Brookfield selectmen hire interim acting police chief

By Ruth M. Lyon

Turley Publications Reporter

BROOKFIELD – Acting Police Chief Christopher Welsh appeared Tuesday before the board of selectmen to discuss the board’s options regarding the operation of the department in the aftermath of his resignation.

Announcing Welsh’s resignation at a June 18 town meeting, Selectman Peter O’Connell said that Welsh had discussed with police from neighboring towns Brookfield’s possible need for coverage or assistance in an emergency, and that such help would be available.

In the interim, more formal discussion had taken place between O’Connell and West Brookfield Police Chief Thomas O’Donnell, resulting in a proposal to West Brookfield selectmen “being discussed at their meeting as we speak,” O’Connell said. He outlined a tentative agreement allowing O’Donnell to be available for a period of not to exceed three weeks, for 10-14 hours per week, to act as advisor or acting chief – the person in charge in an emergency. “There will be no hard feelings if we decide not to go ahead with this. We have come to this solution with little time for preparation,” O’Connell said.

Welsh, in response to questions from the selectmen, said there were problems with an arrangement in which there was no acting chief. “No firearms permits may be issued, and more importantly, patrolmen need a person in charge. There are certain responsibilities; in a worst-case scenario, there could be liability to the town, which would come back to you. There are also day to day responsibilities. Shifts need to be filled; it’s just the structure of the police department to have a person in charge to make sure that the town is protected.”

Asked for other suggestions, Welsh introduced Douglas Blood, 56, of North Brookfield, recently retired as police sergeant in that town. He suggested that Blood’s availability might be a good solution to Brookfield’s need. In the question and answer session that followed, Blood described his 25 years of experience with the North Brookfield force, and said that he had no interest in coming out of retirement, but would be willing to commit to three months or “whatever the need be” in this town. He works occasionally with police departments in Hardwick and Oakham, but would, if hired in Brookfield, place his responsibilities to this town foremost, he assured the board. “My retirement allows me to work a total of 960 hours per year,” he said. He would be available to work weekends, even an occasional shift.

Would he expect a cruiser? “It would be nice, but I wouldn’t expect it. I’m just down the road,” he grinned.

Welsh recommended that the selectmen hire Blood. “You’re better off with a chief here; being another man down (with Welsh’s departure) is stressful enough. He knows the area, and has worked well with police in the surrounding towns. I think this would be a tremendous remedy to the situation,” he said.

After brief discussion, the board voted to enter into a contract negotiation, to take effect on July 1, and to hire Blood as acting interim police chief.

Another police issue was briefly discussed. The new 2010 police cruiser was recently involved in a collision with another vehicle. According to Heller, no state police report is yet available, and though Welsh has stated he believes the cruiser is beyond repair, no action as to replacement can be taken at this time. Heller said the town does have a cruiser in service.

At Selectman James Allen’s suggestion, the board voted to enter a performance review regarding Welsh into the town’s employee record. “And it will doubtless be glowing,” O’Connell said.

In other business, the board voted to:

· Award a contract for $3,400 to Fuss and O’Neil for the mandated inspection of Saw Mill Pond Dam.

· Set aside an area near the highway department for the disposal of brush on four Saturdays in the spring and four more in the fall. Highway department personnel will be in charge of the disposal. Stumps and heavy brush or excessive amounts of leaves and grass will not be allowed.

· Appointed Peter O’Connell to the town hall barrier removal committee, and changed the number of committee members from 10 to seven.