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Despite claims sergeant says issue often is swans

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW Sgt. Patrick Manley of the East Longmeadow Police Department states that despite all the complaints about Heritage Park on the town forum at MassLive.com, nothing seriously unlawful has been reported.

"Most of the phone calls we receive are about the swans standing in the road," Manley said.

"There are no specific crime trends occurring in the park," he continued. "There is no rash of any one type of crime."

While in the past incidents like bicycles being stolen and suspicious persons loitering in the park have been reported, Manley said it is not a serious problem.

"Things like this occur throughout the community, not just in Heritage Park," he said.

An officer on a bicycle is usually on patrol in the shopping centers and in the park area, Manley said. There is no targeted patrol for just the park because of the lack of reported crime there.

"The park closes at 9 p.m., and that helps to keep vandalism down," Manley said. "With the cover of darkness, people feel they have a certain anonymity and won't be caught. That's why the park closes when it does."

There has not been any vandalism of the new playground equipment.

"Once in a great while, something serious will be reported, but again, we have the same problems throughout the town, not just in Heritage Park," Manley reiterated.