Why no national search for Springfield Police leader?

The Letter to the Editor below was first published in The Republican on February 1st, 2024. A link to the Letter to the Editor can be found on Masslive.com.

The announcement that Deputy Chief Lawrence Akers will succeed retiring Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood has been met with praise from our community. Having met Mr. Akers myself, I found him to be very impressive.

Given his 38 years in policing, he is well qualified to assume the position. He will become the first African American head of the Police Department – another reason to celebrate this well-deserved appointment.

However, given SPD’s ongoing oversight from the federal Department of Justice, the choice to forgo a national search for our next superintendent is questionable.

It hampers Mr. Akers’ ability to fully coalesce the support he needs. Following a recent DOJ status update, leaders from the Pioneer Valley Project and Massachusetts Senior Action Council bemoaned the lack of a national search.

A national search that resulted in Mr. Akers’ appointment might have satisfied those groups. The DOJ has yet to weigh in.

Given that Mr. Akers will require local and state approval of a waiver to work past age 65, a national search would have helped ensure that the respective legislatures are on board with the waiver. State representatives and city councilors have rallied around the appointment, but the weight of a national search would have made the process easier.

I wish Mr. Akers the best in his new role. He will be a great role model for a young Police Department that continues to rebuild trust in our community.

I commend Superintendent Clapprood for her decades of service. While she has her critics, I believe she has been a steady hand to steer the ship during a difficult time in Springfield.

JUAN F. LATORRE III, Springfield