It’s no doubt been a difficult year for everyone, including our Springfield police officers. I am so proud that our officers continue to show up to work each day and do an incredible job, from handling mental-health calls to getting illegal firearms off the street and doing so in a professional manner.
The body-worn camera program we implemented this year is proof positive that our officers are doing their job the right way.
While this year has been trying for our officers and their families, they continue to go above and beyond to find ways to support our community.
In November, more than 100 of our officers and supervisors took part in No-Shave November to raise awareness for cancer. In turn, they raised more than $6,000 which was donated to Suit Up Springfield and Christina’s House. Suit Up Springfield provides professional attire for those in need. Christina’s House provides a home for at-risk women and their children and the resources for these single mothers to transition from homelessness to permanent stable environments.
364 Gives is the charitable foundation of the Local 364 International Brotherhood of Police Officers’ Springfield Patrolman’s Union. Their annual golf tournament in memory of officer Kevin Ambrose raised more than $12,000, which was donated to Bikers Against Child Abuse and the Gray House in the North End, which helps its neighbors by providing food, clothing and educational services.
364 Gives was certainly in the giving spirit this holiday season as they donated $1,500 each to the Open Pantry, Oasis Food Pantry and Toys for Tots. International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 364 president Joe Gentile and his board have truly done an incredible job by donating about $150,000 to local organizations in our community since the foundation was created in 2011.
The giving didn’t stop there. On Dec. 8, Springfield police officers, in conjunction with our C3 Forest Park Unit and Springfield Together, took more than 50 elementary school students Christmas Shopping at Walmart for “Shop with a Cop.” The team at the Boston Road Walmart has been a great partner with us from Stuff the Cruiser to Shop with a Cop they are always there to help.
Christmas shopping at Walmart on Boston Road was part of the Springfield Polcie Department's “Shop with a Cop.”
We’re also hosting a contest to give away a Playstation 4, and today is the last day to enter. Details are on our Springfield Police Department Facebook page.
All that and our officers and their investigations have led to 25 illegal firearms being seized since Thanksgiving, including 19 from our narcotics detectives and all thankfully without anyone getting hurt.
Today I am connecting about a dozen officers with our chaplains on call. This group will begin to serve the department’s peer support program. I have been following trends across the country, and law enforcement suicides and retirements due to mental health are continuing to rise. My conversations with some of heads of larger departments have suggested the best way to help those officers struggling is through their peers and then to professional help.
The chaplains on call have agreed to assist me and those officers willing to take turns on call, so that I have a 24-hour a day, seven days a week support system. The officers are dealing with the virus, dangerous times and stressful conditions as they try to make split-second decisions that are second guessed and examined for days and weeks after.
Finally, from Kacey, our emotional support K9, and me, on behalf of the entire Springfield Police Department, I wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season and a merry Christmas. If you need us, we’ll be there.
A Christmas card featuring Kacey, an emotional support K9.
Cheryl C. Clapprood is police commissioner for the city of Springfield. Her column will appear monthly.
Editor’s note: Information on the Springfield Police Department’s community calendar is available on the department’s website, springfield-ma.gov/police, and Facebook page, Facebook.com/Springfield Police DeptMA.
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December 17, 2020 at 05:00PM
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Community outreach continues as ‘difficult year’ for Springfield police draws to close, commissioner says - masslive.com
"difficult" - Google News
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