GREENFIELD — After 24 years of service to the city, former Greenfield Police Officer Laura Gordon received a commendation from the Public Safety Commission on Wednesday.
Public Safety Commission Chair Butch Hawkins applauded Gordon for her work — particularly in internet crime and child abuse investigations — as a community outreach officer and as one of the handlers for Clarence, a former comfort dog for the department. Gordon has been a police officer for more than 30 years, and is now employed as a patrol officer with the Erving Police Department.
“She did an awful lot of work over the years, which isn’t easy work,” Hawkins said at Wednesday evening’s meeting, noting she will be missed by the community.
Commissioner Rick Clark recalled when he first saw Gordon with Clarence.
“I was amazed,” he said. “It was at a fire scene. These people were changed by the presence of Clarence.
“Hopefully, we’ll see you again,” Clark added.
Commissioner Susan White also thanked Gordon for her service to the city.
“I’m so grateful for the impact you have had here,” White said.
Gordon, who took a one-year leave of absence from the Greenfield department in the wake of departmental budget cuts, was officially appointed to the Erving Police Department on June 21. According to her husband, acting Greenfield Police Chief William Gordon, her leave of absence was done in an effort to save the job of one of the department’s most junior officers.
“Greenfield is my home,” she told commissioners. “I love what I did here.”
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne