Springfield, Massachusetts, Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said if officers currently facing criminal charges are acquitted, she'll try to bring them back on the job.
Clapprood made the comments after she was officially sworn in Tuesday. She was named interim commissioner in February, and took over a department at the center of controversy.
Several officers were the subject of either federal or state indictments, and videos of other incidents surfaced showing possible police misconduct.
After the swearing-in ceremony, Clapprood said the department is bouncing back.
"It might end up where we recover well," Clapprood said. "You might see some of these trials come to fruition six months, 10 months from now, and they have favorable outcomes. And then we can say, 'See,' and bring them back into the fold, and move on."
City Council President Justin Hurst agreed, saying that if the officers are found not guilty, they should be welcomed back "with open arms."
As for the biggest challenge facing the Springfield police, Clapprood said it's recruiting new officers, and retaining those on the force.
"They don't want to be cops anymore. Kids don't want to do this job," Clapprood said. "Too much pressure, having to make decisions split-second, being Monday-morning quarterbacked, somebody's got a video."
Clapprood did say she's looking forward to outfitting Springfield police with body cameras. She said that in about a month or so, some officers could be fitting with the devices in order to test them.
A four-decade veteran of the Springfield police force, Clapprood has a four-year contract with a starting salary of $190,000.
