WESTFIELD—The Westfield Police Department added two new members to its special police force, including a former Southwick Police sergeant that retired from that force just last month.
During the Westfield Police Commission meeting yesterday, the commission voted to appoint Lt. Michael Lacroix of the Westfield Police Department and Donald Day, formerly of the Southwick Police Department, to the special police force in Westfield. Between the two, there is over 60 years of policing experience joining the force.
For Lacroix, he has served for 32 years for the Westfield Police, and is currently still with the department as a lieutenant. According to the commission, he is expected to retire on July 3 and will then be appointed to the special police force July 4.
Sgt. Donald Day officially retired as a police officer on May 19 and has joined the Westfield special police force. (WNG File Photo)
Day’s appointment was announced to occur today, June 13, according to the commission. Previous to joining the special police in Westfield, Day had 26 years at Southwick Police Department and four years at the Hopkinton Police Department.
According to an article in The Westfield News about Day’s retirement: “Day was a medical director, a certified first-responder in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), a dive team member, certified in ice diving, an accident reconstruction investigator, and a D.A.R.E. officer, just to name a few.”
According to Westfield Police Capt. Michael McCabe, special officers are “retired officers from our community or outside of the community” that can perform duties of Westfield officers. Their duties usually entail working special events and road and traffic details.
Also at the meeting, the commission accepted the resignation of two auxiliary/special police officers.
