Fiscal Year 2024 Data

Fiscal Year 2024

South Hadley Police Department

Message to the Community:

The members of the South Hadley Police strive to always provide professional, attentive and compassionate service to the community.  We rely on the support and partnership from you to improve the safety of the town, as we know that success alone, it is not possible.  We welcome your suggestions and input on how we can better serve the community.  You can visit me at my office hours, held monthly around the community and posted on the town’s webpage, as I encourage your feedback.  Your support is appreciated

Sincerely,

Jennifer Gundersen
 Chief of Police

Staffing, FY24: The FY24 budgeted staffing for the South Hadley Police Department is 30 full sworn police officers, one of which was funded by a grant.  We also had 5 full-time emergency communication center dispatchers, 1 full time administrative assistant/payroll/records clerk and 2 part time emergency dispatchers.  During FY24 Mark Baran was promoted (July) to Lieutenant and Felix Blaney-Perez was promoted (Dec) to Sergeant.  The Department has hired a total of five new officers to fill existing vacancies.  The Department welcomed four fully trained officers to our staff: Anthony Chonmany (HCC), Justin Dufault (Brookfield), Alexandra Cebula (Fairbanks, AK) and Peter Adamczyk (Chicopee).  Jacob Podmore was hired in October and was sent to Holyoke Police Academy 2^nd ROC. 

There were no new hires in the Communications Center.

Awards and Recognition, FY24:  In Jan 2024, Ofc. Cindy Boyle received a Department Commendation for her role in developing and growing the SHPD Crisis Intervention Team. Ofc. Emily Tebo received a Commander’s Commendation for her continued work with the TRIAD Program and helping improve the quality of life for many of South Hadley’s seniors. Officers Ryan Condino and Anthony Chonmany both received a Department Commendation for their actions on April 23, 2024 during a call to investigate possible elder abuse and neglect, potentially saving the elder persons life. School Resource Officer Josh Helems received a Commander’s Commendation for his continued professionalism and dedication to build and maintain a bridge between the schools, youth and law enforcement in Town. Det. Romanovicz received a Department Commendation for her role as the department’s social media representative, maintaining multiple social media accounts to help keep the public informed on the activities of the South Hadley Police Department.

Call Activity, FY24:  123 individuals were arrested in FY24, 31% which were default arrest warrants issued by a court.   239 individuals were summoned to court for criminal offenses.  Arrests and summonses for FY24 increased 26% as compared to FY23.  Communication Center staff generated 22,916 calls for service, an increase in 4% from FY23.

Grant Funding, FY24: The South Hadley Police was awarded $267,973 in grant funding for fiscal year 2024.  The grant funding awarded includes the following: $118,232 from the Massachusetts E911 Department for the operation of the E911 Dispatch Center; $28,580 from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security for equipment, citation printers and child passenger safety seats; and $121,100 from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health for fund a co-responder mental health clinician and training of our crisis intervention team members.  

Community Outreach programs FY24:

Community Support:  Members of the Department participated in numerous community outreach partnerships this year.  We have grown our collaboration with the South Hadley High School Criminal Justice Program and numerous police officers taught curriculums at the SHHS.  In the Spring, officers participated in an event with the Best Buddies where young individual with both physical and mental disabilities compete in games and events. Department personnel assisted with the event and handed out medals to all participants at the end of the day. Organized by our police officers, with other local public safety partners, staff contributed in several events to assist those with food and/or financial insecurity, including the Soup Can Collection, Food Drive, and Stuff the Cruiser Toy for Tots Collection. We also held our bi-annual Drug Take Back which allows residents to drop off unwanted and unused prescription medications. Lastly, the South Hadley PD held an Open House allowing residents to observe the inner working of their police department.

