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Date: 3/9/2022
SPRINGFIELD – Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno named the members of his new Board of Police Commissioners.
In a press release on March 2, Sarno named:
Dr. Gary Berte: professor of Criminal Justice at Springfield College, former Springfield Police Officer, and former director of public safety for Amherst College
Madeline Fernandez: 20-year veteran of the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, Director of the re-entry program. She has a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in criminal justice from Westfield State University.
Robert C. Jackson: Owner of a local security business and longtime community activist. He is this year’s Ubora Award honoree.
Norman Roldan: Former School Committee member and community advocate.
Albert Tranghese: Retired human resource manager and former labor union representative.
The new Board of Police Commissioners draws for its members from its predecessor, the Community Police Hearing Board. Roldan, Tranghese, Berte and Jackson are all from the former board.
“I want to thank the residents who have agreed to serve as members of the Police Commission. They are all very respected, dedicated and accomplished citizens of our city,” said Sarno. “Some of them have served as members of the Civilian Community Police Hearing Board (CPHB) and have volunteered countless number of hours as members of that board. I’d also like to thank the other members of the Community Police Hearing Board who have served with honor.”
The new group of commissioners will conduct disciplinary hearings and will determine discipline, termination and reappointment. The board will have final say on all disciplinary matters, according to the mayor’s office.
The head of the Police Department will have a new title: superintendent. Sarno explained, “Cheryl Clapprood, as superintendent of police, will continue to have authority of the day-to-day duties concerning the operation of the Police Department. As stated in the SJC ruling the board will not have the day-to-day oversight. This authority, including ‘command and control’ of all department members, professional standards, as well as hiring, promotions, and as well as assignments will be under Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood. I continue to have the full confidence in Cheryl Clapprood and the dedicated men and women in blue,” he said.
Sarno’s announcement of the board was met with some criticism. City Councilor Justin Hurst had written to Sarno on Feb. 28 stating in part, “Since the ruling, I have received numerous phone calls from residents who are interested in serving on the Police Commission, which is exciting news and means that people are genuinely concerned about the state of our Police Department. They are optimistic about the potential of getting involved and affecting systemic change in their city. I am of the opinion that we should capitalize on this energy and create a transparent process for individuals interested in serving on the Police Commission to demonstrate that they possess the commitment, ability, and courage to transform a Police Department that has been marred with controversy for years. Creating such a process will go a long way towards restoring faith and trust in our Police Department and even more importantly, the administration that oversees it.”
Seeing the mayor’s selection, Hurst said to Reminder Publishing, “He [Sarno] succeeded in selecting commissioners who are beholden to him and not the community they serve. Many of the commissioners served on the CPHB and have yet to speak up about the issues within the Police Department. We have had the attorney general and Department of Justice in the City of Springfield because numerous discrimination and abuse lawsuits against the city and the same people have remained silent. We have dished out millions of taxpayer dollars in settlements and these same people have not said a word. There is nothing that leads me to believe that with this newfound power they will do anything differently. Sadly, it will business as usual in our Police Department. The citizens of Springfield deserve better.”