NORTHAMPTON — Massachusetts Senate President Stanley Rosenberg weighed in on the now controversial “High-Five Friday” initiative Wednesday, telling the Boston Herald he was “puzzled” by its suspension.
“I was really puzzled by that, really puzzled,” the Amherst Democrat told the Herald. “I mean, basically, good policing depends on a foundation of trust, between the people and the police officers, and in order for them to do their job, they need to have the trust and the confidence of the people in the community.”
The Northampton Police Department began sending officers to visit local elementary schools in early December. While there, they gave students high-fives. Organizers saw it an easy community outreach tactic.
But complaints followed from parents troubled by what they described as a lack of consultation beforehand and out of concern that students may be disturbed by police presence at area schools. Officials put the program on hold indefinitely last week, sparking a dust-up on social media and attracting national media attention.
“It’s so interesting how often adults sort of project their problems and their whatevers onto the children as opposed to just letting things sort out naturally,” Rosenberg, whose district includes Northampton, told the Herald. “There isn’t a child getting off that bus who shouldn’t learn and understand that the police are there to help. And if there is a problem in a particular family, then there are ways for the family and the police and others to be helpful to bridge that gap.”
Rosenberg later told the Gazette that visits from police, firefighters, doctors and other professionals were common when he was a schoolchild — and considered important.
“You learned and you became acquainted with the role of people in society,” he said.
In his interview with the Herald, Rosenberg also praised Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz, who has voiced support for Police Chief Jody Kasper and Superintendent John Provost as the two work out a possible alternative program.
“The mayor, he did the right thing,” Rosenberg said. “He made a public statement immediately that he supported both the superintendent and the police chief because this is well-intentioned.”
Rosenberg told reporters he planned to discuss the issue with Kasper, but had yet to do so because of scheduling conflicts.
He also declined to pass judgment on the decision to cancel the program, saying that he needed more information about the situation before taking a stance.
In principle, Rosenberg supports the program, though he said he understands “transparency and engagement” concerns parents may have about the outreach effort.
“I totally get that,” he said. “But the fundamental idea it seems like is not a bad idea.”
Jack Suntrup can be reached at jsuntrup@gazettenet.com.