Commissioners Osowski, Hupfer, Otero, and Chief Camerota during the January 2019 police commission meeting. (Photo by Peter Currier)
WESTFIELD- The Westfield Police Commission met Monday evening to issue promotions and confirm appointments for new officers to curb the staffing shortage that has afflicted the department in recent months.
First, during the public participation section of the meeting, City Councilor At-Large Matt Emmershy voiced his support of the commission’s choice to promote Sergeant Steve Dickinson to Lieutenant.
“I came to know Sgt Dickinson back in 2006 when I was a landlord just getting into the game,” said Emmershy, “his creation of the Westfield Landlord’s Association is a huge asset to the city.”
Westfield resident John Bowen also spoke during public participation. He had questions about the selection process for a new Chief of Police, a process that the department is going through due to Chief Camerota’s impending retirement.
Bowen said that the requirements for a new Chief seemed rather minimal to him. The current standards for a new Chief require that the applicant be at least a Sergeant with the Westfield Police, have been with the department for 15 years including seven years as a supervisor, and hold at least a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice. In a prepared statement, Bowen said that he was unable to view the commission’s meeting minutes after September.
City Councilor Mike Burns suggested that the interviews for the new Chief, which will take place in April, take place in the City Council chambers and also be televised for the public. The commission was receptive to the idea.
The commission moved on the annual reappointment of 26 Special Police Officers. All 26 were approved unanimously by the commission.
The first promotion of the meeting was to replace Lieutenant Michael Ugolik, who is expected to retire in February. The only person to interview for the position was Sgt. Steve Dickinson. Commission Chairman Karl Hupfer began the interview by asking Dickinson how he saw himself as a Lieutenant within the department.
“Wherever the Chief wants me, that’s where I’ll go,” said Dickinson, “All my career I’ve done everything they’ve asked.”
Sgt Dickinson was unanimously approved to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant.
The commission moved on to appoint a new full time Sergeant. There were three officers that were interviewed during the meeting: Officer Juanita Mejias, Officer William Cavanaugh, and Officer Seth Florek.
Officer Mejias touted her enthusiasm for her job and her eagerness to learn more on the job. Mejias also speaks fluent Spanish in addition to English.
“I have tried to pick up a little Russian, but I failed miserably,” said Mejias to laughter amongst the audience.
Mejias was ultimately chosen for the position after deliberation among the commission, which would make her the first female supervisor in the history of the Westfield Police Department according to Captain Mike McCabe. Hupfer emphasized that this group of candidates was the most qualified he had seen in his years in the department.
“In my career with the State Police and here, I don’t recall having three candidates going for the same position and having the qualifications of these kinds of people,” said Hupfer, “We have three people that want a higher rated position. It’s hard to turn down.”
The commission then turned to filling the vacancies that have left the department short of officer’s for months due to injuries, military leave, and people leaving to join other departments. There were seven openings for full-time officers with eight reserve officers interviewing for the positions. Due to the urgency of the officer staffing shortage, the department sought a waiver that would allow those hired to work before attending the police academy.
The eight reserve officers interviewed were Kevin Gabryel, Robert Reyome, Steven Wood, Joseph Kelley, Kyle Allen, Brian Turgeon, Zachary Coderre, Patrick Lusteg, and Andrew Harris. Due to the possibility that Officer’s Timothy Fanion and Jeffrey Vigneault return from the State Police academy, Chief Camerota noted that two of the appointed officers may be removed to make room for them later.
Officers Zachary Coderre, Kevin Gabryel, Robert Reyome, Steven Wood, Joseph Kelley, Brian Turgeon, and Patrick Lusteg were chosen for the positions. Chief Camerota informed Turgeon and Lusteg that they would be the two officers to be removed in the event that Vigneault and Fanion return from the academy. He added to Harris, who was not selected, that there may be more openings soon and that he may be selected if that is the case.
