Cheryl C. Clapprood joined the Springfield Police Department as a cadet in 1979. In 1981, she was sworn in as an officer, and promoted to Sargent in 1987. In 1998, Clapprood was promoted to Lieutenant and appointed Deputy Chief in 2017. She was named as Acting Commissioner in February 2019 by Mayor Sarno, and appointed as the permanent Commissioner in September 2019. Her title changed to Superintendent in 2022.
Superintendent Clapprood is a major supporter of the Learn to Skate program, which is hosted by Springfield Police at Cyr Arena in Forest Park. The Learn to Skate program is in honor of Springfield Police Officer Stephen O’Brien who died of cancer in 2015 at the age of 56. The Springfield Park Commission voted to name the ice rink at Cyr Arena in honor of Cheryl Clapprood.
Mayor Sarno states, “Former Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood served with honor, distinction, and utmost professionalism. She has worked hard on several initiatives including body-worn cameras (first in the State), numerous police-community initiatives like Cops and Bobbers, gun by back programs and national night out, and continuing the legacy of officer Stephen O’Brian who was one of the first officers who took apart of Learn to Skate. I look forward to honoring Cheryl Clapprood with the renaming of Cyr Arena to Clapprood Rink.”