Crisis Intervention Team: Sergeant Michael Pollender oversees the department's Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), with Officer Cindy Boyle functioning as the team's coordinator. The CIT continues to utilize the services of a mental health clinician who works as a co-responder, riding with CIT officers to crisis calls and to conduct follow up visits.  This co-responder is also shared with the communities of Granby, and Belchertown.  In Fiscal Year 2024, the team and department responded to approximately276 crisis calls for service, and conducted approximately 211 follow up visits, which includes follow up visits with survivors of domestic violence.  In FY 2025, the CIT looks forward to having the services of Officer Murphy, the Department's comfort dog, whose handler Officer Emily Tebo is a member of the CIT.

TRIAD/S.A.L.T. (Seniors In Law Enforcement Together) Officer Emily Tebo is the Departments’ liaison to the TRIAD/S.A.L.T.   The TRAID program continues to be involved in numerous programs, including the “Salt For Seniors” campaign, which provides sand to seniors throughout South Hadley in an effort to prevent falls/injuries in icy weather. TRIAD also participated in two (2) National Drug Take Back days in the fall and spring, collecting several hundred pounds of unwanted medications, keeping them out of our natural resources and helping to prevent the start of an opioid addiction.  South Hadley again was one of the towns with the most unwanted medications collected in Hampshire County. TRIAD/S.A.L.T. also participated in the South Hadley Council on Aging’s “Aging in Place: Health and Awareness Fair,” and the “Winter Preparedness Fair” which provides tips to Seniors on ways to help them to stay healthy/safe in their homes longer as they age. TRIAD/S.A.L.T. also facilitated a document shredding day that was free to all those who participated. This event allowed residents to dispose of important documents that were no longer needed in a safe and secure manner to combat identity fraud. With the assistance of the Friends of South Hadley Seniors, TRIAD/S.A.L.T. handed out stockings stuffed with helpful items to homebound seniors during the holiday season. These items included pill boxes, toothbrushes/toothpaste, lip balm, stamps and chocolates. 

School Resource Officer Program: The mission of the School Resource Officer program in South Hadley is to build relationships between schools and the police that contribute to a positive school environment. School Resource Officer Joshua Helems was assigned to the South Hadley High School and Plains Elementary School, while School Resource Officer Raymond Faginski was assigned to the Michael E. Smith Middle School and Mosier Elementary School. SRO Faginski joined the program full time in January 2024 to fill a highly valuable function as the MESMS and Mosier SRO, allowing attention to be given to the 4 public schools more evenly. SHPD is grateful that the Town, School Administration, and caregivers allow us the opportunity to engage with the students and assist the students to be successful and safe in the learning environment.  The School Resource Officer position remained involved in many events both inside and external to the schools.  The ’23-’24 school year brought with it continued concerns about safety and security. District-wide training at Convocation began the year, and was followed with several staff meeting trainings, lockdown drills, and several safety “checkups” at all the school buildings. SRO’s Helems and Faginski worked with SHPS IT to utilize grant monies awarded last year for new cameras at MESMS and Mosier. Both schools were mapped out for additional/replacement cameras at SHHS and MESMS, and a new system at Mosier. These systems will come online in the ’24-’25 school year.   SRO’s Helems and Faginski intend to continue maintaining strong school and town wide relationships to enhance communication and partnership that improves the well-being and safety of South Hadley Public School students, staff and caregivers. 

The Criminal Justice Vocational program from the high school continued it’s partnership with the SHPD.  Several students donned their “role player” hats and acted out roles for the Police Officer Crisis Intervention Training as the officers learn to work with people in need.  SHPD also partnered with the SHHS culinary program to provide meals for in-service training sessions. The culinary program has since provided an asset to the SHPD in these meals and conversely have been exposed to producing mass quantities of food at specific times/dates, a great learning tool for the students as they prepare for possible careers in the food service industries. 

STAFFING, June 30, 2024:

29 budgetted sworn positions; 0 Vacancies; 24 Male/5 Female
5 budgetted Communication positions; 0 vacancies
1 budgetted administrative position

FY24 Crimes Reported

FY24 Calls for Service