Wilbraham selectmen interview police candidates
By Charles F. Bennett
Turley Publications Staff Writer
WILBRAHAM – Several truths came out of the Wilbraham Board of Selectmen’s interviews with three candidates for two openings on the Police Department at their Feb. 13 meeting: The fact that there is a large interest by area police patrolmen to vie for a slot on the Wilbraham police force even though it means you are working the midnight shift while everyone else is in bed.
The three candidates now work for police departments in Monson, Shrewsbury and Northampton but said they were eager to join the Wilbraham department because of the size and reputation of the police force.
It was no better illustrated than when Selectman Chairman Patrick Brady commented that candidate Brent Noyes, a Northampton patrolman who previously worked an office job at MassMutual: “You’re one of those rare individuals who wanted to go from a normal job to someone who works the midnight shift, would take a pay cut and still enjoy the new job!”
The three candidates, Brent Noyes, Justin Wall and Christopher Arventos were put through their paces by Selectman James Thompson who asked each candidate probing hypothetical questions: “What would you do if you saw a carload of gang members driving down Boston Road?” “What would you do if a person needs to be put in protective custody?” “A call comes in that a person is disruptive at a local business but is gone by the time you arrive to investigate. How would you handle the call?”
Brady added, “What would you do if you saw a restaurant, with a bar, open after 2 p.m. (closing time in Wilbraham)?” Chief Roger Tucker also asked each candidate how they would employ community policing principles.
Brent Noyes
Noyes, a Criminal Justice graduate of Westfield State University who lives in Sixteen Acres told the selectmen, Brady, Thompson and Robert Boilard that he enjoys police work and is proficient in community policing as he now walks a beat in downtown Northampton interacting with residents and storeowners. “I enjoy the aspect of developing relationships with people on my beat,” he said.
Noyes said one of the reasons he applied for the job was he would like to work closer to his home in Springfield. “My wife and I want to put roots down in the community. I know I would feel comfortable here,” said Noyes.
Noyes said if he encountered someone who was intoxicated, that would be justification to be put into protective custody, transported to the station remain until sobered up. Responding to the gang member query, Noyes said he would follow the car and run the plates to see if there were any violations.
Justin Will
Justin Will, also a Westfield State graduate, is a full time sergeant on the small town of Shrewsbury’s police department. He and his wife have a new baby and live in Belchertown. He said he wanted to broaden his horizons by joining the Wilbraham force and wanted the opportunity to rise up through the ranks. Will has worked on the campus police force at the Veterans Hospital and Look Park Police, both in Northampton.
Will told the selectmen that typical evening calls he has experienced in Shrewsbury include domestic abuse cases, house breaks and barking dogs.
He told Tucker that to him community policing means establishing trust with people in town. As to the question about investigating after hours issues at Wilbraham bars, he said he would investigate why the bar was still open and make sure people still there were fit to drive.
After the interviews, Noyes was appointed to fill an immediate opening. Will was appointed to fill a slot to be vacant in April.
Arventos will be asked to wait until an opening comes up after a retirement in September to see if he would still be interested then.
Notes
In other news the selectmen held a moment of silence in memory of two recent deaths. Astronaut Janice Voss, a Minnechaug graduate, who made six space flights, died last week at 55. Former assessor Allen Kinney died at 95 in Wingate of Wilbraham.
The selectmen met with several members of the Finance Committee to start the fiscal year 2013 budget process. They plan to meet again on Feb. 27.Town Administrator Robert Weitz projected next year’s budget, approximately $38 million, to have a 1.6 percent increase in town operation costs. The conversation was dominated by storm damage cleanup costs.
The selectmen are trying to set up a meeting with the Hampden Selectmen to discuss expanding the Medical Reserve Corps.
The next meeting is Monday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall.
Charles F. Bennett can be reached at cbennett@turley.com.
