil rights will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law up to and including termination.”
