Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Police Superintendent Larry Akers, Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management (“PBRM” or “Parks”) Tom Ashe, Deputy Parks Director Peter Krupczak, Chief of Staff Bill Baker, and Communications Director Molly Shea announced today public safety strategy plans for the summer across the city. With the weather getting warmer and the various summer programs and events being scheduled throughout the city and in our neighborhood parks, the Springfield Police Department and Parks Department want to reassure residents that public safety will remain their top priority.
As the weather gets warmer, police departments across the region are expecting a return of illegal dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles on public roadways. The Springfield Police Department will once again activate their anti-dirt bike patrols and have dedicated units proactively enforcing the rules of the road with traffic enforcement for speeding and distracted drivers, including cracking down on illegal racing on public streets throughout the city.
Superintendent Akers and the Springfield Police Department will continue to coordinate on their collaborative efforts and partnerships with the Massachusetts State Police and police departments from surrounding communities to communicate, track, seize and make arrests on illegal dirt bikes and drag racing.
Additionally, with the recent news from Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi having to cut back certain services from the Sheriff’s Department due to budgetary constraints, Mayor Sarno, Police Superintendent Akers and Parks Director Ashe want to reassure the public that public safety at Union Station and the city’s crown jewel Forest Park, Blunt Park and all of our neighborhood parks, will remain a safe space for all to enjoy. The Forest Park public safety patrols will continue and dedicated police units, including patrols on bikes, will be patrolling the park to enhance public safety and hospitality initiatives. Also, officers from the Metro Unit will continue to patrol and remain active with their presence at Union Station so that the thousands of travelers that pass-through Union Station, either by bus or train, will continue to feel safe.
Furthermore, along with the daily operations of the divisions within the Springfield Police Department, other public safety initiatives that will continue to operate include the Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU), which works closely with the State Police and our federal crime fighting partners and their joint efforts/attack on deterring gun violence. All C3 initiatives (North End, Mason Square, Metro/South End, and Forest Park), the Citizens Police Academy, and the Ordinance Flex Squad will continue to function throughout the city.
Mayor Sarno states, “No matter the season, public safety will always remain a priority for my administration. As the weather gets nicer, more and more individuals and their families will want to travel, and go outside and enjoy the weather and take advantage of our numerous outdoor recreational opportunities at our neighborhood parks, including walking trails, splash pads, pools, playgrounds, and more. Our brave and dedicated men and women in blue will continue to patrol our streets to keep traffic and pedestrians safe as they continue to crack down on illegal dirt bikes and street racing. Our Metro Unit will continue to have a presence at Union Station to make sure travelers can commute safely.”
“Our highly successful patrols in the park will continue thanks to Police Superintendent Akers and Parks Director Tom Ashe’s efforts to make sure our parks remain a safe haven for all ages to enjoy. I want to thank Sheriff Nick Cocchi and his team for their efforts working with my administration over these years. Springfield will continue to work in partnership with the Sheriff’s Department in the name of public safety in whatever capacity we can, now and in the future,” added Mayor Sarno.
Police Superintendent Akers stated, “The Springfield Police Department has a solid game plan for this summer. Dedicated units and patrols will be deployed to actively enforce the rules of the road and crack down on any illegal dirt bikes and drag racing on public streets. Officers and our cameras will be out there and we will continue to track their movements, seize these illegal dirt bikes and make good arrests to keep everyone safe. We’ll continue to communicate with our partner public safety agencies to tackle this issue that impacts all of the surrounding communities, not just Springfield. Additionally, our traffic division will activate and deploy the ‘watch your speed’ board sign at strategic locations throughout the city and begin scheduling active traffic enforcement efforts to crack down on speeding and distracted drivers. I also want to confirm that SPD will have visible police patrols, including officers on bikes, in Forest Park to enhance public safety efforts there. Also, our Metro Units will continue to patrol and have a presence at Union Station too.”
PBRM Director Ashe said, “Thanks to Mayor Sarno our parks, open spaces, and gyms will continue to remain a safe place for our residents and their families. All neighborhood parks and all of their amenities, including playgrounds, splash pads, pools, summer camps, athletic fields and open gyms will be open and safe. All summer events including movies in the park, concerts in the park, and more are being scheduled and finalized. My Parks team will continue to work closely with SPD to coordinate park patrols and maintain a visible public safety presence.”
For more information on all of the summer programs put on by the city’s Park’s Department Recreation Division, Aquatics Program and Municipal Golf Courses please visit the City of Springfield Park’s Department website at: www.springfield-ma.gov/park
For more information on all of the Springfield Police Departments public safety divisions and initiatives, please visit their website at: www.springfield-ma.gov/police
