(Greenfield, MA) Update: Greenfield Police Department has returned to 24-hour services as of Sunday.
The department had reduced their overnight patrol since March 1st due to staffing shortages and the Massachusetts State Police were assisting during the 3 a.m. to 7 a.m. block.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department has agreed to assist with the staffing shortages that caused the shift reduction, allowing the department to run all shifts again. According to the Greenfield Police Department, the continued staffing shortage may result in delays to “non-life threatening or non-active property calls for the near future.”
—
03/24/23 The City of Greenfield and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office have made an agreement to provide staffing in order to restore 24-hour coverage by the Greenfield Police Department. According to Sheriff Donelan, the recent hiring of new officers in Greenfield through the COPS grant is what makes this collaboration possible.
The four candidates for hire were introduced at this week’s Public Safety Commission meeting and with the positive recommendation from the commissioners, they will move forward to the Mayor’s office.
“Chief Haigh’s and my focus in the last few months has always been on having 24/7 police coverage for the City of Greenfield. How to do it with a reduced budget was the question. The ability to hire two new certified officers under the federal Community Oriented Policing Services grant along with Sheriff Donelan’s assistance has produced this temporary solution. We’re grateful for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office assistance,” said Mayor Wedegartner. “I also want to thank the Massachusetts State Police for their support during this time. It came at the right time and is greatly appreciated.”
“I had no ability to cover an entire shift for the police department because of my own staffing issues,” Donelan said. “This grant puts Greenfield officers on all three shifts and simply relies on my deputies to add that last needed officer on each shift and fill gaps in the schedule.” Donelan stressed that this is a temporary solution. “Greenfield needs and deserves a fully funded, fully staffed police Department. We are willing and able to help out the city, but my primary focus is the work we do at the House of Correction and we cannot lose sight of that.
“Collaboration, internally and externally, with our partners in law enforcement is crucial at these times. I’m very grateful for the support the Sheriff is giving us, and hope that we can be back to full staffing as soon as possible. While I appreciate all that is being done by other agencies, it is the responsibility of Greenfield and the Greenfield Police Department to provide the primary safety for our citizens,” said Chief Haigh. “I wish to thank Deputy Chief William Gordon and our sworn and civilian staff for all their hard work and support during this stressful time,” he added. Chief Haigh also expressed his appreciation for the citizens of Greenfield and their support of the department.