Springfield Parents, School Officials and Police Debate Student Safety

In response to last week’s school shooting in Newtown, CT, Springfield school and safety officials spoke with parents at length about safety procedures at Springfield Schools at the Springfield Schools Board of Education meeting. Chief of Police John Cook joined school officials in a presentation on safety precautions. During the presentation and the question and answer session that followed, parents questioned if the safety measures in place were enough.

After Recount, Margin Closer but Springfield Dems Still Up

After Union County officials recounted the ballots cast by Springfield residents in the 2012 election, the margin of victory for township Democratic Committee member elect Margaret Bandrowski reportedly slipped from five votes to four. 

Sidar Sworn in as Police Officer

Springfield Police Chief John Cook and Mayor Ziad Shehady swore in Ercan Sidar as a Probationary Officer at the Springfield Township Committee meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 19. Since December, 2011, Sidar has served the police department as Special Law Enforcement Officer and volunteered with the township's Auxiliary Police. But he was well known with the town's public safety professionals and volunteers before putting on either uniform. His late father, Tony Sidar, was a longtime, decorated member of Springfield’s Auxiliary police squad. Ercan Sidar started at the special law enforcement officer academy the week after his father died from complications from Leukemia.