Neighbors Informing Neighbors
The Atwater Park Civic Association is dedicated to providing a forum for its members to share ideas, viewpoints, opinions and other noteworthy items of social, political, environmental or quality of life issues with other Atwater Park neighbors. This page, Issues and Advocacy, is reserved for folks to share their thoughts on any of these important issues, and provide the opportunity for sharing information on issues of neighborhood importance. 
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In a major effort to improve public safety and reduce crime in our neighborhoods, the office of Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, the Springfield, Holyoke and Chicopee Police Departments, the Hampden district attorney's office and the Sheriff's Department have collaborated to launch the new anonymous Text-A-Tip Hotline. It's another important weapon to help reduce crime, and it depends on your participation.
The anonymous Text-A-Tip hotline is a safe and anonymous way to help fight crime without anyone knowing who you are. The technology behind the Text-A-Tip process allows the sender's information to be sent to a remote server outside the United States, which strips from the message all identifying information. The message is then sent to the Hampden Sheriff's Department, which forwards the message to the appropriate city or town police department for immediate action.
Here's how it works:
First, using your cell phone, text the word "solve," plus your message; be sure to include city or town where crime took place.
Second, send your message to 274637 or "Crimes." It's that easy.
The next time you see a crime, Text-A-Tip and you will be part of the solution, because crime prevention is everybody's business. This article was written by Steve O'Neil, community affairs officer, of the Hampden County Sheriff's Department.