Tyringham, Mount Washington Flags Added To Great Hall

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Top, 30 Tyringham residents attended their flag presentation. Left, Mount Washington's flag. Both will hang in the Great Hall of Flags.
BOSTON — Two of the Berkshires' smaller communities will have their flags waving in the State House's Great Hall of Flags.

Flags for Tyringham and Mount Washington were presented on July 18 at the State House by Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli, D-Lenox, and the towns' officials.

Tyringham Town Administrator Molly Curtin Schaeffer and Selectman Alan Wilcox were among the presenters of Tyringham's flag to Bureau of State Office Buildings Superintendent John Billera. The flag design was voted on by town residents, 30 of whom came to Boston for the presentation ceremony.

Once properly cataloged by state officials the flags will be added to the impressive display of community flags in the Great Hall of Flags, which is open to State House visitors. The Great Hall of Flags serves as the largest function room in the State House. In 1992, the agency that manages state office space, the BSB, began collecting official flags from the 351 commonwealth communities and hanging them throughout the Great Hall in order to improve the acoustics of the room. 

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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