SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) – Springfield’s mayor and police commissioner say the city is creating a 41-member police unit to address crime in the neighborhood where a massive resort casino is being built.
Masslive.com reports that Mayor Domenic Sarno and Commissioner John Barbieri unveiled the plan Thursday at a meeting of citizens in the city’s South End, where MGM is building a nearly $1 billion casino on more than 14 acres.
The officers in the unit will receive training in C3 anti-gang policing, as well as de-escalation and a peer intervention program designed to help officers stop police misconduct.
Officers will patrol on foot, by bicycle and on motorcycles.
Casino officials are involved in the public safety discussions.
The casino is expected to draw 25,000 visitors per day when it opens in September 2018.
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Information from: The Springfield (Mass.) Republican
