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Springfield police expand foot‑patrols citywide; plans driven by data and community input
Summary
Police officers described a deployment plan for walking posts across Springfield, citing new officers on the force and a mix of data and community requests; councillors urged including neighborhood associations in planning.
Deputy chiefs and patrol commanders told the Public Safety Committee on June 16 that walking patrols have been expanded from the metro area to other neighborhoods as part of a plan that balances crime data, community concerns and councilor requests.
The update matters to residents because foot patrols are intended as "hospitality patrols" to improve community policing, gather neighborhood intelligence and address quality‑of‑life concerns, officials said.
Deputy Chief (name not specified) said squad captains began deploying walking posts in mid‑May and that the program has been scaled based on staffing. "Most of the walking posts as they're out there is depending upon the staffing because, obviously, we're 9 1 1 driven," the deputy chief said. The deputy chief described specific planned posts in Mason Square along State Street from J and J package store to the Indian Motorcycle building, and another from Indian Motorcycle to Saint James in Bay; other sectors (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Sector H and Sector I) have set posts based on local data.
Committee members noted the walking posts pair with ordinance sweeps and code enforcement. A police official said ordinance teams and code enforcement work with sergeant Catellier to issue violations and identify problems a cruiser cannot see. Councilors and community members praised the police department's presence at recent public events and youth programs and tied part of the city's decline in violent crime to increased community policing and the walking patrols.
Councilor Davila asked that Forest Park neighborhood groups be included when patrols are scheduled in that district. The deputy chief said walking posts are "data driven" but also consider community concerns and councilor input; he agreed to pass Forest Park requests to Deputy Steven Kent, who oversees that area.
No formal action was taken; officers said the schedule depends on staffing and seasonal factors such as vacations and sick time. Officials said the department aims to continue expanding walking posts as newly hired officers become available and to coordinate with neighborhood associations through C3 meetings and other community forums.
