U.S. Department
of Justice
U.S. v. Springfield Police Department and City of Springfield
Case No. 22-cv-30043-KAR
On April 13, 2018, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts and the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division (“United States”) initiated an investigation of the Narcotics Bureau of the Springfield Police Department pursuant to the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994.
On July 8, 2020, the United States announced findings that officers in the Narcotics Bureau, which has since been renamed the Firearms Investigation Unit, engaged in a pattern or practice of excessive force that deprived individuals of their rights under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
On April 13, 2022, the parties filed a Settlement Agreement, in the form of a proposed consent decree, that would resolve the United States’ findings. The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts approved the Agreement and entered it as a court-enforceable order on April 29, 2022.
Under the Agreement, the Springfield Police Department will improve policies and training related to officers’ use of force. These improvements will ensure that officers avoid force whenever possible through the use of de-escalation tactics, that officers know when force can and cannot be used and that officers report all instances where force is used. In addition, the Springfield Police Department will provide better supervision to officers and improve internal investigations of complaints of officer misconduct. When officers violate use-of-force policies, the decree will ensure that the Springfield Police Department holds officers accountable.
Upcoming Events
April 11, 2024 at 3:00 pm – Status conference before Magistrate Judge Robertson. Hampshire Courtroom in the U.S. District Court (300 State Street, Springfield, MA 01105).
July 17, 2024 at 3:00 pm – Status conference before Magistrate Judge Robertson. Hampshire Courtroom in the U.S. District Court (300 State Street, Springfield, MA 01105).
You may register for remote proceedings up to two days in advance on the U.S. District Court website.
Deadlines in Implementation Timeline
Upcoming deadlines in the implementation of the Settlement Agreement are outlined in the document titled “First Year Compliance Evaluator Plan” linked in the Important Documents section below.
Feedback
If you would like to provide feedback on the implementation of the Agreement, please contact USAMA.CivilRights@usdoj.gov.