Shutesbury Select Board Interviews Two Police Chief Finalists, Enters Executive Session

Select Board · Meeting of January 6, 2026

Shutesbury Select Board interviewed two police chief finalists in open session Tuesday before voting unanimously to deliberate in executive session. The board heard from Ben Peters, a Sunderland officer and vice president of the Franklin County Police Cadet Program, who described crisis negotiation experience, a public safety festival drawing nearly 100 agencies, and plans to bring an internship program to town; and from Devin Pelletier, the department's acting chief for the past six months, who cited the need for stability after multiple leadership changes and pointed to a town-wide 25-mph speed limit and a community giving tree as recent wins. Chair Rita Farrell explained that executive session was necessary to protect contract negotiations if the board moved to appoint a candidate that night.

The board also voted unanimously to execute a $9,975 MOU with the Franklin County Regional Council of Governments for an ADA evaluation of all town buildings, fully covered by a grant award.

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Source: the Select Board meeting of January 6, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.