Latest news with #HampdenCountySheriff'sDepartment
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Policy changes at Hampden County jail precede new $600K settlement in inmate's death
SPRINGFIELD — As part of a settlement heading off a trial, the Hampden County Sheriff's Department has promised the family of a woman who died in its custody that it would make changes to how its jails provide health care. In 2018, Madelyn Linsenmeir's death gained national attention after her family published an obituary detailing her opioid addiction. They argued in court documents that Linsenmeir told police officers she was experiencing chest pain when she was arrested in Springfield, but she did not receive health care for four days while in jail. It was only when she was found unresponsive in a cell that she was taken to the hospital, her family said. She died on Oct. 7, 2018. She was 30. Lawyers for Linsenmeir's family said they recently signed a settlement agreement with the Sheriff's Department that, among its provisions, calls for changes to how medical complaints are recorded during the prisoner intake process, required wellness checks and increased access to medication to treat opioid addiction. 'My sister didn't die of substance use disorder. She died of bias,' said Linsenmeir's sister, Kate O'Neill. 'It was really hard to watch her struggle for treatment for so long.' Among the evidence to be presented at a trial that was scheduled to begin in March: Days before her death, a corrections officer carried a sickened Linsenmeir up a flight of stairs at the county's women's jail in Chicopee. She had a heart ailment (endocarditis, or a heart infection) brought on by drug use. The civil lawsuit filed in federal court argued that both the Springfield Police Department and officials at the jail ignored her pleas, instead scolding her for being addicted to opioids. The settlement, which came together on the eve of trial, also includes $600,000 that will be placed in a trust for Linsenmeir's son, who was about 4 years old at the time of his mother's death. The settlement with the Sheriff's Department follows a $900,000 settlement with the city of Springfield. Sheriff's Department spokesperson Robert Rizzuto said in a statement that the office already had made the policy changes to comply with updated guidelines recently issued by the federal Bureau of Justice Assistance. 'While we cannot comment on the specifics of any individual case,' Rizzuto said, the Sheriff's Department 'remains committed to providing the highest quality health care to everyone in our custody, especially when it comes to addiction-related services.' Rizzuto added that Sheriff Nicolas Cocchi expressed his condolences to Linsenmeir's family, and that the office was pleased that 'a lengthy and emotional trial' was avoided. Cocchi became sheriff in 2017. Attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Prisoners' Legal Services of Massachusetts and Boston-based firm Goulston & Storrs represented the Linsenmeir estate in the litigation. David Milton, an attorney with Prisoners' Legal Services, said the litigation helped shed light on the state of health care in Massachusetts' prisons and jails. 'It is long past time for jails to recognize that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing,' Milton said in a statement. 'Denying proper medical care to incarcerated people living with substance use disorder is cruel and unlawful.' O'Neill said her sister had struggled with opioid addiction since her teens. 'I truly believe Maddy would be alive today if she was not arrested in Springfield, Massachusetts,' O'Neill said. As they announced the settlement, Madelyn Linsenmeir's family released a statement describing how she, a Vermont resident, enjoyed spice cake with maple frosting, was a voracious viewer of the animated sitcom 'Family Guy,' and for her, a day well spent was walking in the woods with her son. 'But what's most important about Maddie is that like every woman currently incarcerated at HCSD's jail, she was someone's daughter,' the statement said. 'She was a mom, sister, aunt, niece, partner and best friend.' Muffin thief or target of retaliation because of her disability? MGM cocktail server sues after firing Top-rated private high schools in Springfield, MA metro area More details emerge from hazmat incident at Hayden Corp. on Monday morning Three WMass drug investigations net 45 guns, 52 arrests, heroin, fentanyl Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Family of Chicopee man missing in Conn. River hopeful he will be found
HOLYOKE — An extensive search continues unabated for a Chicopee man who was swept into the Connecticut River while fishing Monday evening. Volunteers from near and far having been combing the shoreline for Nicklas Delisle, 27, who was fishing with his girlfriend when their kayak got flipped upside down. 'I got a frantic call from Mya at around 7:30 p.m. on Monday night,' Nevin Bastin, Delisle's uncle, told The Republican on Wednesday afternoon. Mya Ballard, 23, Delisle's girlfriend, was rescued by a passerby. 'It took all of the rescuer's strength and all of (Mya's) strength to pull her out of the river,' Bastin said, 'and she's a strong swimmer.' Ballard told him that there were a few fishermen in the area, when Delisle disappeared around a bend, Bastin said. 