A Fabulous Job

Chief Livingstone introduces Sgts Foster (left) and McLean (ctr), Lt. Knightly (rt)

While the town is parsimonious when it comes to budgeting for our Public Safety departments, I have to admit the Select Board and Town Manager are pretty good when it comes to demonstrating moral support.

 Fellow officers (and Fire Chief) showed up for support

After the awful Blarney Blowout of 2013 (which resulted in six arrests) where bottles and cans were thrown at EMTs while they were assisting an intoxicated young woman, the Select Board and Town Manager actually gave UMass an earful for not doing enough to prevent the mayhem.

And of course the next year which was an utter disaster (with 58 arrests), Amherst town officials were quick to publicly support APD after the rush to judgement about alleged inappropriate use of force.

Last night it was one of those symbolic, non controversial little things that goes a l-o-n-g way towards maintaining pride in a job well done:  Swearing in recently promoted officers Dave Foster and Rich McLean to sergeant and Dave Knightly to lieutenant.