On a recent weekend, the Plainfield Volunteer Fire/EMS Department were called out to
respond to a trauma incident on South Union Street. This incident turned into a
potentially violent event after volunteer highly trained personnel arrived at the scene.
Plainfield Police Chief Justin Litchfield arrived on this scene and, already knowing the individuals at the address, was able to calm the injured party down and avoid escalation of a bad situation until additional resources arrived from the valley-Mass. State Police and Northampton Fire Paramedics.
Chief Litchfield worked with Plainfield Fire/EMS to once again improve a bad
situation as he has so many times in the past. A month ago, Chief Litchfield was told by
Plainfield Select Board members that his position as police chief would not be
renewed next fiscal year. This announcement was a surprise and a shock for
Plainfield Public Safety. Who did the Select Board members reach out to for help in deciding to go down this road? Certainly not anyone in public safety, those who work so closely with the chief in difficult situations.
Unless you work in our world of public safety, how do you know what our needs
and expectations are? There are fewer and fewer trained first responders and EMTs
responding to medical and trauma incidents in our small, rural hilltown. Don’t make our world that much more dangerous and difficult than it already is. Keep the chief!
David Alvord, retired fire chief/safety officer/ EMT-B, Plainfield Volunteer Fire/EMS
Plainfield