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Date: 7/13/2022
WESTFIELD — The Westfield Police Department is partnering with the Hampden County Sheriff Marine Unit to be bring more frequent boat patrols to the Hampton Ponds.
The Westfield Police have been patrolling Hampton Ponds via boat since 2013, but inadequate staffing has made it difficult for patrols to take place every single day of the boating season.
Police Chief Larry Valliere said July 8 that the partnership with the sheriff’s office will allow for patrols to take place throughout the week, rather than just on the weekend for peak boating days.
“We have been trying to get more people available to go out on the boat, but we only have people out on the weekends right now,” said Valliere.
Weekends have even been tough to staff for boat patrols, Valliere said, because it means officers not having the weekend off.
He said the neighboring town of Southwick had even approached Westfield asking for assistance in patrolling Congamond Lake, but Westfield’s own lack of available officers forced Valliere to decline the request.
The sheriff’s marine unit will use its own boat at times in addition to the Westfield police boat.