Johnnie Ray McKnight kicks off Springfield campaign for Mayor

Johnnie Ray McKnight is shown during his recent campaign kickoff for mayor of Springfield.

(File photo / Dave Roback)

SPRINGFIELD - Mayoral candidate Johnnie Ray McKnight, in a prepared release this week, said that the solution to city violence is not adding more police officers on the streets.

"Putting more men and women in uniform will do nothing if our government does not first improve the quality of our law enforcement," McKnight said. "Surveillance cameras, dash and body cameras and refashioned police training are needed to instill this city with a more effective, safe, and trusted police force."

McKnight's release followed a press release from one of his opponents for mayor, Salvatore "Sal" Circosta, who called for "real solutions" to crime including the hire of more officers. Among his proposals, Circosta suggested taking $1.5 million from the city's stabilization reserve fund to hire additional officers.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno has funded additional officers this fiscal year through planned police academies. In addition, the city's host community agreement with MGM Springfield allocates funds for public safety.

Sarno "has yet to address the root causes of the violence that plagues our city, continuing to focus on Band-aid solutions that may superficially appear to heal our woes but are not sustainable," McKnight said.

The lack of police presence and efficiency is not the root of the problem, McKnight said.

"Our city's youth are in dire need of education and the skills to support themselves and create a place in our society," McKnight said. "With an exceedingly high drop-out rate, our children find nowhere to go, and end up on the streets. There they have no choice but to become involved with the violence that continues to destroy our community."

The government needs to focus on "investing in more youth employment and internship opportunities, and more afterschool programs to give these young adults the opportunity to learn effective skills and the value of hard work," McKnight said.

"Mayor Sarno cannot police us out of the present state of our city," McKnight said. "We must address where our kids begin this dangerous path, rather than simply waiting to punish them for it."