BELCHERTOWN — Christopher Pronovost is the new chief of police after signing a contract last week which will pay him $124,000 annually.
Pronovost has worked for the Amherst Police Department for 26 years, most recently as captain in charge of operations.
Brenda Aldrich, a member of the Select Board who is its clerk, said Fridzy it met with Pronovost May 2 to negotiate terms of the contract, which was signed Wednesday.
Pronovost will be allowed to work outside of his regular duties to teach, as long as he informs the Select Board ahead of time.
“It’s the same thing we had with the prior chief,” said Aldrich. “We allow it but we want him to write us and let us know when that’s going to be so we have a heads-up on what he’s doing.”
Pronovost, 54, replaces Francis Fox Jr. who resigned last September after a Granby Police report became public showing that he allegedly was drunk during a traffic stop in February 2015.
Aldrich praised how Belchertown Police operated since Fox’s departure when Sgt. Bruce Jenks took over as acting chief. “As far as the running of the department, they all stood up to the plate during this interim time and we are really proud of the guys because they really have done a good job,” she said.
Even though there was some discord when a search committee did not name any internal candidates as finalists for the top job, Aldrich said it is her understanding that members of the department are looking forward to working with the new chief.
“From all we hear everyone is really excited that Chief Pronovost is going to be coming into town, so it’s good for everybody,” she said.
Aldrich said Pronovost would be at the annual Town Meeting in the high school auditorium Monday night for a formal pinning ceremony directly after honors are bestowed on the citizen of the year, the employee of the year and the volunteer of the year. Town Meeting starts at 7 p.m.
Select Board Chairman Ronald Aponte said the Monday night ceremony “will be a great opportunity to introduce Chief Pronovost to the town,” and that he expects dignitaries from Amherst and other area towns will attend.
“It’s been a difficult transition to a new chief, but we think we have a good man in the job and we are certainly looking forward to working with him,” said Aponte.
Aponte said Pronovost actually signed two contracts. The first is for eight weeks, extending to the end of June. The second is a three-year contract that will expire June 30, 2019.
Earlier in his career Pronovost served as a Granby Police officer for three years. He has taught constitutional law through the Western Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association since 2003, and is an adjunct instructor and student adviser at Holyoke Community College.
Eric Goldscheider can be reached at eric.goldscheider@gmail.com.