SPD Congratulates Deputy Chief Steven Kent on his Retirement
SPD Congratulates Deputy Chief Steven Kent on his Retirement
Springfield, Mass. — On behalf of the Springfield Police Department, Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers congratulates Deputy Chief Steven Kent on his retirement.
Deputy Chief Kent served the city of Springfield for more than 34 years as a police officer and more than 37 years as a police officer in the Commonwealth.
Deputy Chief Kent was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2008, Lieutenant in 2014, Captain in 2017 and Deputy Chief in June of 2019. Deputy Chief Kent has a long list of achievements for his performance in the line of duty protecting the citizens of Springfield. In 1998, then Officer Kent received a Letter of Commendation for his performance during an 11-hour standoff with an armed and barricaded suspect on Undine Circle in May 1997. During the incident the suspect repeatedly fired upon officers. The suspect was taken into custody as Officer Kent and his fellow Officers exposed themselves to grave danger.
Also in 1998, then Officer Kent received a Letter of Commendation for his work in pursuing an apprehending an armed robbery suspect, while recovering a firearm. In 2008, then Officer Kent received another Commendation for his role in a March 2005 incident. A gunfight erupted during an anti-drug surveillance; Narcotics Officers interrupted this and after a pursuit placed several suspects under arrest. A sawed off shotgun, heroin and cocaine were recovered.
Another Commendation was awarded to then Sgt. Kent for arresting an armed suspect in an April 2009 incident where the suspect shot into a crowd behind a local tavern. The suspect was taken into custody after a foot pursuit and a loaded firearm was recovered.
In 2010, then Sgt. Kent received a 5th Letter of Commendation for his work in apprehending a murder suspect in April 2009. Sgt. Kent was working on a separate investigation in which two loaded firearms were recovered when officers heard gunshots nearby. Officers responded immediately and arrested the suspect as he fled the scene of a homicide. The murder weapon was recovered on scene.
Deputy Chief Kent has worked in the Gang Suppression Unit, Narcotics Unit, Street Crimes Unit and DEA Task Force and for the past seven years a member of the Springfield Police Command Staff.
We wish Deputy Kent health and happiness in his retirement and thank him for his service to the city of Springfield.
