SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Police Department and Hampden County Sheriff’s office are partnering on a new initiative that brings an increased police presence to Union Station.
According to Police Superintendent Lawrence Akers, the Safe Travels Initiative Task Force will provide an “enhanced presence at the station, both inside and out.”
He added that the partnership will work closely with the facility’s tenants and management to help deter crime and respond to any incidents.
“While Union Station is usually very busy, with school starting, and the Big E and enshrinement this month, it will get busier than normal,” said Ryan Walsh, the public information officer and media relations specialist for SPD. “We wanted to provide an enhanced police presence so that all our visitors and residents who travel through Union Station feel safe.”
According to Walsh, the new initiative was partially created because of an increase in calls for service since December. In the three months of summer alone, Walsh said officers responded to approximately 400 calls for service, “including, but not limited to, ambulance assists, well-being checks, disturbances, assaults, overdoses, trespasses and psychiatric behavior calls.”
The new initiative means that visitors of the station will see more officers and sheriff’s deputies present on a daily basis, according to Walsh.
He shared that regular park and walk-ins completed by Metro Unit officers will continue around the facility, along with any other previous efforts that occur during the station’s busiest times.
“For those traveling through Union Station, they can expect to see a larger police presence in and around Union Station, including throughout the main concourse, busway, parking lot and parking garage, especially during the busiest hours of travel,” Walsh said. “The Springfield Metro Unit will continue to support this new Safe Travels Initiative Task Force. We are prioritizing passenger safety, tenant safety, visitor safety and employee safety.”
According to the city, police officers and sheriff’s deputies will work closely with the Springfield Redevelopment Authority, the owner of the property, on this new initiative. The partnership will also collaborate with the facility manager, Appleton Corporation, as well as Amtrak and the various tenants that reside in the station.
In a statement, Mayor Domenic Sarno said the multi-agency collaboration is a continuation of the city’s efforts to enhance public safety, hospitality and economic development opportunities in Springfield.
“This new Safe Travels Initiative, a multi-agency and collaborative partnership, will not only help to enhance Union Station and make it a welcoming and safe place for the tenants and their employees, but also for the thousands of visitors that go through the doors every day for either travel, work or to enjoy the various amenities for learning or commerce,” Sarno said.
Union Station, located at 55 Frank B. Murray St., beckons 200,000 visitors a month and almost 3 million visitors a year. Aside from providing amenities like Subway, Dunkin’ and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, it also serves as the city’s major transportation hub for rail and bus service.
The station also includes the “Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence” on the first floor of the facility. Introduced late last year, the center provides cybersecurity training to those looking to enter that field.
The city hopes that the Safe Travels Initiative Task Force will keep people safe as they interact with the station’s many functions.
“Union Station is one of the crown jewels of Springfield, and ensuring that it remains safe and welcoming for everyone is a priority we proudly share with our partners at City Hall and the Springfield Police Department,” said Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi. “This initiative builds upon the numerous partnerships we have forged with the city to improve quality of life and public safety across Springfield.”
