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Date: 8/16/2023
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Board of Police Commissioners, in conjunction with the Compliance Evaluator Team and the Department of Justice, are seeking public comments on the draft of the BPC manual through Aug. 31.
The manual is available for the public’s viewing in English or Spanish, on the city’s website, springfield-ma.gov/cos, along with the Springfield Police Department’s website, springfieldmapolice.com, under the BPC tabs.
The community can provide feedback and comments to one of the following: Springfield Police Department, publicpolicy@springfieldpolice.net; Department of Justice, USAMA.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or the Compliance Evaluator Team, contact@spdcomplianceteam.com.
On Aug. 17 at 6 p.m., a community engagement meeting will take place on Zoom to discuss the draft. When the public comment period is over, everything will be incorporated into the final manual.
Commissioner Cee Johnson shared that the manual provides guidance and shows members where they should be going with their role.
Commissioner Albert Tranghese agreed and said it serves as a training on what the members should be doing.
The drafted manual discusses the Board of Police Commissioners’ purpose, scope, engagement with the city and Police Department, board organization, duties and responsibilities, orientation and training, among other topics.
The Board of Police Commissioners was reestablished via a consent decree in January 2022 by order of the state Supreme Court. The court’s ruling came after a disagreement between the City Council and Sarno about the commission’s reinstatement which caused the council to pursue a legal resolution.
While in place for more than a year and a half, however, the board has struggled to gain traction. In September 2022, members expressed frustration during a City Council Public Safety Subcommittee meeting at which then-chair Gary Berte cited a lack of resources, such as technology and inaccessible contact information, as hindrances to their process.
City Council members also aired concerns around several issues regarding the board in October 2022, such as the implementation of the Department of Justice’s consent decree, systematic concerns within the Springfield Police Department and equitable legal representation for the Police Commission. Members of the Police Commission were not present for this meeting.
Criticism further mounted in November 2022 when the commission voted 2-1 to reinstate patrolmen Christian Cicero and Daniel Billingsley, who were convicted earlier that year for an off-duty assault and battery outside of Nathan Bill’s Bar and Restaurant in 2015. The decision was made despite two members of the five-person commission being unavailable.
City Council President Jesse Lederman and Sarno both expressed their disapproval of the Police Commission’s decision.
Councilor Victor Davila, chair of the council’s Public Safety Subcommittee, further expressed frustration with the Police Commission at a December subcommittee meeting — a meeting that commissioners were asked to attend to discuss procedures and Open Meeting Law compliance.
At that meeting, Deputy City Solicitor Kathleen Breck told the Public Safety Subcommittee that City Solicitor John Payne is working with the Police Commissioner’s on establishing a manual of procedures.
New member, board elections
The Board of Police Commissioners welcomed a fifth member, Christy Torres, during its Aug. 9 meeting. Torres was officially appointed on July 14, with a term to expire on April 1, 2024. Torres is the president and CEO of local home initiative.
Torres said she views the Board of Police Commissioners as a way of giving back and another way of being involved in the community.
Following her introduction, the commissioners elected a new chair and vice chair.
Johnson made a motion to appoint Tranghese as chair. The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
Commissioner Madeline Fernandez then made a motion to appoint Johnson as vice chair, to which it was also seconded and unanimously approved.
The next Board of Police Commissioners meeting will take place on Sept. 13.