Williamstown Police and Community Council Works to 'Shepherd' Change

The Strengthening Police and Community Partnerships Council met in June and July to begin addressing the goals and aspirations that emerged from March’s community forum at Mount Greylock Regional School.

Williamstown Police Working for Departmental Accreditation

Interim Chief Mike Ziemba shared the outcome of a March symposium on local policing, and the veteran officer brought in to consult on the force's efforts to gain accreditation discussed the benefits of that process.

Williamstown Conference Identifies Steps to Rebuild Trust in Local Police

Nearly 80 individuals participated in a series of small group discussions that focused on the strengths and weaknesses of the current public safety environment and what meaningful changes could address the latter.

Williamstown Releases Findings of Investigations into Police Department

A pair of concurrent investigations into the Williamstown Police Department found "credible testimony about … racially charged incidents in the Department" but raise issues about the credibility of the self-described whistle-blower who brought those incidents to light.

March Williamstown Conference Designed as Dialogue Between Community, Police

Williamstown Police Sergeant Wants Disciplinary Hearing Made Public

The town Thursday will hold a disciplinary hearing against a police sergeant who has filed a discrimination complaint against the town with the commonwealth.

Q&A: Williamstown's Ansari Says Voices Raised Up in Wake of Lawsuit

As the anniversary of the lawsuit arrives on Thursday, iBerkshires.com asked three people at the center of those discussions to share their thoughts about the lawsuit's impact and the current state of the town.

Q&A: Williamstown's Patton Says Last Year Raised Awareness of Differences

As the anniversary of the lawsuit arrives on Thursday, iBerkshires.com asked three people at the center of those discussions to share their thoughts about the lawsuit's impact and the current state of the town.

Q&A: Williamstown's Ziemba Acknowledges Mistakes, Tries to Move Forward

As the anniversary of the lawsuit arrives on Thursday, iBerkshires.com asked three people at the center of those discussions to share their thoughts about the lawsuit's impact and the current state of the town.

Williamstown Police Personnel Suspended Without Pay Over Data Searches

The Williamstown Police Department officers who illegally accessed a state database to seek information on town residents were suspended from duty without pay.

Williamstown Sergeant Placed on Administrative Leave

A Williamstown police officer who filed a federal lawsuit over harassment claims last year is now being investigated for an employee complaint against him. Town Manager Jason Hochs confirmed on Saturday that Sgt. Scott McGowan was placed on paid administrative leave this week.

Williamstown DIRE Committee Chair Reports on Talk with Acting Police Chief

The chair of the town's committee on diversity, equity and inclusion Monday reported to his colleagues that he had a long conversation with the town's acting chief of police and that future dialogues between the committee and Police Department are planned.

Williamstown Picks Police Investigator, Calls for Chief Advisory Board

In a separate conversation, the board and town manager agreed to extend a search for volunteers to serve an advisory committee to help Town Manager Jason Hoch select an interim chief for the Police Department.

Williamstown Select Board Pressed on Police Investigation

A half-dozen town residents took the floor at Monday's Select Board meeting to continue to keep the pressure on the town to conduct an independent investigation into the Police Department.

Williamstown Select Board Gets Details on Policing Needs Research

Kerri Nicoll and Abby Reifsnyder joined the board during its virtual meeting to talk about how those issues, which currently fall into the lap of the Williamstown Police Department, might be better addressed by other means.

In Wake of Lawsuit's Dismissal, Williamstown Turns Toward Healing

Police Sgt. Scott McGowan, who in August filed a federal lawsuit against the town, Chief Kyle Johnson and Town Manager Jason Hoch, said Monday night that he would withdraw his suit just after it was announced to the town that Johnson was stepping down from his post.

Williamstown Town Manager: Change in Police Leadership 'On the Table'

DIRE Committee member Aruna D'Souza pressed the pair about whether that conversation could include a step that many in town have been calling for since August's release of a discrimination suit by a sergeant against the town, Hoch and Police Chief Kyle Johnson.

Williamstown Getting Community Input Before Assessing Policing Policies

On Monday, the Select Board heard a presentation from Sandy Stapczynski, the president of Andover-based Human Resources Services, Inc. Her firm was hired by the town to do an audit of Williamstown's HR policies with an emphasis on its hiring procedures.

Williamstown Police Chief Apologizes, Faces Tough Questions from Residents

Johnson's first public statements in a public forum since the August release of a federal lawsuit against him, the town manager and the town coincided with more allegations against a department employee over the weekend.

Williamstown Police Sergeant Counters Town's Motion to Dismiss Lawsuit

Now it is up to U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson to decide whether there are grounds to proceed with a large piece of the suit filed by Scott McGowan.

Williamstown Officials: Halloween 'Treat' Not Intended to Send Message

But the town manager acknowledged Sunday that the patches in question could be "easily confused" with the "Blue Lives Matter" symbolism that has been employed nationwide and in town to counter the Black Lives Matter movement.

Williamstown Board Talks Reasons For, Against Replacing Police Chief

During the public comment portion of the twice-monthly public meeting, Janice Loux pressed the five elected officials to explain whether they individually recommended to the town manager that he remove the chief of police in the wake of allegations raised in a federal lawsuit against the town, town manager and chief.

DIRE Committee Concerned About 'Enough Is Enough' Messaging in Williamstown

Andrew Wells called in to the virtual meeting of the Diversity Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee to talk about the 2013 death of his daughter at the hands of a drunk driver in Plymouth.

Williamstown Select Board Criticized for Inaction on Town Manager, Police Chief

The Select Board continues to draw fire from its constituents about its handling of the town manager and police chief in light of a federal lawsuit naming both, along with the town, as defendants.