Springfield Police Superintendent Larry Akers was sworn into office at a ceremony on April 10 at Symphony Hall.
Reminder Publishing file photo
SPRINGFIELD — The state Legislature, including the entire Springfield delegation, approved a home rule petition that will allow Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers to remain in the position until the age of 70.
Normally, state law requires heads of police and fire departments to retire at 65 years of age. Springfield lawmakers, led by Bud Williams (D-Springfield), co-sponsored the special legislation that would allow Akers, who turns 65 in December, to continue to serve.
In a statement sent to Reminder Publishing, Akers said, “I am looking forward to continuing to work with all the public safety partners and the community over the next five years and doing the best we can possibly do to make the city the best it can be.
“I’d like to express my continued gratitude to Mayor [Domenic] Sarno for his support and his confidence in me in selecting me to serve as Springfield’s first black top cop. I want to thank state Rep. Bud Williams, who was the lead sponsor on this bill, and Sen. Adam Gomez for taking the baton and seeing the legislation through in the Senate. Thank you to the entire delegation for your support of this legislation.
“I am honored and humbled by the this show of support and am committed to building a bridge between the police and the community.”
Supported by both the state House and Senate, including state Sens. Gomez (D-Springfield) and Jake Oliveira (D-Ludlow), and state Reps. Williams, Carlos González (D-Springfield), Orlando Ramos (D-Springfield), Angelo Puppolo (D-Springfield), Brian Ashe (D-Longmeadow), the bill was awaiting final approval from Gov. Maura Healey as of press time.
“As the lead sponsor of the legislation I think it’s a great day for the city of Springfield and will go a long way to foster police community relationships,” Williams told Reminder Publishing.
While the bill allows Akers to continue working past his 65th birthday, his pension entitlement upon retirement will remain at the rate it would have been had he retired at 65.Williams’ original bill did not include the pension cap and had to be revised with the cap when concerns from state officials were voiced.
Sarno stated, “I want to thank state Rep. Bud Williams, who was the lead sponsor, and the entire Springfield state delegation for their efforts in passing our local home rule legislation for Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers. This significant piece of legislation will allow Superintendent Akers to serve beyond the standard retirement age of 65, and allow him to continue to advance all of the positive enhancements and initiatives within our Springfield Police Department that keeps our community safe while building upon our police community relations … Superintendent Akers is looking forward to continuing to work together with all of our public safety partners and groups, and leading the brave and dedicated men and women of our Springfield Police Department over the next five years.”
Gomez’s office called the process “a collaborative effort between the mayor, City Council and the state Legislature” that will allow him to continue to serve without interruption.
“I am proud to join my colleagues in the Springfield delegation to pass this home rule petition and cement Larry Akers’ appointment as Superintendent of the Springfield Police Department,” said Gomez in a press release. “I look forward to collaborating with Superintendent Akers and the Springfield Police Department on our shared vision of keeping our community safe and rebuilding an enduring trust between the police and the community in the city of Springfield.”
Sarno announced his selection of Akers as the replacement for now-retired Police Superintendent Cheryl Clapprood in January. Clapprood officially retired at 65 years old in April and Akers was sworn in.
Akers has had a 38-year career with the department including overseeing the city’s Metro Unit; being a supervisor in the Special Victims Unit and being a member of the Traffic and Motorcycle Unit. He was the first supervisor for the Gaming Enforcement Unit.
He is a graduate of the High School of Commerce, earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and is a recipient of the Frank Murphy Medal of Valor.
