Great Barrington — During the Selectboard meeting on Monday, June 23, Interim Town Manager Chris Rembold announced that Police Chief Paul Storti would be retiring in January.
According to a previous press release issued by the town, Storti joined the Police Department in 1995 as a full-time officer, having previously worked part-time in Sheffield.
He served as the department’s acting chief in late December 2020, following the retirement of Chief William Walsh, who had served the department for 40 years, including 37 years as police chief.
Storti was officially hired as the town’s police chief in January 2021.
Before the June 23 meeting, Chief Storti submitted his resignation letter to Interim Town Manager Rembold.
“This decision [to retire] did not come easily, as serving this community has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Storti wrote in his letter. “As someone who was born and raised in Great Barrington/Housatonic, I have always held a deep sense of pride and responsibility in protecting and serving the people of our town.”
Storti wrote that he has “been privileged to work alongside dedicated officers and staff who share a common goal of ensuring the safety and well-being of our community.”
“It has been a true privilege to lead such a professional and committed team,” Storti wrote. “I feel proud to be leaving the department in good hands, with an outstanding group of police officers and a strong, capable command staff in place. I am confident that, with their leadership and the continued support of the community, the department will be well-prepared for the future needs of Great Barrington. I hope that in my time as Chief, I have represented the community’s needs with integrity, fairness, and respect. My goal has always been to strengthen trust between the department and the people we serve, and I am grateful for the support and collaboration I have received from town leadership, fellow departments, and our residents”
Storti’s last official day on the job will be on January 4, 2026.
Also during the June 23 meeting, Rembold announced that the town’s Principal Assessor Ross Vivori will be retiring on July 17, and town Human Resources Director Sophia Bletsos will be leaving for another position.
Vivori was appointed as the town’s principal assessor in April 2021, and Bletsos was named the town’s HR Director in July 2022.
