Juveniles Charged for Digital Threats to Pittsfield Schools

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Several juveniles have been charged for posting online threats to the school district.

Over the last several weeks, the Pittsfield Police Department and the school administration have received various reports of online posts and conversations about possible school threats.
    
They were found on social media platforms including Snapchat, TikTok, and Discord.

Police say the current investigation has not yielded information regarding specific plans to target a particular school.

"The PPD takes these reports very seriously. We share information with our school department, other law enforcement agencies, and intelligence gathering centers. As part of this current investigation, the PPD has conducted searches of residences, interviewed students and parents, and seized personal electronics and other evidence," the department wrote in a press release on Monday.

"Several juveniles have been charged with criminal offenses at Berkshire Juvenile Court, and others are expected to be charged as the investigation progresses."

In a communication to the district, Superintendent Joseph Curtis said the police "took immediate action to locate the parties involved, and the parties involved have been detained."

Because of the suspects' ages, further information cannot be released at this time.

"The Pittsfield Public Schools and the Pittsfield Police Department treat all potential threats with the utmost seriousness and want to reassure our families that these incidents are being thoroughly investigated," Curtis wrote.

On Sept. 4, two students and two teachers were killed in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Ga.

The police asked that parents and guardians have frank conversation with their children about the serious consequences of online posts, explaining "There is a thin line between freedom of speech and threatening language. If a juvenile creates a social media post that causes alarm and panic within the community, this department will investigate and take the appropriate action."

They also reminded the community that what goes on the internet stays on the internet and that posts can be accessed even if they are deleted.

Curtis vowed to share any further updates as soon as possible.

"As always, we are thankful for the prompt support of the Pittsfield Police Department and for our students, staff, and community members who report these matters right away," he wrote.

"If you see or hear something, don't hesitate — report it immediately."

Anyone with further information is asked to contact police at 413-448-9700 or anonymously via the tip line at 413-448-9706, or by texting PITTIP and a message to TIP411 (847411).

WWII Veteran Reflects on D-Day at VFW Post Induction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:25PM / Saturday, June 06, 2026

The members in the picture are Bret Miller, Coast Guard, Desert Storm; Hank Morris, Army, Vietnam; Brad Havill, Navy, Global War on Terror; VFW Post 448 Vice Cmdr. Mark Pompi, Army, Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan; Post Cmdr. Arnold Perras, Korea; Joe Difillipo, Army, Vietnam; Teri Billington, Navy, Desert Storm; and Carmen Ostrander, Air Force, Afghanistan.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Anthony Salatino Jr. says his memory is getting a little foggy about his time in the Army. 

But he remembers how terrible D-Day was, and feeling lucky he wasn't among those in the initial invasion force 82 years ago. 

 

"One of the most horrible things was in Normandy. We went shortly after D-Day. I got lucky, very lucky on D-Day. We went to a staging area the night before … and at the very end, somebody called, I was in headquarters, they called all the headquarters personnel at the center," the 103-year-old said. "We did not go. There's about 30 of us. The rest of the battalion was gone, and the reason for that was because there was another battalion coming from the States, and they had no headquarters. 

 

"We stayed back, but we did go to Normandy shortly after that, and when we went to Normandy, it was all over."

 

Salatino was attending an induction ceremony on Thursday at the Lt. John N. Truden VFW Post 448. Joseph Texidor, who served in the Army for 17 years with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sworn in as the post's newest member. 

 

Salatino served in the Medical Corps and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a World War I veteran wounded at Verdun. Salatino was in the Army for about three years.

 

"The whole memory is what I just told you, very, very alive to me," he said. "That is, I can never forget, never forget that."

 

D-Day on June 6, 1944, was the start of Operation Overlord, and the largest invading force to cross the English Channel since 1066. Their goal: to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.