Egremont approves funding for interim police chief

SHEFFIELD -The Town of Egremont approved $15,000 worth of funding for an interim police chief at a special town meeting.

The meeting was held on May 7 at 6 p.m. at Mt. Everett High School in Sheffield, preceding the regular town meeting at 7 p.m.

The warrant for the special town meeting included four articles, the last of which authorized the board of selectmen to transfer $15,000 from available funds to pay for an interim acting police chief.

Egremont’s current police chief, Reena Bucknell, has been on paid administrative leave since Feb. 16, after all seven of her officers signed a letter of no confidence in her leadership and presented it to the selectmen.

A report by Robert J. Pomery, a consultant hired by the board of selectmen to investigate the situation at the Egremont Police Department, uncovered financial oddities and issues with policies and training, but no criminal wrongdoing.

The money to fund this position was approved at the special town meeting, by a vote of 76-40 after a lively debate.

Chief Bucknell attended this special town meeting, as well as the beginning of Egremont’s regular town meeting, but did not speak, leaving after the police department’s budget was approved.

“I’m here just supporting my police department,” said the chief, when asked her reaction to the proceedings.

Posted by Bera B. Dunau on May 9, 2013. Filed under Community News,News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry