Springfield Police Superintendent Lawrence E. Akers, along with Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, held a promotional pinning ceremony for the Department’s four newest supervisors inside Springfield City Hall.
Akers promoted Sgts. Matthew Longo, Dillon Springer, Luis Delgado and Orette Ho Sang.
Born and raised in Springfield, Longo joined the Springfield Police Department in 2007, although he began his career as a Springfield police cadet in 1999.
A graduate of the Pioneer Valley Christian School, he received an associate’s degree from Springfield Technical Community College and is pursuing his bachelor’s degree at American International College.
Longo has earned seven departmental commendations in his career, where he has the past 12 years in the Detective Bureau, the last seven in the Springfield Police Homicide Unit. Longo was pinned by his son, Grady.
Springer began his career at the Springfield Police Department as a cadet in 2015, graduating from the Springfield Police Academy in 2018.
Springer graduated from Springfield Central High School before moving on to Westfield State University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Born, raised and residing in Springfield, Springer comes from a law enforcement family. His father, John Springer III, was a corrections officer for the of Connecticut Department of Corrections from 1986 to 2009 when he retired. Springer III was also an auxiliary police officer in Springfield for six years. After the program was disbanded, Springer III began working as a Special Police Officer in West Springfield until 2023, having worked as an auxiliary/special police officer for more than 40 years. His grandfather, John Springer Jr., who passed away in 2023, was a Springfield Police Auxiliary officer for 20 years, retiring in 1988 as a lieutenant.
Springer is currently a field training officer, where he had the opportunity to work with and train new officers. He has previously worked in the records bureau as a cadet, in the Squad C Uniform Division and most recently in the Squad C Metro Unit. Springer was pinned by his father, John Springer III.
Delgado moved to Springfield move Puerto Rico in 2001. He graduated from the High School of Commerce before furthering his education, first at Springfield Technical Community College where he received an associate’s degree and later at Westfield State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
He graduated from the Springfield Police Academy in 2017 and has worked in the Uniform Division and most recently in the Neighborhood Stabilization Bureau.
A recipient of a Springfield Police Department Commendation Award for his role in saving a newborn’s life who had stopped breathing, Delgado was pinned by his nephew, Brian Vargas.
Born and raised in Jamaica, Ho Sang moved to New Jersey in High School, before landing in Springfield to play soccer at American International College. Ho Sang made second team all-conference as he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and marketing. Ho Sang became a Springfield police officer in 2015.
He was honored at the 35th Stone Soul Festival with a community service award and received a departmental letter of recognition in 2025 for his role in the apprehension of a serial armed robbery suspect. He was pinned by his mother, Claudette Ho Sang, and wife, Sherquita Ho Sang.
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The Amherst Media board of directors has named Rachel Figurasmith as executive director. Figurasmith replaces Interim Executive Director Yanna Ok, who will be retained as a consultant for the transition.
Figurasmith is a nonprofit executive who has supported dozens of organizations across the United States. Figurasmith lives in Pelham.
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