Saying that it was disturbing and no one is above the law Springfield Mayor Dom Sarno is vowing change within the police department. The Mayor facing reporters this afternoon after receiving a Department of Justice report on the department. In it, the DOJ said that there was a pattern of excessive violence that was being used by Narcotics Officers that was in violation of the Fourth Amendment.
Sarno said the the city cooperated with the federal investigation and that the lines of communication between the city and the fed remain open looking for what the mayor called “sustainable reform measures.”
Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood says that she has already turned over the report to the deputies, among others. She conceded that much of what the report pointed out, namely that many of the procedures and policies that the department was using were out of date, were true. And she said the department is already working on change.
The Commissioner says that part of the problem cited by the report is that there is a limited paper trail related to some aspects of a case. The Commissioner says that under a new reporting system that will need to be purchased--that problem would no longer exist. So antiquated is the Springfield system that various aspects of reports are kept in different departments and in different systems.
The Commissioner did note that body cameras that have been purchased for the department will help in transparency. Clapprood noted also that 511 cameras will be on the streets and plain clothes detectives will be wearing the body cameras as well.
Meantime, Springfield City Council President Justin Hurst says that much of what was in the federal report served as validation of what the city council and others had talked about for years.
Hurst says; “The culture within our police department that residents so desperately want to see reformed will never occur as long as those responsible with trying to reform it are products of that same culture.”
Sarno says; ““Police Officers have a very dangerous job but this is very disturbing and disappointing because the report identifies serious issues that must be addressed. No one is above the law, including police officers. Now that the investigation has concluded, it is my goal to continue to work cooperatively with the DOJ to remedy the deficiencies identified so that policing in Springfield can indeed be safer, lawful, and more effective.”