Combined Sources
(Northampton, MA) — A potentially key component in Northampton’s police reform efforts could receive some funding from the state. Senator Jo Comerford has announced that the recently-approved Senate budget contains a $150,000 dollar earmark for Northampton’s proposed “Department of Community Care,” a new independent department which would see trained personnel and counselors respond to nonviolent police calls. The Senate earmark, if approved, would supplement an appropriation already in the Northampton city budget recently filed by outgoing Mayor David Narkewicz.