On behalf of the taxpayers of the City of Springfield we strongly urge Commissioner Claprood to take immediate action and immediately dismiss disgraced-Detective Gregg Bigda.
Det. Bigda’s reckless behavior has been a stain on our city for far too long and we demand closure. We call for immediate and swift justice. The fact that 6 years later, Bigda continues to receive a paycheck from the city of Springfield is a complete and utter disgrace. As Mayor Sarno said there is no place for him on our police force. Det. Bigda is an embarrassment to our police department, and further delaying disciplinary action against him will only serve as a hinderance to police/community relations. This is not fair to the men and women on our police force who perform their jobs honorably and risk their lives daily in the name of public safety.
The numerous allegations of police misconduct combined with well-documented reports such as the Department of Justice’s review of SPD’s narcotics unit, have contributed to a mistrust that continues to exist in Black and Brown communities today. With time and effort, we strongly believe that it is possible for our community to heal; however, this is only possible by swiftly removing officers like Bigda whose mere presence is damaging to our police department and their reputation. Our officers deserve to work alongside officers they can trust. Our community needs to be able to feel safe when they are calling for the police to show up. This can only be accomplished when justice prevails, and our leaders hold those who tarnish the badge accountable.
Drafted by City Councilor Zaida Govan
Signed on by City Councilors: Justin Hurst, Tracye Whitfield, Victor Davila, Malo brown, City Council Vice Pres. Jesse Lederman, City Council Pres. Marcus Williams.
