SHELBURNE — An online petition seeking to remove Detective Tucker Jenkins from the Shelburne Police Department following an investigation into his relationship with a Mohawk Trail Regional School student has gathered 158 signatures.

The petition, posted to openpetition.org, requests that the Selectboard reconsider its April 3 executive session vote to retain Jenkins. The vote came in response to a report from the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office that found that Jenkins, who was working as a school resource officer and teaching forensic science at Mohawk Trail Regional School, was involved in “a relationship beyond that of a teacher/student” with a student. Given that the student was 18 and over the age of consent, which is 16 in Massachusetts, the report noted that no crime had occurred.

Franklin County residents drafted the petition, stating they believe police need to be held to a higher standard of morals and ethics, and it is the Selectboard’s duty to hold them to that standard.

“Community members of Shelburne Falls and Franklin County, MA, including but not limited to students/parents of Mohawk Trail Regional School District, are dismayed by the recent decision of the [Shelburne Selectboard] to retain Detective Jenkins’ position ... following the above-mentioned investigation and decision made by the school district,” the petition states. “We are left feeling betrayed, confused and extremely concerned by the town’s decision to still allow him to remain in a position of authority, which affords him the opportunity to repeat his actions — or worse.”

During the public comment portion of Tuesday’s Selectboard meeting, Shelburne resident Leiha Maldonado, a former member of the Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee, asked why Jenkins was allowed to work in a school without the proper certifications.

Jenkins is not licensed to teach students, per the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s educator license database. In response to a resident’s inquiry, DESE’s Office of Educator Licensure stated it had no record of a Tucker Jenkins and the school had not received a waiver to employ him in a teaching role without a license.

“Why did the Selectboard allow Detective Jenkins to work as an unlicensed teacher when he was employed as a school resource officer?” Maldonado said. “It is not lost on me that the driving force behind the Selectboard’s decision to retain Detective Jenkins is the belief he did not do anything wrong.”

In an email to the Greenfield Recorder, Superintendent Sheryl Stanton said the district met DESE requirements by having a licensed co-teacher, Travis Minnick, for the forensic science class. According to DESE’s educator license database, Minnick is licensed to teach fifth through eighth grade, and in Massachusetts, teachers are allowed to spend up to 20% of their teaching time with a grade level they are not licensed for, so Minnick was able to work with high school students in the course.

Shelburne resident Amanda Kingsley also spoke during public comment, asking the board to share its reasons for keeping Jenkins.

“I don’t feel as a constituent that I can communicate with the town my concerns and be heard,” Kingsley told the Selectboard. “I like to assume good intentions, that’s why I wanted to give you the opportunity to express your good intentions retaining Tucker Jenkins. I am beyond appalled by the reading of the DA report. … I think you owe it to us to tell us why you decided to retain someone who feels like a complete danger to this community.”

Additional comments left on the online petition by members of the public stated that Jenkins violated the community’s trust, and while the student was over the age of consent, any relationship between the two would have a power imbalance and was unethical. Community members also asked, if Jenkins was innocent, why he didn’t cooperate with the investigation and why he deleted his text messages with the student.

The DA’s report noted the student told investigators the relationship was not sexual. Jenkins declined to speak with investigators, but told Shelburne Police Chief Greg Bardwell that the relationship was not sexual and the two were just family friends.

In previous interviews, Bardwell referred to the allegation as a “rumor that spiraled out of control,” and said school administration and the DA’s office investigators were relying on second-hand or third-hand information that had deviated from the truth.

“Why is the Selectboard employing someone that destroyed evidence that could discredit the allegations and someone that refused to cooperate in the investigation that could prove these allegations false?” Maldonado said.

Per Selectboard policy, board members are unable to respond to residents during the public comment period.

Earlier this month, after announcing the decision to keep Jenkins on the Police Department, the Selectboard said the decision was made based on a review of town policies and Jenkins’ record. In an email to the Recorder, board member Tricia Yacovone-Biagi said she could not speak to personnel matters but she wanted to reassure community members that the decision was not made lightly.

“I can say that I participated in a three-hour hearing and conducted thoughtful consideration of all the facts in this matter. I followed the law and advice of legal counsel during the discussions about Detective Jenkins,” Yacovone-Biagi wrote. “I acknowledge and understand that this may feel unsatisfactory to some people in our community. However, as a member of the board, I have an obligation to follow existing procedures and the rule of law. I took these responsibilities very seriously then and still do today.”

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.