Adams Police Chief Placed on Leave

12:14PM / Tuesday, September 09, 2025Print Story | Email Story

K. Scott Kelley

ADAMS, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen voted on Monday to put the police chief on a paid leave of absence.

The vote to put K. Scott Kelley on leave was taken at an executive session on Monday afternoon to discuss personal matters of or complaints or charges against an individual in employ of the town and to discuss discipline or dismissal.

This story was first reported by WNYT.com on Monday night.

The board also voted to appoint Sgt. Donna Malloy as acting police chief until further notice, according to board Chair John Duval.

The notice on the town website for the executive session states the "the board will only return to open session to adjourn."

Duval, in an email, wrote "the town does not comment on personnel matters" and provided no context for placing Kelley on leave or confirm if there is an investigation in process.

Kelley stepped into chief's post in January 2021, following the retirement of Chief Richard Tarsa, a 36-year member of the Adams force.

He came from South Carolina, and has nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement, including roles ranging from school resource officer to the special weapons and tactics team in Anderson, S.C., and worked in policing at two higher education institutions.

Kelley was proffered a second three-year contract in January 2024; this ends on Dec. 31 next year.

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Adams Home Gutted by Early Morning Fire

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
07:37AM / Thursday, February 26, 2026

The cause of the blaze was undetermined and the state fire marshal was on their way.

ADAMS, Mass. — An early morning fire on Richmond Lane gutted a single-family home Thursday.

Fire Chief John Pansecchi said the structure fire was called in about 4 a.m.; three hours later, firefighters were still chasing a smoky stubborn blaze between the first and second floors.

"It was heavy fire on the first floor, spreading to the interior," said Pansecchi. "It was unknown if anybody was in the house. Started a quick knock down, and got most of fire knocked down pretty quick."

The initial call was that someone was still in the home, but the chief said everyone had gotten out and was accounted for.

The interior of the nearly 100-year-old Cape Cod was burned and blackened. Firefighters were able to enter the building and but smoke continued to pour of from under the eaves of the snow-covered roof as well as occasional licks of flame. The second story is listed as a three-quarter, with no dormers.

"Right now, there's a lot of fire up in the void areas between the second floor, in the attic area about the second floor," Pansecchi said. "We're trying to get it, but it's stubborn. ...

"You got to open up all the ceilings and pull it all down. There's a couple hot spots on the outside that keep flaring up there."

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