Westfield Police working closely with businesses

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - The Westfield Police Department is launching a new program to make their downtown safer.

The department's community police force already covers several districts, but they found there was a disconnect with downtown businesses.

They've created a new section so that one police officer will be solely dedicated to working within the business district and getting to know the people who live and work there.

“To have them help us identify what the issues are downtown and figure out where we should be spending our efforts to make it a safer community and a safer place people want to bring their families,” said Westfield Police Sgt. Eric Hall.

The longest-serving community police officer will be assigned there full time, to make the partnership as consistent as possible.