PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The FY27 state budget includes $250,000 to establish a task force for an alternative mental health response in the hilltowns, such as Hinsdale, and beyond. 

State Sen. Paul Mark delivered this news to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission last week. 

"I'm sure people are aware of what happened with the shooting under a mental health distress call in Hinsdale, and obviously there's been a lot of concern about what happened and how we should proceed," he said at the BRPC's July 16 meeting, as a guest speaker. 

"And so I'm glad to kind of announce tonight unofficially that Berkshire Regional Planning has actually volunteered to be the recipient of $250,000 to establish a task force that is going to work alongside the Brien Center and the Sheriff's Office to try to figure out how we come up with some kind of an alternative mental health response in the hilltowns like Hinsdale." 

In January, 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil was fatally shot by police while suffering a mental health crisis. 

District Attorney Timothy Shugrue cleared Hinsdale Officer Jeffrey Spratt of criminal charges; however, while non-criminal, Shugrue said the investigation revealed concerns surrounding the Hinsdale Police Department and urged a formal review of its internal policies and applications to the Jan. 7 call. 

Last month, Hinsdale residents aired policing concerns during an information session at Town Hall. Some attendees emphasized that people do not feel safe calling 911 if they are experiencing a mental health crisis. 

A consultant is in the beginning stages of an administrative review of the department, which the town authorized $25,000 to fund.