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Williams presents 10-point plan to fight crime

Date: 10/26/2009

By G. Michael Dobbs,

Managing Editor

SPRINGFIELD -- Crime in the city took center stage last week as several high profile incidents sent a mixed message to residents. City Councilor and mayoral candidate Bud Williams released a 10-point plan to fight crime on Wednesday and charged that Mayor Domenic Sarno and Police Commissioner William Fitchet aren't doing enough about crime in light of shootings over the past week.

Standing in front of the Police Department on Pearl Street, Williams said, "The Sarno Administration has failed miserably. We're losing the battle."

In light of the recent events, Sarno released the following statement on Wednesday: "I have consulted with Commissioner William J. Fitchet regarding today's shootings and have called on Governor Deval Patrick and Lt. Governor Timothy Murray to provide additional State Police support to come into our City immediately, to assist our dedicated men and women and blue. This is a war on drugs and gangs and we're going to be relentless to make sure citizens from every section of our City feel safe. This is an all out war!"

State Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera also announced her renewed efforts to have additional deployment of State Police in the city.

During the same period, Springfield police released information on several major arrests.

Hours after Williams made his announcement another shooting incident took place near 51 Orchard St., sending two people in critical condition to Baystate Medical Center. Police Department spokesman Sgt. John Delaney reported the initial investigation is the shooting was gang related.

Progress on ridding the city of criminals linked to gangs, guns and drugs was also presented Wednesday at an announcement made by Fitchet and District Attorney William Bennett. The apprehension of Springfield resident Jose Andino -- held on $1 million bail -- was hailed as a "significant arrest" by Delaney.

He explained that Andino is a major figure in supplying guns to gang members in the city. Fifteen guns were confiscated and two of Andino's associates were also arrested.

Also announced Thursday were the results of an Oct. 21 raid on what was described by Delaney as a "large 'crack' cocaine distribution ring located at 452 Central St."

The raid was made after a two-week investigation. Police recovered 212 bags of crack cocaine, $1,511 in cash, ammo rounds for a .357 magnum hand gun and packaging material for the sale of "crack."

Arrested were the following eight suspects: Carmen Sills-Rivera, age 40, of 347 Central St.; Anthony Burge, age 20, of 22 Brigham St.; Todd Cruzado, age 22, of 92 Belmont Ave.; David Jimenez, age 23, of 254 Union St.; Dasean Austen, age 22, of 27 Denton Circle; Carl Cox, age 41, of 72 Sorrento St.; Ronnie Artis, age 22, of 68 Ft. Pleasant Ave.; Deval Benton, age 21, of 452 Central St.

The charges included trafficking in cocaine (28-100 grams), violation of a drug free school zone and distribution of a Class "B" substance (crack cocaine).

Delaney said information about the "crack house" came through tips from the neighborhood and from the "Text-a-Tip" service.

Williams said that if he were elected mayor he would implement the following 10 actions:

  • Implement the 1995 Curfew Ordinance by the Police Department that would prohibit residents under the age of 18 from being on city streets unescorted from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 12:01 a.m. until 6 a.m. on any Saturday or Sunday;

  • Deploy trained officers who are currently performing "office duty" to the streets and the transfer of "flex squad" officers to the anti-gang unit;

  • Require the commissioner and all deputy commissioners to work Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays;

  • Request more assistance from the State Police for a 90-day period;

  • Seek special legislation to allow for a "regional approach to law enforcement" by using officers from other communities in Springfield;

  • Seek an increase in prison sentences for those convicted of using a firearm in the commission of a crime;

  • Contact the chief administrative justice to assign more judges to the district and superior courts to deal with cases involving violence and weapons;

  • Assign more officers to the 4 p.m. to midnight and the midnight to 8 a.m. shifts;

  • Apply for more state and federal crime grants; and

  • Fund neighborhood crime watches in the city with Community Development Block grants.


"Texting messages and putting police officers on motorized scooters is not cutting it. Our citizens deserve better," Williams said.

For the first time, Williams, who voted for the hiring of Fitchet, questioned the commissioner's performance. He said that if elected he would have a "shake-up [of the department] from top to bottom. I will talk with Fitchet and if he isn't on board with the plan he may have to hit the highway."