Pittsfield Police Department Implements 'Park and Walk' Initiative

Submitted ContentPrint Story | Email Story
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's been a month since on-duty Pittsfield police officers have incorporated a change in their daily routine: for 15 minutes each shift, officers leave their vehicles and walk a selected portion of their beat.
 
Known as the "park and walk" initiative, officers on the day, evening, and midnight shifts are all expected to attempt one 15-minute walk, said Police Chief Michael Wynn. As of Nov. 26, officers registered a total of 293 park and walk details throughout the city.
 
"The officers can call in anywhere in their sector. If they're off sector, they can stop anywhere downtown," he said. "The expectation is that it should be done once per shift."
 
Mayor Linda Tyer said the exercise serves to enhance the relationships that officers have with community members.
 
"Pittsfield has officers who are committed and dedicated to their profession. We have seen in their interactions ranging with that of our youth to senior citizens that they truly care about the community they serve. I know that this will be one more opportunity to demonstrate that same care and concern."
 
The concept isn't a new one for Pittsfield. In the 1990s, officers regularly engaged in foot patrol, said Wynn. However, the total elimination of funding for community policing in 2007 put a halt to this kind of patrol.
 
In recent years, there have been continuous conversations on community policing in Pittsfield and requests for officers to be assigned to walk patrol – a move that Wynn notes requires added manpower due to the necessary replacement to fulfill the loss of a vehicle patrol. 
 
However, the 15-minute park and walk is feasible for a department which at 87 officers is still understaffed and the plan doesn't require additional funding.
 
"Because we're not taking that resource from the entire shift, everybody can participate to the best of their ability. If they need to revert to their cruiser to address a situation, they can," Wynn said. "Also, the nice part is we are able to operationalize this exercise with zero impact on the budget."
 
Wynn says the initiative has been welcomed by officers. "The reception has been positive," he said.
 
Lt. Matthew Kirchner agrees. 
 
"I like interacting with the public, from business owners to pedestrians. We get to talk to people and listen to their concerns," he said. "I think it's proven to be valuable, given the personnel constraints that we have. We're doing a work-around to make it work for the community."
 
For now, Wynn said the park and walk initiative will continue to be a part of the department's engagement strategy and will be continuously monitored.

Tags: parking,   Pittsfield Police,   police patrols,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories