Police unions representing Holyoke police officers and supervisors are responding to comments made by a city councilor at a recent meeting.
The gathering was in response to comments from City Councilor Jose Maldonado Velez.
Velez called the police force a "gang" at a meeting to consider adding the ShotSpotter gunfire recognition program earlier this month.
Police Captain Matthew Moriarity says the technology would be instrumental in faster response times to shootings.
The city has seen five murders so far this year.
He called the comments erroneous and divisive.
The unions yesterday requested that Velez publicly apologize or recuse himself from future voting on police matters.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak. WHYN News)