A new police commissioner takes charge of law enforcement in Springfield, Massachusetts this weekend. Next to the mayor, it is the highest profile job in a city where public safety consistently ranks as a top issue.
William Fitchet is retiring Saturday after a 42- year career with the Springfield Police Department, the last six years spent as commissioner. He will be succeeded by John Barbieri – currently a deputy chief and a 26-year veteran of the department -- who like Fitchet worked his way up the ranks, but must now work for the support of police officers, politicians and the public.
Fitchet, then a deputy chief, was hired as police commissioner in 2008 by a state-appointed finance control board that was running Springfield at the time. Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, then in his first term, implored the board to give Fitchet the job over two finalists from outside the city.
Sarno said his faith in Fitchet paid off.
" He led all public safety officials through the darkest time in the city's history: the tornado, the freak October snowstorm and the gas explosion. Many times when we were together he would say to me, ' don't worry mayor we'll get our arms around this.'"
Sarno and Fitchet have a close relationship that was evident during a retirement ceremony for the outgoing police commissioner Thursday in city hall. The two exchanged some good-natured ribbing during the program that at times took on the tone of a retirement roast.
Fitchet, who was praised by fellow law enforcement officers at Thursday’s ceremony as a “cop’s cop,” said the support of Sarno during his tenure as police commissioner has been invaluable.
" The mayor never micro-managed the police department. He let myself and the command staff run the department. He wanted to be kept informed, which we tried to do. He is a good man to work for. He is an honest man and I have respect for him."
Although there were no layoffs of uniformed police officers during Fitchet’s time as commissioner, the ranks were reduced by retirements and the elimination of vacant positions as a result of recession-forced budget cuts.
" It is a department that is well-educated and motivated. It is a department that has embraced training and technology. If that is my legacy than I am proud of it."
As commissioner, Fitchet created several special units in the department including one to investigate sexual and domestic violence. An ordinance squad was created to respond to so-called quality-of-life complaints such as noise, vandalism, and speeding in residential neighborhoods. A street crimes unit was reactivated and efforts were made to increase police visibility downtown with officers patrolling the streets on foot and bicycles.
The incoming commissioner, Barbieri, said he knows Sarno and Fitchet are close. He said he hopes his actions as commissioner will earn the trust of the mayor and support of the public.
" The mayor knows me. I am a pretty humble guy. I hope to establish my working relationship with the mayor through my deeds. I hope to be the workhorse the city needs and to earn the mayor's trust and confidence."
Sarno selected Barbieri to become police commissioner after interviewing him and the department’s two other current deputy chiefs. The mayor blocked efforts by the city council to put the department under the control of police commission—an appointed board of civilians.
Barbieri has touted a five-point plan for fighting crime that he said will make the police more pro-active. He has also vowed to expand an anti-gang initiative run in conjunction with the Massachusetts State Police that has proved successful in reducing serious crime in part of one neighborhood.
Springfield police say the city’s crime rate has dropped for three straight years, in keeping with a national trend. But spurts of violence leave the perception the city is unsafe.
Just hours after Fitchet’s retirement ceremony, two people were wounded outside a Burger King restaurant in a daylight drive-by shooting. Five people were shot in Springfield this week, one fatally. Police blame the majority of violent crime in Springfield on gangs.
