Cheshire Police Chief Arrested on Sex Solicitation Charges

Staff Reports04:11PM / Friday, November 07, 2025Print Story | Email Story

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town's police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave after being arrested Thursday night on charges of soliciting sex for a fee.

The Board of Selectmen held an emergency meeting at 3 p.m. on Friday and appointed retired Chief Timothy Garner as an administrative consultant. According to a statement from the board, it is investigating options for an interim chief.

According to the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, 53-year-old Michael Alibozek of Adams was arrested by the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit and assisted by troopers from the Cheshire State Police Barracks.

Alibozek was taken into custody in the parking lot of Hoosac Valley Middle and High School at approximately 9:45 p.m. He had been communicating online with an undercover State Police detective, according to the DA's office.

Following the arrest, Alibozek was relieved of duty and placed on paid administrative leave by the town administrator and the Select Board Chair Shawn McGrath. His town-issued firearm and access to the police station were seized.

In a statement, the Board of Selectmen said, "The Town of Cheshire takes these matters seriously and is fully cooperating with the investigative and judicial processes. The Board of Selectmen has been informed and is addressing the matter in the best interests of the Town of Cheshire. Former Chief Timothy Garner has been appointed as an administrative consultant. The Board is working on investigating options for an Interim Chief.

"No further comments will be made by the Cheshire Police Department or the Town of Cheshire at this time."

Alibozek was hired as police chief in 2022 to replace Garner, after serving on the force for five years. A sergeant at the time, he was one of two finalists interviewed for the post.

The town of Cheshire has reported the matter to the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission.

The defendant will be arraigned on Monday in Central Berkshire District Court.

He is the second county police chief to be placed on paid administrative leave. Adams Chief K. Scott Kelley was put on paid leave in September; the reason for that have not yet been made public. In Sandisfield, the Berkshire Eagle is reporting that the police chief there has been fired as of Tuesday. Michael Morrison was also the deputy fire chief and had been on paid administrative leave since July over inconsistencies in the Fire Department's payroll accounts; this did not relate to his role as police chief.

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Cheshire Urges Voters to Check Status, Deliberates New Fire Sign

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
04:06PM / Monday, August 24, 2026

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Voters wishing to cast ballots in next week's primary and the general election should check their voting status: the town clerk's office reported about 900 inactive voters in July.

Town Clerk Whitney Flynn last week was announcing the state primary election date, Tuesday, Sept. 1 with early voting being:

Saturday, August 22: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, August 24: 3 to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, August 25: 3 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday, August 26: 3 to 5 p.m.

She told the Selectmen that her office would be doing voter testing on Saturday, which was open for residents to observe.

In June, during the annual town meeting, Flynn reported there were more than 2,500 registered voters and on Tuesday, said more than a third have become inactive. The town's voting list is updated annually and those who have not responded to the annual town census are placed on "inactive" status. And those who don't vote in two consecutive state/federal elections while inactive are removed from the voter list.

"I encourage everyone to check their voter registration status. Nine hundred people were made inactive on the voter list," said Flynn. "It doesn't mean they can't come to vote. It just means that if they didn't fill out that continuous and concurrent residency form by signature that I sent out all those postcards for."

Residents can contact her or return the inactive voter cards she sent out by mail back in July to become active again or remove their name from the list. After the inactive postcards went out, Flynn said she received many back but still has around 500 inactive.

She urged voters to check their status online as some census cards were not verifiable. If you are inactive you can still vote, just be sure to have a document with your name and current residency when you arrive at the polls.

Flynn also added she is always looking for more poll workers.

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