CHARLEMONT — The Selectboard has accepted Police Chief Jason Pelletier’s letter of resignation, which also signifies his retirement from law enforcement, effective July 1.
“After nearly a decade of service to the town of Charlemont, I have made the difficult decision to conclude my law enforcement career and begin the next chapter of my life,” Pelletier wrote in his letter to the Selectboard. “Serving this community has been one of the greatest honors and privileges of my professional life.”
At the start of the new fiscal year, Officer Kyle Sweeney will become the interim chief.
Pelletier has been an officer with the Charlemont Police Department since 2016, and was named interim chief in June 2022 after the resignation of then-chief and current Selectboard Co-Chair Jared Bellows. “Interim” was dropped from his title in early 2023.
The departing chief referenced how, together, the town has “faced challenges, embraced change and worked to strengthen the department for future generations.”
“I am especially proud of the progress made during my tenure, including guiding the department through the transition to Massachusetts POST Commission standards and certifications, and securing full-time police officer positions for the first time in decades,” Pelletier wrote, referencing the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.
Pelletier added that he is “proud of the foundation that has been built and confident that the Charlemont Police Department is well-positioned to continue serving this community with professionalism, integrity and dedication.”
Before his work in law enforcement, Pelletier was a staff sergeant in the Army for nine years and a technical sergeant in the Air Force for five years. Pelletier was deployed as an active-duty service member as recently as 2024.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the residents of Charlemont for their trust and support, to the Selectboard and town officials for their partnership,” Pelletier wrote, “and to the officers and staff of the Charlemont Police Department, whose commitment and service have made every accomplishment possible.”
Efforts to reach Pelletier by phone and email were unsuccessful.
Pelletier’s resignation letter was submitted less than two weeks after lengthy debate over funding for the Police Department at Annual Town Meeting.
The police chief role has been part-time, with a salary currently at $10,744. At the May 26 meeting, the requested fiscal year 2027 salary of $90,000 to allow for a full-time police chief was lowered to $82,553, and the $140,000 that was requested to fund two full-time officers was reduced to $85,000, which is enough for one full-time officer at $65,000 and about $20,000 for overtime and part-time help.
While Sweeney will serve as police chief in the interim, the town has begun the search for its next full-time chief. Town Administrator Sarah Reynolds shared at Monday’s meeting that Charlemont is using the company Municipal Resources Inc. to help with the search.
“It would be professionals deciding,” Reynolds said. “It would be coming from someone outside of us (the town).”
Members of the Selectboard agreed that it’s a good idea to have an outside perspective to evaluate candidates.
According to Reynolds, the company is comprised of “folks who used to do the job,” and would help with the process, including doing the pre-screening for the town. Charlemont is working with the same company to hire a fire chief that will be shared with Rowe.
“Their questions were phenomenal,” Bellows said of Municipal Resources Inc. “I can’t say enough good things about that company. I think they’re a great outfit.”
Municipal Resources Inc.’s work to find a new police chief will cost around $5,000, which Reynolds said the Selectboard has available. Selectboard member Wilder Sparks made a motion to ask the Finance Committee to use the reserve fund, which passed unanimously.
The hiring process for the police chief will continue over the next several weeks. At the July 20 Selectboard meeting, the Selectboard plans to discuss the police chief’s job description, specifying details such as how many hours the chief should be out on patrol versus how many hours they should be at the station.
