A city councilor in Springfield, Massachusetts is calling for the troubled police department to become nationally accredited.
City Councilor Jesse Lederman said pursuing independent accreditation would announce to the public and rank-and-file officers that it is a “new day” at the Springfield Police Department.
"It is a coveted process that is referred to as the gold standard in public safety," said Lederman.
The police department has been under a cloud of several scandals, brutality lawsuits, and an ongoing U.S. Justice Department civil rights investigation.
The former police commissioner abruptly retired last month. Acting Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood said there will be zero tolerance for misconduct.
She moved this week to fire an officer who has been on leave since last year after his indictment on multiple child rape charges.
Mayor Domenic Sarno said the police department was moving "in the direction" of accreditation by retaining the services last year of the Police Education Research Forum to recommend policy changes.
A report from the organization is expected to be delivered this month.
