PBA Vote Overwhelmingly Shows Confidence in Captain Davis

PBA Local #76, the police union that represents Springfield's force, has undertaken a vote of its ranks to determine whether there was confidence in police Captain Peter Davis's ability to lead the department. The answer was overwhelmingly yes, with 33 for and one against. 

Last month, the Prosecutor's office assumed control of Springfield's police department after Davis, the highest-ranking member of the force, announced his retirement from the force and resignation from his leadership position. Davis's resignation came after a much-discussed executive meeting discussion of Davis's future with the forcewhere the Township Committee declined to name Davis acting chief. He later returned to the department. 

The vote contrasts a similar survey of opinion conducted in 2009 where the department overwhelmingly turned in votes of no confidence in unpopular police chief William Chisholm.

The PBA's full statement is below. 

------------------------------------------------------------------

In September of 2009, the members of P.B.A. Local #76 took a Vote of No Confidence to show our dissatisfaction with the management of the Department.  In June of 2010, we found ourselves with no management in place, which forced the Union County Prosecutor's Office to take over the Springfield Police Department.

Recently there have been statements made about the causes of the positive changes within the department since Capt. Davis was made "Officer-in-Charge" and others implying we may be a department divided.

Our mission is not to endorse an individual for a position, but to ensure when positions are vacant they be filled.  However, the statements made to the press and actions taken by the governing body are painting a misleading picture of the department and we wanted our position to be clear to the public.

In an emergency meeting of our membership on July 14th, a vote began to show there was confidence in Davis's ability to run the department.  The vote was held anonymously over 48 hours to ensure all members had an opportunity to be heard and the results were overwhelmingly in favor of Davis.  The final vote was 33-1 in favor of Davis's ability to run the department.

There are several vacancies within our department at the management level as well as a growing need for new hires.  We have been pushing for both over the last several months but the Township Committee has been reluctant to make changes until they have the opportunity to hire a Public Safety Director.

It has been reported a Public Safety Director will be starting in the next few weeks.  We have reservations over the need to create a new position to oversee Public Safety when there are several vacancies in both the Police and Fire Departments and the possibility of having a political influence within the departments.  However, we do look forward to meeting with the Director when they start and working together towards a common goal.

The P.B.A. will continue to professionally move the department forward and we look forward to being a part of providing the level of services the people of Springfield deserve.