EASTHAMPTON — Chad Alexander knew he wanted to be a police officer for as long as he can remember. Growing up, the Easthampton police sergeant spent much of his time at Jarvis Avenue in Holyoke with his grandparents, Richard and Marlene Werenski, both of whom served on the Holyoke Police Department.
“Watching them, I knew from a young age that this was the life I wanted,” said Alexander. “They were my driving force behind going into this line of work.”
And in following in those familial footsteps, Alexander was recognized Wednesday as exemplifying the actions of his late grandfather when he was presented with the Richard G. Werenski Officer of the Year award at the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association meeting.
“It was a very nice surprise — I was surprised to learn I was nominated,” he said. “It was quite an honor.”
The annual award, named after Werenski, who was a member of Holyoke Police for 43 years, has been presented every year for the past 25 years to an officer serving in the four western counties of Massachusetts who has demonstrated the highest standards of professional conduct, and diligence to duty, loyalty, honesty and integrity, as a police officer.
To be considered for the award, recipients are compassionate with the public, accomplish tasks within the best interest of the department and community, show “initiative to address situations before they become problems, and be a model of the law enforcement code of ethics.”
This is the first time the association has presented this award to a police officer from Easthampton, according to Easthampton Police Chief Alberti, who serves as the first vice president of the association.
“Chad is a very humble guy. He does extraordinary work with the community,” said Alberti. “He exemplifies the definition of the award, filling the very large shoes of his grandfather.”
Alexander started his career in the field as a part-time police officer in Nantucket, and later as a full-time police officer in Easthampton in 2007. He was promoted to sergeant in 2018.
Among his duties, Alexander supervises the day shift, firearms licensing, the field training officer program, and public records.
Outside of his patrol duties, Alberti said Alexander established the department’s monthly “Coffee with a Cop” program and the annual “Cookout with a Cop” event. He also noted that one of the most notable programs Alexander established was the veteran appreciation banner program, which elevates the names and faces of Easthampton veterans on banners throughout the city from Memorial Day through Veterans Day.
Alexander was also recently recognized by American Legion Dalton Lavallee Post 224’s Americanism award for his outreach work with the city’s veterans.
What made the recognition of being named the police officer of the year especially significant for Alexander was being presented with the honor by his grandmother and Alberti in a ceremony held at the Delaney House in Holyoke.
“This made my year,” Marlene Werenski said. “Nobody told me who the recipient was — I started crying as soon as I heard his name. I was thrilled.”
Marlene Werenski, who took the last-ever “policewoman’s” exam in Holyoke before the testing transitioned to police officers, served on the department for 25 years. Up until the onset of the COVID-19, the 86-year-old said she continued to serve as a police matron with Holyoke.
“I’ve had a busy busy life, but I loved every minute of it,” she said.
When her husband Richard Werenski died of a heart attack in 1996 — less than a year after his retirement — she said Alexander, who was 13 years old at the time, took it especially hard.
“He always said he was going to be a policeman. He wanted to be the same as my husband, and he did — and so did his brother, Eric. I love that the two of them followed in his footsteps,” she said. “I’m sad that Richie isn’t here to see this, but I’m glad I am. Chad deserves it.”
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
