Councilor Lederman Issues Statement on Police Commission Ruling

At-Large Springfield City Councilor Jesse Lederman, Vice President of the City Council, issues the following statement regarding today’s ruling by the State Supreme Judicial Court affirming the ordinance requiring appointment of a Board of Police Commissioners:

“The Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling once again makes clear that the Springfield City Council has been acting within our authority in the effort to restore a Board of Police Commissioners in the City of Springfield. Today’s ruling is the end of the line for the false claim that the City Council does not have jurisdiction over the organization of our city government.

This is an important ruling not only regarding future governance of the Springfield Police Department, but also with regard to the separation of powers and the necessary checks and balances within local government.

The establishment of a Board of Police Commissioners is not about any one person or event – it is about creating a fair and transparent system of accountability, professionalism, and checks and balances that the public and members of the department can trust and rely on.

Now is the time to govern. I am hopeful that today’s ruling will resolve this impasse that has been an impediment to progress for too long, and that we can turn the collective efforts of our municipal government and community towards a responsible implementation and the future.“

Councilor Lederman thanks Attorneys Thomas Lesser and Michael Aleo who represented the City Council, and points out that the lawyers retained by the City Council to seek court action on this matter volunteered their services at no cost to the tax-payers.