'She asked if anyone had a life vest or rope or anything they could throw out to him,' he said. He urges anyone thinking of going out on the river to wear life preservers. 'Life preservers are more comfortable now than they ever were before,' he said. 'Please wear one before you go out.' Since Monday night, the Holyoke Fire Department and emergency services from 15 area departments have been searching for Delisle. 'At this point, it's about searching every nook and cranny of the river,' said Capt. David Rex of the Holyoke Fire Department. On the river Wednesday afternoon, officers with the Hampden County Sheriff's Department's Marine Unit readied a boat to set off their search. With a looming nor'easter expected to hit later Wednesday, the family understands that the search might be paused, Bastin said. For now, they are still hopeful. 'We are so grateful to the person who rescued Mya and to the people who are showing up to use their free time to find Nicklas,' he said. Target of Springfield eminent domain, 'Chicken Building' owners cry foul in court Would-be Springfield carjacker tried to take off with child still in car Life with shot at parole for Springfield man who gunned down mother of his children in 2019 Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity challenges community to participate in Women Build 2025 Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
City of Springfield will celebrate its 389th birthday with the World's Largest Pancake Breakfast on Saturday
SPRINGFIELD, Mass (WWLP)- The World's Largest Pancake Breakfast has grown so much that preparing the food has to start a few days ahead. 'It's really about keeping the tradition alive,' said Sheriff Nick Cocchi, Hampden County Sheriff's Department. To help turn more than 1,000 pounds of soft and soggy bacon into delicious and crispy bacon, donated by Smithfield Foods, 2017 Honorary Chair, Sheriff Nick Cocchi, and the President of MGM Springfield, Louis Theros, joined 2025 Honorary Chair, Springfield Fire Commissioner B. J. Calvi. Last year, nearly 12,000 people attended the Pancake Breakfast. Organizers say this year, they're expecting more people, more bacon, pancakes, milk, coffee, and juice. 'We'll be making the batter tomorrow, we've got well over a thousand gallons of milk and juice and so forth. So we're just hoping everyone turns out because we do it for them,' said Judy Matt, President of the Spirit of Springfield. Once the food is ready, Main Street in Downtown Springfield will be closed off from 8 am to 11 am on Saturday. It will be filled with cooking tents and thousands of tables for anyone to enjoy breakfast and socialize. So far, 65,000 free tickets have been given to children at local said it's the perfect way to catch up with others, connect with local officials, and see what's new in Springfield. 'Lots of the new shops, what's going on, construction, how they've done with Court Square, I think it's exciting for them to not just be here for the Pancake breakfast but see what's happening in Springfield,' said Louis Theros, MGM Springfield President. To purchase tickets or learn more about the Pancake Breakfast, visit or contact Marie Angelides at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Local officials run drop-off sites on National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – Saturday was National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, and community members in western Massachusetts spent the day safely disposing of unused medications. UMass Amherst hosts 14th annual 5K Dash and Dine Law enforcement officials ran drop-off sites across the region, where they collected medications that residents no longer needed. One of the many drop-off sites was at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee. The Hampden County Sheriff's Department also lent a hand on Saturday and managed to fill a truck with expired and unused prescriptions. 'Just to get the drugs out of people's homes, unused drugs, make sure they're disposed of correctly, that's the main goal, and awareness around the issue,' said Tony Simmons, Director of Community Safety and Outreach for the Hampden County District Attorney's Office. All of the unused medications collected will be sent to a disposal site in Connecticut. National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will be observed again this year on the last Saturday of October. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Annual Women in Criminal Justice Conference in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Hampden County Sheriff's Department hosted its 28th annual Women in Criminal Justice Conference at the Sheraton in downtown Springfield on Thursday, its largest in its run. This year's theme was 'Strength in Service: Women Redefining Justice and Leadership', celebrating women across all facets of criminal justice and their role in shaping a more inclusive system. Maryland man allegedly paid Massachusetts teen for sex; feds believe others victimized 'Everyone leaves her today energized, feeling respected, feeling appreciated and supported, that's really what today's all about,' Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi told 22News. Women in attendance heard from a panel of women in federal and local law enforcement, including a keynote address from Major Kathryn J. Downey, Troop A Commander for the Massachusetts State Police. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
