The city council in Chicopee, Massachusetts has approved more funding for public safety in response to a pair of shootings in the city’s downtown.
City councilors authorized $700,000 to combat what Chicopee police say is an increase in gang-related crime. $200,000 will be spent to install surveillance cameras at 11 locations in Chicopee Center. The rest of the money will go into a special public safety account that can be used for such things as police overtime.
The money was requested by Mayor Richard Kos.
"This is something we take seriously," Kos said at a news conference last week where he and Police Chief William Jebb announced the crime-fighting initiatives.
Kos met with about two dozen downtown business owners and residents and pledged a swift response after two men were wounded in separate shootings last month.
