Pittsfield Fires Police Union President For 'Misconduct'

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Police Department fired Officer Jeffrey Coco after finding him guilty of multiple misconduct charges.
 
The Pittsfield Patrol Police Union president was investigated internally and terminated on Monday. According to an internal affairs report, Coco took some $150,000 from union bank accounts by writing checks to himself and his wife. 
 
"The cash withdrawals and the checks written out to Officer Coco and his wife shows that the money withdrawn from the union account was not for ligitimate union business but instead for personal use," wrote Lt. Michael Grady in the report.
 
The department found Coco guilty of conduct unbecoming of an officer and criminal conduct. For that, he was fired.
 
"The City of Pittsfield and the Pittsfield Police Department take any and all acts of police misconduct and/or violation of criminal laws by our personnel extremely seriously. Such acts reflect not only on the involved individual, but also on the office and reputation of the vast majority of police officers here in Pittsfield and across the nation, who perform their duties every day honestly and with extreme  dedication. Service as a police officer requires a high degree of public trust. On those rare occasions, as is the case here, that trust is violated, severe sanctions must be imposed," wrote Chief Michael Wynn on Monday.
 
In July, the International Brotherhood of Police Officers in Springfield notified Wynn and Mayor Daniel Bianchi about the accounts. Then, it was reported that there was an internal affairs investigation and an officer was placed on administrative leave. 
 
The district attorney's office also launched a criminal investigation, though there has been no word on the outcome of that.
 
Read the entire internal affairs report below.

Pittsfield Police Internal Affairs Report


Tags: criminal investigation,   firing,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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