After weekends marred with violent crime, the city has fought back through a series of targeted operations and saturation patrols.
The effort was expanded Wednesday with the introduction of four officers who were rehired with an eye toward reinstating walking beats in four of the city’s troubled neighborhoods.
Mayor Will Flanagan, joined by Police Chief Daniel Racine and Police Association President Michael Perreira, introduced four officers who returned to the department after being laid off two years following the implementation of mid-year 9c budget cuts. The four officers are returning to their jobs after Flanagan reallocated Community Development Block Grant funds used to operate the Community Learning Center at the Carlton Viveiros Elementary School. The $190,000 CLC allocation will be added to $243,000 of the funding already earmarked for police in fiscal 2011.
Being brought back to the force are officers Luis Duarte, Jonathan Ferreira, Anthony Pridgen and Jason Resendes. The four [...]

Original post by Will Richmond