Grant to bolster police efforts
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
By MIKE PLAISANCE
[email protected]
SPRINGFIELD - Police Chief Paula C. Meara, in a City Hall meeting yesterday, told city councilors and residents concerned about recent homicides that state approval to spend a $450,000 grant will increase police presence on the streets.
The added presence will let police attack hot crime spots, according to Meara and Police Commission Chairman Timothy J. Ryan, who was reached by telephone after the meeting.
The money - the first of two, $450,000 payments the city is expecting from the state - will be used primarily to pay officers overtime, Ryan said. The second $450,000 is due to come in the fiscal year beginning July 1.
More officers will work the busy overnight and weekend shifts and the Detective and Narcotics bureaus will be augmented, Ryan and Meara said.
Meara said she learned only yesterday that the city was free to use the state grant, but Ryan said state officials gave approval on Thursday.
Meara faced questions and criticism in the meeting of the City Council Public Health and Safety Committee at City Hall that drew about 20 people.
The city has had five slayings this year. There were 17 last year.
Meara struck two themes in the 90-minute meeting. She said police are working hard and well under tough conditions.
"I want you to know your men and women are out there and they're doing a great job," she said.
She also said the key to rebuilding the city's sense of safety is to restore funding cut from her department during the past few years.
"It's all a matter of money ...," she said.
Councilors Timothy J. Rooke, Domenic J. Sarno and Angelo J. Puppolo Jr. pressed Meara for her immediate plans for fighting crime.
Many people, Rooke said, "believe that we don't have a plan. I know my phones are ringing."
"I'm not being disrespectful," Sarno said. "It just seems that we're not in control of anything ... and we need to get over that hump."
Meara said the approval to use the $450,000 grant means the department can put into action the plan that involves paying officers overtime and bolstering certain shifts. Ryan said later that those efforts can begin immediately.
Also, Meara said, police are making progress. Hundreds of guns have been removed from the streets, for example, she said.
In response to a question from Puppolo, who asked how many officers are needed to guard the cell block, Meara said uniformed personnel are needed for each shift to guard jail cells.
"When you say, 'Get the officers out on the street,' I can't have nobody guarding the cell block," Meara said.
"I just asked you for a number, chief," Puppolo said.
Meara said the cell block requires two to six officers a shift.
Michael G. O'Reilly, local FBI bureau chief, attended the meeting. Resident William G. Conley asked O'Reilly how Springfield compared with other places.
O'Reilly said Springfield has the regular big-city problems, but also an excellent police force.
"The Police Department is truly outstanding. Maybe not perfect, but it's outstanding," O'Reilly said.
Wednesday, March 02, 2005
By MIKE PLAISANCE
[email protected]
SPRINGFIELD - Police Chief Paula C. Meara, in a City Hall meeting yesterday, told city councilors and residents concerned about recent homicides that state approval to spend a $450,000 grant will increase police presence on the streets.
The added presence will let police attack hot crime spots, according to Meara and Police Commission Chairman Timothy J. Ryan, who was reached by telephone after the meeting.
The money - the first of two, $450,000 payments the city is expecting from the state - will be used primarily to pay officers overtime, Ryan said. The second $450,000 is due to come in the fiscal year beginning July 1.
More officers will work the busy overnight and weekend shifts and the Detective and Narcotics bureaus will be augmented, Ryan and Meara said.
Meara said she learned only yesterday that the city was free to use the state grant, but Ryan said state officials gave approval on Thursday.
Meara faced questions and criticism in the meeting of the City Council Public Health and Safety Committee at City Hall that drew about 20 people.
The city has had five slayings this year. There were 17 last year.
Meara struck two themes in the 90-minute meeting. She said police are working hard and well under tough conditions.
"I want you to know your men and women are out there and they're doing a great job," she said.
She also said the key to rebuilding the city's sense of safety is to restore funding cut from her department during the past few years.
"It's all a matter of money ...," she said.
Councilors Timothy J. Rooke, Domenic J. Sarno and Angelo J. Puppolo Jr. pressed Meara for her immediate plans for fighting crime.
Many people, Rooke said, "believe that we don't have a plan. I know my phones are ringing."
"I'm not being disrespectful," Sarno said. "It just seems that we're not in control of anything ... and we need to get over that hump."
Meara said the approval to use the $450,000 grant means the department can put into action the plan that involves paying officers overtime and bolstering certain shifts. Ryan said later that those efforts can begin immediately.
Also, Meara said, police are making progress. Hundreds of guns have been removed from the streets, for example, she said.
In response to a question from Puppolo, who asked how many officers are needed to guard the cell block, Meara said uniformed personnel are needed for each shift to guard jail cells.
"When you say, 'Get the officers out on the street,' I can't have nobody guarding the cell block," Meara said.
"I just asked you for a number, chief," Puppolo said.
Meara said the cell block requires two to six officers a shift.
Michael G. O'Reilly, local FBI bureau chief, attended the meeting. Resident William G. Conley asked O'Reilly how Springfield compared with other places.
O'Reilly said Springfield has the regular big-city problems, but also an excellent police force.
"The Police Department is truly outstanding. Maybe not perfect, but it's outstanding," O'Reilly said.