SPRINGFIELD – City Council President James J. Ferrera, raising great concerns about a recent “60 Minutes” news show on television, describing the violent streets in Springfield, said he was “puzzled” why a trio of city police supervisors were so focused on stolen goods and pawn shops at a council meeting Monday. The officers had attended the 7 p.m. meeting...
SPRINGFIELD – City Council President James J. Ferrera, raising great concerns about a recent “60 Minutes” news show on television, describing the violent streets in Springfield, said he was “puzzled” why a trio of city police supervisors were so focused on stolen goods and pawn shops at a council meeting Monday.
The officers had attended the 7 p.m. meeting at City Hall, to discuss the pawn shop issue, but Ferrera refused a request to move them up on the agenda, taking them up last, approximately three hours later.
Ferrera then asked the officers why they were at the meeting so focused on housebreaks, stolen jewelry and pawn shops, when the CBS 60 Minutes program was describing Springfield as one of the most dangerous communities in New England with people driving in the North End with AK-47 weapons strapped to their backs.
“I am just really puzzled by the fact this (pawn shops) is the most pressing issue for the Police Department,” Ferrera said. “60 minutes did a horrible piece on Springfield, a horrible piece. And this (pawn shops) is the most pressing issue for the Police Department.”
The Police Department is petitioning the council to return to a long-term policy of requiring pawn shops and second hand jewelry stores to hold jewelry and gold for 30 days in case some items are stolen. The current 10-day hold, approved by the council in March of 2011, harms their ability to solve the stolen jewelry cases because of inadequate time to investigate, the officers said.
Many of the pawn shop and jewelry business owners, however, said the 30-day hold hurts their business because of the need to sell merchandise more quickly during fluctuating prices for gold and silver. They also questioned if the longer hold actually helps solve crimes.
Ferrera and some business owners said that while Springfield officers seek the 30-day hold, many other communities have much shorter times, or no hold time on used jewelry and gold.
In the days after the council meeting, Ferrera said the 60 Minutes depiction of Springfield, right or wrong, “kills the city of Springfield in the campaign to attract new business and new families.”
“What I was concerned about is the amount of time and resources the Police Department is spending on this one issue when we have individuals riding around in the North End with AK-47s strapped to their back,” Ferrera said.
Councilor Timothy J. Rooke, at last Monday’s meeting, said the officers in attendance were there as a “courtesy” to the City Council to answer questions about the items on the agenda. He said he was sure they had better things to do at that 10 p.m. hour. Rooke added that he was sure the officers had something better to do at that late hour then sit at a “ridiculous” council meeting.
Councilor Thomas Ashe, chairman of the Public Health and Safety Committee, also jumped to the defense of the officers, saying they are focused on violent crime, but also focused on house breaks and thefts that leave hundreds of victims annually.
Ashe said he was “dumbfounded” by some of the questions raised, not naming Ferrera.
Ashe, after conducting a recent subcommittee meeting with business owners, neighborhood council representatives and police officers, joined in a committee vote to recommend a 23-day hold on gold and jewelry, saying it seemed a good compromise.
Ashe said he will meet with the interested parties again and bring the issue back for council review.
Ferrera and Councilor Kateri Walsh said they believe the added subcommittee can take on additional issues related to the issue, including if there some be stronger controls on new pawn shops that seem to be growing in number.