NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A nearly 20-year veteran of the Police Department has been named as interim police chief effective Monday, April 10.
Mayor Jennifer Macksey said on Friday that she has appointed Sgt. Mark Bailey to temporarily replace departed Chief Jason Wood. Lt. Anthony Beverly had stepped into the leadership role last month when Wood was put on administrative leave.
"I have the outmost confidence in Bailey's ability to lead this department to be the best and most professional department it can be," the mayor said in a statement.
"I extend my gratitude to Lt. Anthony Beverly for helping us through this transition. He is a true team player, a person that serves with respect and dedication to the North Adams community."
Bailey started with the force as a reserve patrol officer in December 2004 and was hired as a full-time permanent police officer a year later. In 2013, he was assigned to the Detective Bureau and took on the role of narcotics investigator for the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Task Force.
He was appointed acting detective sergeant of the Detective Bureau in 2015 and appointed permanent detective sergeant in 2017. In 2020, he returned to patrol as sergeant supervising third shift.
Macksey said Bailey has extensive training and certifications in interviewing and interrogations, sexual assault investigations, fire investigations, tactical deployment of officers and emergency medical services during critical incidents, and advanced cell phone investigations, as well as death scene investigator training.
Bailey is also an investigator for Internet Crimes Against Children, which is an assignment he will continue as interim chief.
The 2000 Drury High graduate obtained his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University in 2004. Bailey also graduated from Aspen University with a master of science in criminal justice with a specialization in law enforcement management.
"He comes highly recommended by his peers," said the mayor. "He carries a high ethical standard and he has the utmost respect and care for not only his colleagues but the community he serves.
"Bailey's focus will be to get the new Police Department headquarters operational, work to get policies and procedure updated, improve community engagement with citizens but most importantly making North Adams the safest it can be."
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North Adams Police Charge 7 After Drug Investigation
Staff Reports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Police charged seven people after executing simultaneous search warrants on Eagle Street and Arnold Place.
On Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026, members of the North Adams Police Department Detective Unit and Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force executed search warrants at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3 and 59 Arnold Place.
According to police, the search warrants were the result of a month-long investigation into a group of people from Springfield utilizing both residences as part of their heroin and cocaine distribution operation.
Police reported that during the search warrant execution at 212 Eagle Street Apartment 3, Giovanni Ramirez was taken into custody. Joanne Bentley and Chad Luczynski were also located in the apartment and will be charged as part of this investigation.
During the search warrant execution at 59 Arnold Place, Sandra Bunt, Raven Vanderburg, Jaiden Langford-Andrews and Angel Ortiz were all taken into custody.
Bunt's bail was revoked on a separate open case, and she is held without bail. Vanderburg is being held without bail for a probation violation on a separate case.
Langford-Andrews, Ortiz and Ramirez were all held without bail pending dangerousness hearings scheduled for later this week and early next week.
As a result of the investigation, the following evidence was seized:
Approximately 110 grams of cocaine
Approximately 2,323 bags of heroin (46 grams)
Approximately $6,817 U.S. Currency
Multiple functioning digital scales with residue
The following people were arrested and charged with the following:
Jaiden Langford-Andrews of Springfield:
Arrest Warrant
Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Conspiracy
Angel Ortiz, of Springfield:
Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Conspiracy
Giovanni Ramirez, of Springfield, Massachusetts:
Trafficking Cocaine 36-100 grams
Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin
Conspiracy
Sandra Bunt, of North Adams:
Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Conspiracy
Raven Vanderburg, of North Adams:
Trafficking Heroin 36-100 grams
Possessing with Intent to Distribute Cocaine
Conspiracy
The following people were charged but not taken into custody:
On a day set aside for recognizing local veterans, the city unveiled a new plaque that added or corrected the names of 169 who served during wartime.
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The City Council on Tuesday accepted a fiscal 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $14,231 for the construction of an evidence room.
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Drury High School students don't have to ask "where's the beef" from, now that the school has partnered to bring local meat into its food service system. click for more