CHARLEMONT — With numerous recreation companies operating in their peak season and the spike in visitors that comes with it, summer is the busiest time of year for the Police Department. As such, stepping into the role of police chief has kept Jason Pelletier busy since July 1.
“I have not had one day of break from departmental business since I started the job,” said Pelletier, a Colrain native who has been captain of the Police Department since 2016 and moved up to the chief’s position following Jared Bellows’ retirement. The Charlemont chief also serves in an administrative role in Hawley, which does not have its own department.
Before transitioning to police work, Pelletier was a staff sergeant in the Army for nine years and a technical sergeant in the Air Force for five years. Pelletier explained these position involved law enforcement roles, so it was a natural transition into the Charlemont policing job.
He was also operations manager at Berkshire East Mountain Resort for five years while he was in college.
“Time at the mountain had more to do with managerial skills, which is definitely another aspect of having to be a chief,” Pelletier noted.
Between closing the books on the newly ended fiscal year and addressing outstanding bills and paperwork in the department, Pelletier said he is putting in many hours.
“I have always been good under pressure,” he said.
With the introduction of requiring all officers to participate in the Bridge Academy through the new police reform law, four people in the Charlemont Police Department — including Bellows, who was chief for nearly 13 years — have opted to retire instead. Given that officers are expected to attend the Bridge Academy alphabetically over the next three years, Pelletier said he expects one to three more officers will retire.
The Police Department currently has seven part-time officers, including Pelletier, who is part-time as well.
“Staffing will be the largest issue right now,” he said.
For a new person to enter the job, with no previous part-time training, it will cost the department around $30,000 to go through the Bridge Academy program — money that Pelletier said is simply not in the budget. With this, it will be difficult for the department to hire new people.
“I am being careful when I hire people from other departments,” Pelletier added. “I don’t want to hire someone else’s problem.”
Pelletier also said the police cutbacks in Greenfield will ultimately affect policing in the hilltowns. He reasoned that State Police, who often help more rural departments, will now be sent to Greenfield more often, leaving them unable to come for backup in places like Charlemont.
Partnering with Clinical & Support Options (CSO) to offer co-response services has been popular across the region, allowing a mental health clinician to accompany police to certain crisis calls. Charlemont is not part of the program, but Pelletier said he hopes to join soon.
Pelletier’s office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. for Charlemont and the second Wednesday of each month from 5 to 7 p.m. for Hawley. All office hours take place at the Charlemont Police Station.
Contact Bella Levavi 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.