Former North Adams Police Chief Dies at 90
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| Police Chief Kenneth Gamache |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Former Police Chief Kenneth P. Gamache died Wednesday at the age of 90.
Gamache was chief for nine years — and had been North Adams' last police chief until the city restructured the public safety department more than 30 years later.
By the time Gamache retired in 1982, he'd served in every rank, beginning as a reserve officer in 1952. A few years later he became full-time patrolman, then sergeant, captain and finally chief in 1972. In total, he'd worked in policing for more than 34 years.
"Chief Gamache committed his life to serving the people and upholding law and order," the Police Department posted on its Facebook page.
Mayor Thomas Bernard offered his condolences to Gamache's family and colleagues on behalf of the city.
"Chief Gamache's service was inspired by and reflected by his deep love of the city of North Adams and its residents," he said. "I know his loss will be felt deeply by his fellow officers in the NAPD and in the Northern Berkshire law enforcement community, and especially by his family with whom he shared the utmost love and dedication."
The Drury High School graduate was first appointed as a reserve patrol officer after serving in the Navy during the Korean War. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Northeastern University, passed through both the Massachusetts and Vermont police academies as well as the FBI Academy, and completed the Police Administration Program at Babson College.
As police chief, he fought to have the Quinn bill, a 1970 state measure that matches local contributions toward incentives for police education, adopted by the city. Speaking at an event held in 2010 to recognize his service, Gamache stressed the need for police officers to be well educated.
"You have to know how to handle people," he said at the time. "Police officers now have a liberal arts education. They understand how they have to act."
He was appointed acting chief of police in June 1972 to replace the retiring William Coyne. In December, after scoring a record 99.54 on the police chief exam, he was named police chief by then Mayor Joseph R. Bianco.
"Chief Gamache can rule the department with an iron hand, which I want," Bianco told the North Adams Transcript, adding that Gamache had good relations with the city's youth and wanted to "upgrade the police force so the community can be proud of it."
Gamache's tenure was disrupted by the city's decision to pursue a combined public safety department headed by a commissioner. Both the police and fire chief were reduced to directors.
He retired instead and then was selected out of 145 applicants to become the chief of police in Mokena, Il., in 1982. Mokena Village President Richard Quinn had said he spent a day in North Adams learning about Gamache before appointing him.
"I talked to everyone I could about him, from the chief judge to a gas station attendant ... I heard no bad comments," Quinn told the Frankfort-Mokena Star.
Gamache poses with then Mayor Richard Alcombright in 2010.
In 2010, then Mayor Richard Alcombright and the City Council honored Gamache's service to the city with a letter of commendation and framed plaque with the insignia he'd worn during his 30 years with the force. The late Public Safety Commissioner E. John Morocco joined the mayor in presenting the plaque.
"He wasn't properly honored and then he retired to Illinois," said Alcombright at a reception held in City Hall after the council meeting. "He was our last police chief. We wanted to show we were appreciative of his service."
Gamache's appellation as "last police chief" ended in 2019, when the city did away with the public safety commissioner position last held by Morocco. Police Chief Michael Cozzaglio would retire with the title and be replaced by the current chief, Jason Wood.
Gamache's wife of 67 years, Gloria Martin, died last year. He leaves his daughters Debra Norcross and Krista Lomartire, their husbands, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
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