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Holyoke council says police have complied with a series of public-safety follow-ups; chief outlines training, staffing and enforcement steps
Summary
After a committee report, the council recorded that orders concerning police academy and traffic/enforcement work had been complied with. Chief Keenan and HR director described changes in swearing-in policy, a new field training program and staffing pressures affecting traffic enforcement.
The Holyoke City Council recorded on May 20 that a set of public-safety orders from the Committee on Public Safety have been complied with, after a committee hearing that included the police chief and the human resources director.
Councilor Jenny Rivera, who presented the committee report, said the HR director and Police Chief confirmed the city adopted a policy of swearing in new officers only after academy graduation to reduce financial exposure. The chief also described a new, 13-week field training program and said recruits must sign agreements to reimburse the city for academy costs if they leave within five years.
The committee discussion also covered quality-of-life enforcement — including trash and overflowing dumpsters — landlord accountability, and expanded enforcement efforts against open-air drug dealing. Chief Keenan described recent targeted enforcement, increased park patrols and participation in a regional ATV unit to address illegal vehicles.
On traffic and speed enforcement, the chief said the department is running speed trailers on a rotating schedule and that Sergeant Bartolo manages placement; councilors asked for clearer public calendars and for double-checks on trailer placement. The chief reported the department is using grants and campaigns to supplement staffing for traffic enforcement but said staffing shortages are a major obstacle: the report noted the department had recently lost multiple officers and faced a wave of retirements, leaving it substantially understaffed. The transcript records the chief saying traffic enforcement activity had increased in the previous two months and included examples of strong citation numbers (one officer wrote 40 citations in a single shift), but that long-term staffing and compensation changes were needed to retain and recruit officers.
Councilors thanked the chief for the briefing. After questions and discussion the council voted that items 7 through 13 from the Committee on Public Safety were "complied with."
