The goal of the reexamination of the role of the police is to “transform the police into a force for justice. We are not painting our Police Department with the same brush as other departments in other cities.”
— Selectboard member Leigh Davis
Tag: William Walsh
Thousands join #BlackLivesMatter demonstration in Great Barrington
Longtime police Chief Bill Walsh told the board his department was an early adopter of the principles enunciated in President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing.
‘Silence’ of GB police ‘cannot go unnoticed’
In a letter to the editor, Mae Whaley writes, “As much as it is necessary for us to stay aware of the overt ways in which police departments across the country are contributing to racism, we cannot allow the constant images and videos of tear gas, rubber bullets and concussion grenades to lower our standards for how we expect our police to behave.”
Alan Chartock: I Publius
Now is a time in which police are under a microscope.
Longtime Great Barrington police chief to retire at end of year
Walsh said he was giving early notice at this time to allow “a smooth passing of the torch.”
Great Barrington police arrest suspect, seize ‘extremely large cache of narcotics’
The inventory revealed 748 bags of heroin, several bags of cocaine, 18 bags of marijuana, several different prescription drugs and $2,700 in cash.
News Brief: Great Barrington Police Department awarded re-accreditation status
The Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission offers two program awards: certification and accreditation, with accreditation being the higher of the two.
News Brief: GB police awarded grant to reduce impaired driving
The Great Barrington police will join other departments across the state as well as the Massachusetts State Police in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization.
Rumored bomb threat at Monument unfounded, district officials say
In an interview, Superintendent Peter Dillon said he and other school officials could not find any evidence of a bomb threat, which was the most pressing concern.
Town Hall Briefs: Ailing bridges, traffic nightmares and other tales of woe
Whether one lane of the Brown Bridge is closed during construction or whether it is shut down altogether, the construction will be a major disruption to traffic, especially considering the fact that the town-owned Division Street bridge was closed by the state in the second week of September.
News Briefs: Mass Pike daytime construction; GBPD re-accreditation assessment
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation has announced that crews will be conducting maintenance operations at specific locations on I-90 westbound in West Stockbridge and Becket beginning Monday, Sept. 30, and continuing through to Thursday, Oct. 3.
Police chief touts crackdown on road scofflaws, including speeders and skateboarders
Police Chief Bill Walsh, along with Sgt. Paul Storti, presented a recently designed strategic enforcement plan to the selectboard Monday night at the Claire Teague Senior Center.
Police: No charges against New York woman who struck teen skateboarder in crosswalk
“An investigation was conducted, and based on witness statements, as well as video evidence gathered from a nearby business, no charges will be filed in connection with the accident at this time.” — Great Barrington police Chief William Walsh
News Brief: Police charge juvenile driver who hit young woman with car
Police have probable cause to believe the driver was impaired after having used marijuana. Field sobriety tests were performed at the scene.
News Brief: GBPD enlists mental health clinician
The Mental Health Co-Responder Program is designed to increase earlier identification and intervention for citizens with mental illness who have contact with law enforcement.
State police nab defiant Great Barrington cop for OUI on Mass Pike
Two parties had told police that Bartini’s silver-blue Chevrolet Silverado pick-up truck “almost struck their vehicles from behind and swerved around their vehicles at a high rate of speed,” according to a report prepared by Trooper Paul E. Savage, the arresting officer.
News Briefs: Lake Mansfield trail work; Mass Pike bridge deck repair; GBPD joins use-of-force database
The GBPD joins hundreds of police departments nationwide in reaffirming their commitment to better data, which can be used to develop policies and procedures and build a stronger understanding of when, why and how officers use force when detaining suspects.
Monument Mountain ninth-graders meet the pros on first Career Day
The morning served as a kick-off to the district’s initiatives to deepen connections between the district and the community, and help even the school’s youngest students start to envision a future for themselves in the work world.
Interview with Chris Tucci of Railroad Street Youth Project, panelist at ‘Weed Is Here, Now What?’ forum
“Recreational cannabis means that we are talking about cannabis. That’s a good thing. Young people are asking unsolicited questions, neighbors are talking to each other. … We developed norms … We’re starting to talk about what does safe use look like for adults? What is the norm?” –Chris Tucci, Railroad Street Youth Project deputy director
Breach of town ‘trust policy’ disputed after ICE arrest of immigrant
Great Barrington Police Chief Bill Walsh said his department “played a minimal role in this operation”; that he reported it to his boss, Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin, the next day; and that he responded to media inquiries on the incident.
Let the recreational pot sales begin — at least in ‘Theory’
Outside the front door, there were a few heaters and a line of customers that snaked around the edge of the parking lot all the way to Route 7, where a table by the Marketplace Cafe was set up offering free hot coffee to shivering patrons.
In ‘frightening’ display, ICE agents arrest immigrant worker on Main Street
“It was kind of disturbing for everyone in here,” Will Curletti said of the customers and employees in his coffee shop. “You know, the government is shut down and we’re still pulling people off the street. You hate to see that happen.”
News Brief: GBPD to host Community Police Academy
Topics that the course will cover include how police officers work, special police operations, use of force, policies and procedures, criminal law, and investigations.
News Brief: GBPD joins ‘near miss’ initiative
Near misses can occur any time during the performance of law enforcement duties and, at times, can include situations like armed subjects, domestic disputes, thefts and shootings.
News Briefs: GBPD make arrest after home invasion; reward offered in red-tailed hawk shooting
On Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 1:30 p.m., Great Barrington police were dispatched to a Park Street home for a report of a past break-in and assault. Upon arrival, officers conducted an on-scene investigation and learned that the victim was home when a man, later identified as Thorpe, kicked in the back door of the home and entered.
Busy intersection will be transformed — in a ‘roundabout’ way
Great Barrington Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin also said MassDOT’s project review committee has approved an initial application for a $6.9 million rebuild of Main Street from Saint James Place to the area of the Claire Teague Senior Center and National Grid office on Route 7.
News Briefs: Fairview disaster exercise; GBPD mental health first aid course; Mass Pike lane closures
Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety provides officers with more response options to help them de-escalate incidents and better understand mental illnesses so they can respond to mental health-related calls appropriately without compromising anyone’s safety.
News Brief: GB police arrest man for trespassing and disorderly conduct
Lawrence, who had previously been issued a no-trespass order for Christian Hill Commons, failed to comply with officers’ requests to calm down and was subsequently placed under arrest.
News Briefs: GBPD responds to crash; GB absentee voting ballots; Citizens’ Legislative Seminar
Absentee voting ballots must be received at the Great Barrington Town Hall by 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 31.
Great Barrington police identify man arrested for assault against Senate candidate
Chief William Walsh said Paul D. Solovay, 74, of Hillsdale, New York, was arrested and charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct.
News Briefs: GB police combat hate crimes; DCR still not collecting all user fees
The audit shows that the Department of Conservation and Recreation did not keep an accurate official record of its use agreements and did not have an adequate billing collections system, policies or procedures to effectively collect fees.
The parking merry-go-round: Great Barrington changes regs again
Effective immediately, from November 15 through March 30, overnight on-street parking is prohibited between the hours of 1 and 6 a.m.