Crime history defies the reality of what New Bedford is today

As managers of companies and non -profit organizations in Greater New Bedford, we write to express our concerns about the Globe Spotlight series “Snitch City”, in which the treatment of confidential informants was examined by the new Bedford Police Department when examining drug and weapon crimes by Bedford.

The series describes decades of alleged misconduct by some police officers, which are partly made possible by the lack of monitoring police activities in the execution of the so -called war against drugs and violence to carry out the so -called war. Our goal is not to assess the specific claims of the globe about the police department, which Mayor Jon Mitchell, a former deputy US lawyer, referred to the FBI.

Our goal is to question the representation of New Bedford as a lawless, dangerous place in the overall and misleading- depicted crime, on which drug and weapon crime is widespread and the promenade is flooded in criminal behavior. The port of New Bedford is an important engine that drives the regional economy and includes a lively and diverse network of maritime industrial companies.

The title of the series, “Snitch City”, is an affront not only for New Bedford's state institutions, but also for everyone who lives here, work here and do business here. This spicy label contradicts the reality of what New Bedford is today: a leading import and export center, in which thousands of well-paid jobs were recognized in first-class companies and a center for art and culture that was recognized by the state and national as a leading creative community. In fact, the violent crime in New Bedford has decreased by 60 percent in the past decade. Despite a severe decline in general state aid since the 2008 financial crisis, the high bond -Rating from New Bedford shows that the city has earned high grades for financial health and management.

These hard-fought, hard-fought winnings reflect the collective efforts of our more than 100,000 inhabitants, local companies, non-profit organizations and elected managers with a common vision of progress that drive us forward. Of course, our success is based on a basis for public security and trust in the city's police department. We are confident that systemic or individual problems that have been uncovered in the department are treated by the mayor and the supervisory authorities.

We will continue to celebrate our successes and our strong inheritance while we continue the necessary work to grow and thrive.

Anthony R. Sapienza

President, New Bedford Economic Development Council

Maureen Sylvia Armstrong

Co-chairman, Nbedc regeneration committee

Managing Partner, Alera Group Inc.

Dartmouth

This letter was reported by almost 30 other managing directors and community leaders.

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