Springfield City Council OKs hiring of retired cops for road jobs

SPRINGFIELD -- The City Council gave its approval Monday for the Police Department to hire back some retired officers for extra-duty details such as road construction jobs. The proposal now needs approval from the state.

The council vote was unanimous after Deputy Police Chief Cheryl Clapprood said there was a critical need for the officers due to a great volume of requests for the police details from utility companies and private vendors.

The department will be very selective in the retirees chosen, focusing on those with "pristine" service records, Clapprood said. She said that residency in Springfield will also be a priority in hiring, but not a requirement.

During a meeting of the council's Public Safety Committee, Clapprood said that under the act, the retired officers will be sworn in as special officers, and they will have police powers. All details are paid by the companies that ask for the officers, not the city, officials said. Officers who work details are paid $46.37 per hour under a union contract, according to the Police Department.

The jobs will initially be filled by current police officers and supervisors, and the retirees will get any remaining jobs, Clapprood said.

The officers chosen must be under age 65, and must be retired less than five years to avoid the need for full academy training, Clapprood said. The officers will receive recertification in firearms and lifesaving skills, and will carry a gun and have arrest powers, she said.

The special act now needs approval from the state Legislature and Gov. Charlie Baker, but the Police Department will launch the application process immediately as a result of council approval, Clapprood said.

There is a shortage of officers for extra details partly because of the improved economy and a high volume of construction in the city, Clapprood said. The problem is most acute in the spring and summer months, but there also has been difficulty filling police details for the Bright Nights holiday display at Forest Park, she said.

In addition, the department is struggling with high attrition, losing 142 officers to retirement in the past three years, Clapprood said. Councilor Justin Hurst, chairman of the Public Safety Committee, said he did not realize how high attrition had become.

When considering the shortage, and the volume of "sorely needed" details, Hurst said, the plan to hire retired officers who have clean records makes sense for the city and for the retirees.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.