NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Mark Bailey wanted a simple swearing in as the city's police chief. Family, some colleagues and staff. 

 

"This is as small as I get," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey to the room full of officers, staff, family members, other city employees and press in the police station's meeting room. 

 

Bailey, a sergeant, stepped in two years ago as interim when the former police chief was let go. On Tuesday, he took the position permanently. 

 

Both he and the mayor said the interim length was a matter of timing — there was a police contract being negotiated and Bailey was weighing whether he wanted to continue in the job.

 

"I didn't want any cloud over Mark's appointment," said the mayor, who added she didn't want to dwell on the past. "And then we were in the midst of negotiating the police contract, and I wanted to ensure that he got all the benefits that everyone else did."

 

Bailey will get $115,000 in the first year of a three-year contract. 

 

"He's done some really transformative things within the department, from body cams to additional grant writing to additional training of the force, and the force in general," said Macksey. "And he's the right guy. I really support promoting people through the ranks, and he's a true testament of that."

 

The chief said his promotion to permanent chief hasn't really changed anything, and he'll be doing the same things he's been doing the last two years. 

 

"So my goal for the past two years was get more community oriented, increase the ranks ... then moving forward, we're going to get even more community oriented with the public and see what grants are out there to help us buy drones, electric bikes, put on more events like the haunted house," he said. 

 

Bailey instituted a citizen's academy to raise awareness of policing and community issues, with the third class starting this September. He's increased officer staffing to 31 including himself, about eight dispatchers plus five retired officers he can call on and got the department body cameras. He and his staff are working on years-long project to get the department accredited through the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.

 

The chief said accreditation means greater transparency and accountability for the public — and ensures that the department is policing the way the community wants. It includes developing up to 200 policies, from the 23 the force had when he took over. 

 

"If [the public] want to know what the policy is for handcuffing or something like that, it's going to be on our website. You can just download it, and it's basically making sure that the Police Department follows the best practices that the state wants you to follow," he said. "We have to make sure that our building is up to standards for different levels of the accreditation process. So it's going to still be a couple years before we're actually possibly get accredited, but once we get there, that'll be a huge feather in my cap. ...

 

"I'll be very happy about that, and it just shows how great of a Police Department we have if we actually are able to become accredited to the state."

 

The only Berkshire department accredited is Great Barrington, which was certified in 2011 and leveled up to accredited in 2017. 

 

Bailey has been with the department since 2004, when he started as a reserve officer, later moving up as a detective and then sergeant. He earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Westfield State in 2020 and his master's from Aspen University. 

 

"Mark's journey has been one of hard work, perseverance and dedication to this community. Chief Bailey is a shining example of what it means to rise through the ranks with integrity and commitment," said the mayor in her remarks. "I have complete confidence in chief Baileys integrity, his leadership and decision. He is the right person to lead this department forward and serve the city with distinction."

 

The chief's family stood at his side as he was sworn in by City Clerk Tina Leonesio. Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue and Sheriff Thomas Bowler also attended and lunch was served after posing for pictures.

 

"I'm overwhelmed by the amount of people that came. I didn't want this many people," said the chief, jokingly. "I just wanted to get sworn in and then get back to work. Now I guess I gotta talk to people."