SPRINGFIELD — Federal officials are reexamining the four-year consent decree directing reforms at the Springfield Police Department after an executive order by President Donald J. Trump signaled the mandates are no longer a priority.
Five years ago, the U.S. Department of Justice released a scathing review of the department’s narcotics unit, which concluded officers routinely and unnecessarily roughed up suspects.
The investigation into the Springfield Police Department’s use of force was the only federal investigation of its kind during Trump’s first term in office. When Joe Biden took office, Springfield was one of the first communities to enter into a consent decree over its policing practices.
“The executive order is under review,” said Christina Sterling, spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, last week. “We have no further comment.”
Trump issued an executive order April 28 that aimed to “unleash high-impact local police forces.” The order directed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to review every federal consent decree involving local law enforcement with the goal to “modify, rescind, or move to conclude such measures that unduly impede the performance of law enforcement functions.”
Trump’s order continued, in part: “Safe communities rely on the backbone and heroism of a tough and well-equipped police force. My Administration is steadfastly committed to empowering State and local law enforcement to firmly police dangerous criminal behavior and protect innocent citizens.”
Meanwhile, four attorneys in the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division who had been working with Springfield regarding the consent decree are gone or going from their posts, according to police sources. Sterling disputes that any staffers have been reassigned, however.
Police and city sources, who were not authorized to speak officially, say three of four of the members of the “team” assigned to Springfield have retreated in some way, and a fourth is not far behind.
Springfield City Solicitor Stephen J. Buoniconti said municipal officials have been trying to sort out what the future of the consent decree means, given the gutting of the DOJ civil rights team.
“We’re very close to wrapping this up,” Buoniconti said.
The decree is still in place, yielding body-worn cameras, greater reporting methods and other checks and balances in police work, such as a court-appointed independent monitor.
Most of the mandates in the consent decree have been fulfilled. The last reform will be more one-on-one field training for new recruits, said one police official.
A hearing before a magistrate judge is set for May 21.
