HINSDALE, Mass. — The Hinsdale Police Department will hold an information session about its policies, procedures, and operations following the fatal police shooting of 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis in January. 

District Attorney Timothy Shugrue cleared Hinsdale Officer Jeffrey Spratt of criminal charges, deeming the shooting a lawful and necessary use of force to prevent an imminent, serious, or deadly harm to himself or another. 

However, while non-criminal, Shugrue said the investigation revealed concerns surrounding the Hinsdale Police Department.  He urged for a formal review of its internal policies and applications to the Jan. 7 events. 

During a special town meeting in March, Hinsdale voters approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the Police Department. 

"While the review will address the Jan. 7 incident, it will also focus comprehensively on all department policies, procedures, training, and improvement recommendations," Hinsdale Town Administrator Robert Graves said. 

Since hiring Daigle Law Group to conduct an independent review of the department’s policies, procedures, operations, and organizational practices, the town is now giving residents an opportunity to ask questions about the evaluation at a community information session tomorrow. 

During the session tomorrow, Tuesday, June 30, at 6:30 p.m., Eric Diagle, Daigle Law Group principal attorney, will give an overview of the assessment and respond to questions from attendees. 

Shugrue was not the only one to criticize the department’s policies, with the Dalton Police Department deciding to suspend its mutual aid services in April. 

Police Chief Deanna Strout said in a correspondence to Hinsdale that the decision was not made lightly and comes following "recent events, combined with ongoing concerns" that have "raised serious issues regarding operational trust, accountability, and officer safety." 

All municipalities in Berkshire County, including Hinsdale, have signed the county-wide mutual aid agreement.

"These issues present a risk not only to the public but also to officers responding in a mutual aid capacity," Strout said in the correspondence.  

Until Hinsdale addresses these concerns in a meaningful and verifiable way, the Dalton Police Department is suspending routine mutual aid responses to Hinsdale, she said. 

"I remain open to future dialogue should the Town of Hinsdale wish to take steps to restore confidence and rebuild a professional working relationship," Strout said. 

In response to the Dalton Police Department's decision, acting Hinsdale Police Chief Bruce Cullet has revised the department's standard operating procedure to include the Becket Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police as the primary agencies for mutual aid requests, Graves said. 

"We appreciate and will honor our commitment to mutual aid for the common good…Hinsdale is also grateful to the Peru Select Board and Chief Cullett, who is serving as Chief for both Towns via a mutual aid agreement with Peru following the Jan. 7 incident," he said.