Longtime Pittsfield Police Officer Passes Suddenly

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Police Department is mourning the sudden loss of a longtime officer.

Chief Thomas Dawley announced the unexpected death of Officer Michael Silver "with great sadness" on Monday. Silver worked for the department for more than 15 years and is remembered as a highly respected member of the force.

The Dawley's post on Facebook stated the department would not release more information and requested privacy for Silver's family.

"Rest in peace Ofc. Michael Silver Call Sign #403, your brothers and sisters in blue will take it from here," he wrote in a Facebook post.


Silver began his career with PPD in 2008 after graduating from the State Police Municipal Academy. He has been a senior tactical operator on the Berkshire County Special Response Team since 2016 and was assigned to the department's traffic unit.

"Ofc. Silver was dedicated to the profession of being a police officer and was highly respected by his peers," Dawley wrote.

Silver briefly served with the Lee Police Department in 2015 and was a certified Municipal Police Training Committee instructor in several areas. He received several letters of commendation and was the recipient of the Weapons Seizure Award and a Drug Buster Award.

Dawley and members of the PPD extended their deepest condolences to the officer's family, friends, and those who knew him.


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Police Seeking Suspect in Fatal Hit-and-Run

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are searching for a suspect in a fatal hit-and-run on Tuesday. 
 
The victim, whose identity has not been released, was found nearly four miles away from where he was reportedly struck. 
 
The initial report was that someone was in the road, possibly struck by a motor vehicle, at the intersection of Linden Street and Francis Avenue at about 11:33 p.m.
 
According to the report filed by Sgt. David Hallas, officers were unable to locate either a victim or a vehicle at the intersection. They spoke with witnesses and canvassed the area. 
 
They were found him in the road in the 1350 block of West Housatonic Street near the Best Western hotel. 
 
The victim was deceased. 
 
The investigation is pointing to the victim being struck the Linden Street intersection and then trapped under the vehicle and dragged "to a final resting place" on West Housatonic. 
 
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