SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood and other members of his administration presented an update the city has taken to address the concerns of a Department of Justice (DOJ) report about abuses within the Narcotics Bureau of the Springfield Police Department.

Sarno, referring to incidences of violence and other abuses, said, “What has happened in the past, should never have happened.”

In its report the DOJ noted the Narcotics Bureau “engages in a pattern or practice of using excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.”

The report also stated, “The Department of Justice found that the Narcotics Bureau’s pattern or practice of excessive force is directly attributable to systemic deficiencies in policies, which fail to require detailed and consistent use-of-force reporting, and accountability systems that do not provide meaningful reviews of uses of force.”

Sarno added, “Working together with the DOJ and our internal city team, including Judge Roderick Ireland, the city is striving to have the best Police Department possible.”

In his opening remarks, the mayor noted the implementation of body cameras – 340 officers out of 500 are wearing them, including the Narcotics Division – as well as the reallocation of $125,000 to the Office of Racial Equity of the Department of Health and Human Services to better address issues involving the homeless and people with mental health problems.

He also noted Clapprood has “overhauled” the Narcotics Division and is working to establish a use of force policy.

The mayor also expressed hope he and the city council could work together to codify the civilian Community Police Hearing Board (CPHB) allowing for subpoena powers. Members of the council and the mayor have been at odds about the restoration of a new Police Commission to oversee the department.

Clapprood said some of the changes were started prior to the release of the DOJ report.

“It’s been a work in progress and I continue to move forward with some of the recommendations,” she said.

Speaking of the force policy, Clapprood said chokeholds “have been highly last resort.”

She added, “We don’t recommend chokeholds and we never recommended chokeholds. That would be a life or death situation for our officers to utilize that hold and that’s the way we’ve always trained.”

She acknowledged the cooperation of the two police unions in working with her to implement the changes.

The Internal Investigations Unit, currently located at 130 Maple St., will be relocated to 299 Page Blvd., Clapprood said. This unit handles civilian complaints against officers and the commissioner noted there was not adequate and easy parking at the address, as well as more private entrances. The new office will open in November.

The department now has a compliment and complaint form online on its website, she added.

The department is planning to drastically change its record-keeping from moving old files onto microfilm to establishing a new system that would all assembled all of the various reports, photos and elements to a particular incident in one place. Such a system would be great help to the IIU, the city’s Law Department, and courts, she noted.

Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Attorney Talia Gee announced there would be a public forum to discuss some reforms to the Community Police Hearing Board on Sept. 26 at 10:30 a.m.