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Date: 10/2/2015
CHICOPEE – City officials announced a multi-point plan to deter gang activity in the downtown on Sept. 29.
Mayor Richard Kos said the installation of surveillance cameras, improved street lighting and stepped up police patrols are all part of the effort.
Police Chief William Jebb explained that two rival gangs have been involved in a dispute over territory and sales of illegal drugs. Some of the members of the gangs are as young as 13, he added.
Kos met with downtown businesses on Sept. 28 to discuss their concerns and the measures undertaken by the city.
Kos said a lighting survey is being done by Chicopee Electric Light Department to add additional streetlights. A plan to add 11 video cameras that would be monitored by police dispatchers will start with the install of two cameras.
The police will re-deploy officers to the “hot spots” of activity, Jebb said.
Kos said the situation “needs to be addressed and addressed now.”
Jebb said while there has been gangs operating in the city since the late 1980s and early 1990s what is being seen today is an influx of gang activity. On the evening of Sept. 28, Jebb walked through the downtown neighborhood seeing where officers should be deployed. He said he spoke with his commanders on the morning of Sept. 29 to make the appropriate changes.
Jebb declined to discuss where or how the officers will be used and also said he didn’t want to supply too many details on the gangs.
“I don’t want to give them any credibility,” he explained.
Robert Liswell, the technology projects manager for the city, said the new camera system would give the police real time information and would be used to monitor traffic conditions.
The system would cost between $150,000 and $175,000 and Kos said he is asking the City Council to approve an allocation of $200,000 to buy them. The first two cameras would be installed by the city, but the other nine would have to go out to bid for an installer.
Liswell said the camera plan was developed in 2008. He added the downtown Wi-Fi system is a factor that will assist the cameras. They would be installed at the Center Street intersection, the Park and Chestnut streets intersection, the School and Dwight streets intersection, the School and Dwight streets intersection, the School and Perkins streets intersection, the Perkin and Exchange streets intersection, the Exchange and Cabot streets intersection, the Center and Exchange streets intersection, on the left and right sides of the former library and Park and West streets intersection.
Kos added a police substation for downtown is being considered.
Jebb said one step he can discuss is the redesigning police districts. He is making the district including downtown smaller and is dividing the shopping areas on Memorial Drive as two districts.
He added, “We need intelligence from residents and the business community.”
People can call the police anonymously at its main number of 594-100 or the detective bureau at 594-1730. The department has Facebook and Twitter accounts that can be used for communication as well as “Text a Tip." Text “solve Chicopee,” followed by the information, to “crimes” (274637).