(MassLive- Jonah Snowden)
A speech Sen. John C. Velis, D-Westfield, gave about three years ago helped him recently win the Massachusetts Police Association’s Legislator of the Year award.
“Each time I see officers in these ride-alongs, their professionalism stands out to me. Police officers put their lives on the line to protect communities,” he said at the time.
When announcing the award from the association, Velis’ office touted the funds he was able to acquire in recent years for communities in his district: $50,000 for the Russell-Montgomery Police Department, $50,000 for police in Agawam and for the Westfield Police Department, about $160,000.