Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni says compared to years ago, a fraction of the number of people are being incarcerated both on the State and local level. He says that is a good thing. However, the D-A also warns that when having the conversation about reform- that part of the conversation should not be that police are bad or we are living in a police state. The D-A made his comments following the arraignment of three of the seven suspects involved in the shooting of Springfield Police Officer Nestor Santos.
Meantime, former Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott, who is retired, living in South Carolina, says he was disheartened by the news of the shooting. In a statement, the retired chief says that "judges and the judicial system are the root causes" of the violence in Springfield, Holyoke and the region. He said that judges are only concerned with the rights of the criminal and not with the victim.
And the retired chief says: "How many more Massachusetts citizens and/or law enforcement officers have to lose their lives or become seriously injured before the citizens demand that their politicians take control of and reform the judicial. system! ! ! ! !"
The lastest on the condition of Officer Santos is that he has undergone surgery in Boston and will have to undergo additional surgeries. A police spokesman says that doctors were able to save his eye, but that he is likely to lose vision in it.
If you would like to donate to help Officer Santos please do so via the Greg Hill Foundation. www.thegreghillfoundation.org They are matching donations up to $7500.
(Springfield Police Department Photo)