John Smith

Review of Massachusetts department of st...

Horrible experience with this police department. ...

Horrible experience with this police department. Refused to come to the scene of the hit and run "because we are dealing with a roll over" and therefore I should come down to the station. When I got down to the station, the officer accused me of lying and said that "for all I know you could have taken a hammer to your car." I had the license plate number of the people that hit me and just the most basic minimum police investigation could collaborate my story (matching the damage on the vehicle that hit me, against the damage to my car). Instead they wanted to give me legal advice, mainly, I can file a complaint on my own at the clerks office. But I can't file a complaint without a name and address, which I don't have. I bet if I was white they would have helped me. Then police wonder why people hate them. Every time they treat someone like this, they make policing more dangerous for all police officers. Instead of building bridges, they selectively enforce laws, helping some, and leaving others without remedy. Ultimately, the overall message that I got from the Massachusetts State Police was: If you need help in the Springfield area, don't bother calling us, you are on your own.