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At this time, the department's K9 unit was sniffing out the perimeter and the McKay Street parking garage.

UPDATE: Pittsfield Police Investigating Berkshire Bank Robbery

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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It is believed that only this Berkshire Bank location is closed due to the robbery. McKay Street remains open to through traffic.

Updated with information from the Pittsfield Police Department: On Wednesday, Nov. 30, at approximately 09:21 a.m., Pittsfield Police Officers were dispatched to Berkshire Bank at 66 West Street for a hold up alarm.

Information from dispatch was that a robbery was in progress. According to witnesses at the scene, the suspect was described as a white man wearing a brown hat, black jacket, jeans, mask and sunglasses. 
 
According to police, the suspect had passed a handwritten note demanding money. The suspect fled the scene and headed toward the McKay Street parking deck. 
 
No cash was taken, no injuries were reported and no weapon was displayed. 
 
Video surveillance in the area is being reviewed and aiding in the investigation. Evidence was collected in the vicinity of the bank and surrounding areas. 
 
The investigation is being conducted by the Pittsfield Police Detective Bureau, Digital Evidence Unit, Drug Unit, K9 Unit, Anti-Crime Unit and uniformed patrol.
 
This remains an active investigation. 
 
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Police Department Detective Bureau (413-448-9705), call the Tip line (413-448- 9706), or send us a tip via text message by texting “PITTIP” and your message to 847411 (TIP411)
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Original Post: Wednesday, Nov. 30, at 10:37 am. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Bank's West Street location is locked down while police investigate a morning robbery via note pass.

Police vehicles have lined the surrounding area, and the bank's McKay Street entrance is secured with caution tape.

Police Capt. Thomas Dawley said the call came in around 9:20 a.m. while the robbery was in progress. He reported that the person fled the scene. According to police, the robber left a note at the bank demanding money. The amount of money taken is unknown, and there were no injuries.

"That's all we have right now, we're following up on some leads," Dawley said around 10 a.m.

At this time, the department's K9 unit was sniffing out the perimeter, and the McKay Street parking garage.

"We found some evidence. We don't know if it's related or not but we have the dog doing ... it's called an article search. So the dog is doing an article search right now in this parking deck and wherever it takes them," Dawley reported.

"We're also checking video right now from Berkshire Bank. Like I said, no one was injured, no threats, and we're just going to follow what we can. It's developing right now."

It is believed that only this Berkshire Bank location is closed due to the robbery. McKay Street remains open to through traffic. There are six Berkshire Bank branches in Pittsfield. 

This is the second bank robbery in the city this year. The Greylock Federal Credit Union on Kellog Street was robbed Aug. 8 and a suspect arrested 10 days later. The Berkshire Bank branch on Elm Street was robbed in September 2018 and the suspect apprehended within two hours. Both were cases of unarmed robbery in which a note was passed to a teller demanding money. 

In May, four people were arrested after an alleged fraudulent transaction at the Berkshire Bank in Great Barrington and charged with unarmed robbery.


Tags: bank robbery,   

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Pittsfield School Committee Appoints Latifah Phillips as Permanent Superintendent

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee enthusiastically voted to hire Latifah Phillips as the permanent superintendent on Wednesday. 

Appointed as the interim last spring, Phillips is said to have brought meaningful initiatives centered on student outcomes to the Pittsfield Public Schools in a short period of time. Her hire is pending a successful contract negotiation.

"We've had a lot of really difficult decisions since January, and I think this one is easy," committee member Heather McNeice said. 

There was applause from attendees after the vote. 

Three options were listed on the agenda: Hire Phillips, conduct a search and allow Phillips to apply, or conduct a search not allowing Phillips to apply based on the interim search. Committee member Sarah Muil made the motion to hire Phillips, explaining that from her first conversations with the educational leader, she has felt like Phillips was at home. 

"She has always been unwavering, and everything that she's done, she's always kept a calm and steady way of talking through every situation with families, with staff members, with us," Muil said. 

"I feel as though I'm growing up with her in some way through this experience, because she is showing us what a leader truly can be when you allow them to be in the role that they should be in."

Phillips, who joined the meeting virtually, said this is one of the most significant moments in her life and career, and that serving PPS during this interim year has reinforced her belief in restraint, resilience, and potential with students, staff, families, and the community.

She said she looks forward to advancing the district’s shared vision and ensuring that every decision is centered on the success and well-being of students.

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