ERVING — Having interviewed the two finalists for the police chief position in a virtual meeting Wednesday night, the Selectboard plans to deliberate on which candidate is the best fit during its next meeting on Monday at 6 p.m.
A hiring decision may also be made in the Monday meeting, said Selectboard Chair Jacob Smith. The two candidates are Robert Holst, a sergeant in the Erving Police Department and the current acting police chief, and David Rice, a sergeant in the Greenfield Police Department.
The two candidates who came before the Selectboard were chosen by a screening committee, which interviewed a larger pool of candidates in private meetings in February. The Selectboard’s questions for Holst and Rice addressed their views on training, diversity, handling complaints, using body cameras and managing a budget.
One clear difference between the two was Holst’s experience with the Erving Police Department and the town of Erving.
“I care about this community. I care what happens with the community. I’m involved with this community. My family is a part of the fabric of this community. I have a vested interest in this community,” Holst said.
Rice, in his interview, noted that, if he were selected for the chief position, gaining the department’s trust would probably involve working closely with Holst, who has been the acting chief since former Chief Christopher Blair left in August.
Rice, for his own part, emphasized his experience in training less experienced police officers, particularly for future leadership positions.
“I think it is imperative on leaders to train the next person,” Rice said.
He also emphasized the importance of teaching officers to use discretion in how they interact with the community.
“Just because legally you can do something, doesn’t necessarily mean you should,” Rice said. “I think that analysis sometimes escapes officers.”
Body cameras were singled out as a key issue for the Selectboard, as Erving was an early adopter of body cameras among police departments in Western Massachusetts.
Holst was unequivocal in his approval of their use, and said that all Erving Police officers like them.
“Without question, I am 100 percent in on body cameras,” Holst said. He noted they can be helpful in resolving disputes, and are even useful as training tools.
Rice also noted the usefulness in resolving disputes, and added that the cameras can be useful in locating an officer who may not be accessible by radio.
But he also said he had experienced a variety of opinions among police officers on the use of body cameras.
“On one side of the argument, officers tend to feel that it is a nanny state, and that supervisors don’t trust them,” Rice said.
Where the two candidates clearly agreed was in their view of the police department as an aspect of a larger community.
“We are members of the community,” Rice said. “We need to work on our relationships with the people we are policing. We police with their consent. If we do not have their consent, it makes our job very, very hard.”
Holst, similarly, said, “In order for us as law enforcement officers to be successful, we need the support of our community. … My philosophy on policing starts with community and ends with the community.”
Reach Max Marcus at
mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.