Springfield, Massachusetts, Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said this week her department is "shorthanded" amid retirements and difficulty recruiting new officers.
Clapprood told The Republican the department aims to have 500 officers, but is at 466 right now.
"I mean, you were proud of being a police officer," Clapprood told the newspaper of the troubles getting people to join the department. "I mean, there’s a lot of things now where, you know, between the press and the public, we were not really respected."
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said policing is a very difficult career.
"You have many families, now, that unfortunately don't want their son or daughter, or their grandson, or their daughter, or their partner, their spouse, to go into policing. But it is still an honorable profession," Sarno said.
The mayor has also said that despite the staffing issues, Springfield is indeed safe.
"It's very concerning, not just for Springfield, but nationwide, it's an issue," said panelist Kristin Palpini. "Police, fire, doctors — we have a lot of professional shortages coming up right now. But crime has been going down nationally. And while the number of police also has been going down, I guess until there's some kind of critical point break there, we're kosher."
Clapprood blamed the recruitment problems, in part, on the media. There have certainly been newsworthy scandals involving the police department in recent years — criminal charges, legal settlements and alleged brutality.
"It's always easy to blame the media for the ills in society," said panelist Chris Collins. "But the reality is, Kristin's right. There's a lot of professions where they're having a tough time getting people to work, because it's a good economy, and people have choices."
Collins reiterated Sarno's point, that being a police officer is not an easy gig.
"I understand that there might be people that'd be hesitant to get involved in that," Collins said. "And if Springfield's chief is unhappy with the way the media has covered their scandals, that's too bad. A story is a story, and they haven't helped their cause."
Also this week, public health officials in Massachusetts said they are ready for COVID-19, also known as coronavirus. Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel said the state has what it needs in terms of funding and supplies, and that they are also working with health care providers on preparations in case of an outbreak. There's been just one confirmed case of the virus in Massachusetts.
Super Tuesday is next week, and three New England states — Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine — will hold presidential primaries. And panelist Collins wrote he still is looking for a candidate he can get behind.
We wrap up with Massachusetts wanting its rail cars back from Connecticut., which had been leasing train equipment to use on CTrail's Hartford Line service. After Connecticut spent money refurbishing the cars' bathrooms, Massachusetts now says the state needs the cars back once the lease runs out.
Guests:
- Kristin Palpini, veteran western Mass. journalist
- Chris Collins, columnist, Greenfield Recorder
