The Gazette’s Thursday editorial about the selection of a new Belchertown police chief was spot on and reflects the feelings and disgust the way in which this process has evolved. We can only hope that readers will react and call selectmen with their disgust.
As a longtime Belchertown resident and retired teacher, I had Sgt. Kevin Pacunas in high school, a candidate who was overlooked. He finally was given an interview after the community applied pressure.
I can say that Sgt. Pacunas, a known entity in town, does not carry the hateful rhetoric that one of the three candidates is alleged to have used while training police recruits. With all the hate flourishing in our presidential elections, and in our own backyard at UMass, we do not need to introduce it here.
Out of 32 applicants, this field is the best they can do? I plan to exercise my voice in the next Select Board election.
Carol Mierzewski
Belchertown