Blandford police force at the June 23 meeting with Chester. (Photo by Amy Porter)
BLANDFORD – One week after a discussion between the Blandford and Chester Select Boards on the possibility of sharing police forces, Blandford Interim Police Chief Roberta Sarnicki and the town’s three part-time police officers walked out Monday evening, resigning their posts effective immediately.
In a statement released to the media and signed by Sarnicki and Officers Chris Anciello, Gage Kerlik, and Krysten Scapin, they stated: “For some time, we have been dealing with unsafe working conditions. Policing is inherently dangerous, however, it has been made much (more) so by our town’s administration. We currently have an interim Chief who was doing a great job at addressing these concerns. However, at Monday’s (July 23) selectboard meeting, they failed to extend her appointment, even after our entire force spoke on her behalf. Instead, as they continue to pursue a merger with the Chester P.D., they will now open up the position, presumably to hire the Chester chief, whether town residents are comfortable with a merger or not.”
Blandford Select Board chairman Cara Letendre said she had met with Chief Sarnicki and Interim Town Administrator Joshua Garcia before Monday’s (July 30) board meeting to make sure that Sarnicki understood why the town would be posting the Acting Police Chief job, and to encourage her to apply. Letendre said when Sarnicki was hired in June following the resignation of former chief Kevin Hennessy, the town had not gone through a formal process. Letendre said the hiring of Sarnicki, who previously served as police chief in Otis, was understood to be temporary, and the selectmen felt the need to hold a more formal process. Sarnicki’s appointment was up July 31, but at last week’s meeting it was informally extended until the position was filled.
At approximately 9 p.m. yesterday, the following message was posted on the police department page by members of the police department: “Attention Blandford residents: If you have a police, fire or medical emergency, please continue to call 911 as you normally would. Until further notice, please call the Russell State Police Barracks at 413-862-3312 if you need any other police services. The entire Blandford Police Department resigned this evening, effective immediately.”
Letendre said she was taken by surprise, receiving the news during the meeting via a text message from the police chief.
According to the statement from the police department, the officers cited cruisers that don’t work, poor radio communication, inadequate staffing, improper wages ( $14 and $15 per hour), and ill-fitting bullet-proof vests among the unsafe working conditions.
Letendre said she agrees that the wages are low. During the discussion with Chester last week, when Sarnicki asked what was the total budget for the department, she was told that Blandford has approximately $40,000 budgeted for the police, and Chester the same, with about 26 hours per week of coverage in each town. Letendre said that one of the reasons for having the discussion with Chester was to find a sustainable solution for police coverage in towns of their size. She said the board also has to look at data on how many calls are answered by the town, and how many by the state police.
Letendre also stated several times during the meeting that regionalizing the police department was one option they are looking at. “I wouldn’t be comfortable making that decision without having a large public meeting,” Letendre said last week.
As for the other unsafe conditions listed in the release, Letendre said that the Board of Selectmen had asked Sarnicki to get an estimate on a cruiser with a broken air conditioner. She also admitted there are dead spots in town for the radios, and they have been talking about seeking a grant to purchase a new radio system. Letendre said the issue with the bullet-proof vests was not brought to the board.
The statement from the police ended with the following: “We regret leaving the town without a town police force, but we have no choice given the situation we face. Fourteen law enforcement officers have died across the U.S. during the month of July. Two more are hospitalized in Falmouth after gun shot wounds from this past weekend. We refuse to put our lives on the line anymore for a town that seemingly cares so little about us.”
“For the past two months Interim Police Chief Roberta Sarnicki has done a fine job with our police officers and our police department. It is unfortunate that she led this officer walkout as she would have been considered as one of our candidates for Acting Chief position as we pursue the future opportunities with our police force. We have had multiple public meetings with our police force and have offered them the opportunity to engage and provide their opinions for the direction of the force,” Letendre wrote in a statement following the walkout.
“We have reached out to our neighboring communities to insure the safety and security of our citizens. Until such time residents should continue as normal to dial 911 in the event of any emergency and local or state assets will be dispatched to assist them. The Town of Blandford is continuing its already posted search for a new Police Chief,” she added.
