Lois Ahrens: Priorities of DA and the NPD — Why?

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Published: 01-29-2025 9:56 PM

I have to wonder why the Northampton Police Department and the Northwestern District Anti-Crime Task Force decided to invest our tax dollars to set up a sting operation entrapping a man who believed he was paying $40 for a sexual encounter [“DPW chief resigned after sex case surfaced,” Jan. 27].

What did the staff time cost in the DA’s office and the NPD to dream this up? What did it cost to place the ad, pay for the apartment, pay the salary of Northampton Detective Benjamin Beaver to arrest the man and South Hadley Police Officer Geraldine Bresnahan to pose as a sex worker, in addition to the court time and the cost of probation?

Is this the kind of “crim fighting” that is a priority for the NPD and the DA? One must assume that Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan agreed to this as did Northampton Police Chief John D. Cartledge. Why?

If they have no better use of our tax dollars, then I suggest budget cuts for the DA and the NPD.

Lois Ahrens

Northampton