Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers announced on Thursday, May 7, 2026, United States Magistrate Judge Michael Ponsor serving in the District of Massachusetts, dismissed the federal Consent Decree between the city of Springfield and the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) ending the agreement. The city of Springfield, the Springfield Police Department, the Department of Justice and external Compliance Evaluation Team jointly requested this dismissal.
On April 29, 2022, the city of Springfield entered into a Consent Decree with the DOJ that required the police department to implement reforms and demonstrate sustained compliance across critical operational areas, including use of force, supervision, accountability and investigations.
Superintendent Akers stated, “I want our community to know that the end of this Consent Decree does not mark the end of reform; it confirms that reform has taken hold. The Springfield Police Department has undergone a measurable cultural shift. The lasting impact of this Consent Decree, not only improved processes, but also a department-wide shift in how those processes are understood, applied and maintained. This ensures that constitutional policing, transparency and accountability remain permanent expectations for both the department and the community we serve. My promise to our community is that while the federal oversight is gone, the policies and procedures put in place are not leaving with it. Our Department has modernized its daily practices in these past four years. If change is needed in the future, we are ready and able to adapt. I’d like to thank my command staff, Captain Brian Beliveau and our Professional Standards Unit, retired Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, City Solicitor Stephen Buoniconti and our city attorney’s, the Compliance Evaluation Team, the Department of Justice Staff we worked closely with and Mayor Sarno for the support and tireless effort that allowed this endeavor to be successful. I would also be remiss if I did not acknowledge the dedicated work of the women and men of the Springfield Police Department for their commendable work throughout these past four years to put us in a position to move forward together. The Springfield Police Department is in a much better place to serve and protect our community who deserves the very best police officers during any and every interaction.”
Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank everyone involved for their continued efforts working around the clock in continuing to enhance our city and improve our policing practices for the betterment of our residents and business community. Right from the beginning, I took this very seriously by bringing on Springfield native, and well respected retired Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Roderick L. Ireland to advise and guide me and my administration through this process. Our brave and dedicated men and women in blue do a tremendous job day in and day out. Policing is a dangerous but still a very honorable profession and everyone knows that throughout my career I have been one of SPD’s biggest supporters, in good times and in challenging times. Working together with the DOJ and our internal city team, the City is striving to have the best Police Department possible. Under the steadfast leadership, first under Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and now under Superintendent Larry Akers, our Springfield Police Department has embraced numerous reforms and policies, including becoming the first police department in the Commonwealth to utilize body-worn cameras for all officers. Also, our 500+ sworn police officers, from the chief and command staff, down to rank and file, reflect the city and community they police in. We are proud of these positive strides and also look forward to welcoming the newest class of police academy graduates to the force this week.”
Solicitor Buoniconti stated, “Over the last 4 years, all stakeholders have worked with a spirit of cooperation and diligence in implementing reforms required under the Consent Decree. Today, the Court agreed and dismissed the case. For the future, the Mayor’s commitment of resources and staffing puts the City in a great position for continued improvement of constitutional policing standards within the police department.”
Kathleen O’Toole, the Court appointed compliance evaluator, stated. “As Lead Compliance Evaluator, I appreciate Judge Ponsor’s decision to approve the parties’ motion to terminate the consent decree. This outcome reflects substantial, sustained progress by the City of Springfield and the Springfield Police Department in advancing constitutional policing, strengthening accountability, and building systems capable of enduring beyond federal oversight. In particular, I commend the highly collaborative efforts of the City, SPD, the United States Department of Justice, and community stakeholders. I’m confident that the City’s established framework and sustainment plan position Springfield to continue this important work moving forward.”
“I am honored to have worked with Mayor Domenic Sarno and former Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood, and their staffs, to address the police reform issues the city of Springfield faced back in 2022, which resulted in a settlement agreement with the Department of Justice,” shared the Honorable Roderick L. Ireland, retired Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. “The fact that the Department of Justice and the Federal Court have dismissed the case reflects extremely well on Springfield's Police Department. It tells me that the Police Department has addressed each and every concern that was raised, and the end result of the settlement agreement has been a number of very positive reforms that changed policing in Springfield forever, and are now a model for other police departments across the country in the future. I am very proud to have played a role in this historic agreement. and I wish the Springfield Police Department all the best in the future.”
The systems developed under the agreement have been institutionalized and reinforced through daily practice. The focus is now on sustaining a culture where accountability is routine, review is expected and performance is continuously evaluated with organizational growth a priority.
The permanent framework in place that supports that culture is built around four key components; the Professional Standards Unit (PSU) oversight, the Firearms Investigation Unit (FIU) processes and practices, the Internal Investigations Unit (IIU) Audit and Compliance System and continuous community engagement. This framework ensures continued alignment with constitutional standards, Massachusetts law, POST Commission requirement and accreditation obligations, while reinforcing a system that is internally driven, consistently applied and built for long-term durability.
