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Date: 3/1/2023
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Police Department and Public Safety Committee Chair and Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce are highlighting a safe avenue for internet purchase exchanges. Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood and Click-Bruce discussed the Police Department’s current measures and a possible expansion of safe internet purchase exchange spaces during a Feb. 15 Public Safety Committee meeting.
Click-Bruce aired his initial concerns in a Feb. 10 press release. He noted that an increase reliance on internet sales and exchanges has led to a “new wave of crime that targets and preys on our seniors and young people.”
Springfield Police Department leadership discussed their current safety plan for internet exchanges in a Feb. 10 press release. The department’s headquarters at 130 Pearl St. has served as a designated community meet-up spot since 2018. Residents can make exchanges inside the lobby space of the headquarters or outside, with both areas consistently monitored by video surveillance.
The headquarters is open 24/7 for internet exchanges to take place. There is no police oversight of the transactions; officers do not supervise the exchange, confirm identities or check the items to ensure they are authentic or were not stolen, according to the Police Department.
Clapprood expressed that the designated space promotes safe exchanges of internet sales for the public. She said the development of the designated community space was in response to robberies that occurred during online exchanges happening throughout the city.
“Internet purchase exchange locations reduce the likelihood of theft or crime and provide an additional sense of safety. If the exchange is a scam or for nefarious reasons it would be quite brazen for the other person involved to show up at the Police Department. If the other person doesn’t show up or asks to meet somewhere else, that is a red flag,” said Clapprood.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno also expressed his support for the Police Department’s safety plan for online purchase exchanges.
“Conducting online purchase exchanges, with parties that you may not know, it is important and safe to do this type of legal transaction in a public setting and safe space. Doing this online purchase exchange is welcomed at our Springfield Police Headquarters on Pearl Street and we welcome and encourage any Springfield resident to utilize this location for their safety,” said Sarno.
Click-Bruce, Clapprood and other city officials discussed the potential of providing additional designated community meet-up spaces. Clapprood noted that the police headquarters may not be accessible for all Springfield residents.
“I know that 130 Pearl St. is not convenient for a lot of people,” said Clapprood.
Clapprood considered the Police Department’s community meeting space “a model to copy” for other areas throughout the city. She suggested that a location open 24/7, like a Pride gas station, could serve as another meet up location.
“I am thinking a Pride station or a 24-hour [area] where we can install another camera maybe and just advertise it,” said Clapprood.
Springfield Executive Director of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management Patrick Sullivan also offered a public park space to be utilized in establishing another community meeting location.
Another avenue for ensuring safety is consumer education. Click-Bruce emphasized the importance of educating the youth and seniors about the potential dangers of online purchases and exchanges. Springfield Public Schools Senior Director of Operations Rick Garib said the schools will work on providing educational materials to students.
Director of Sarno’s Office of Consumer Information Milagros Johnson said keeping consumers aware is essential.
“Our model is that education is our best prevention and consumer safety is our key … We certainly want to include safety in all of this,” said Johnson.
Going forward, Click-Bruce hopes that collaboration between city leaders will continue to empathize and expand safe measures for online purchase exchanges.
“I am here to work together to see how we can expand this program to make sure our citizens are aware and feeling safe. We all know online purchases are here and there are going to be even more,” said Click-Bruce.