Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 10/16/2015
CHICOPEE – Their candidate being the subject of a criminal complaint may deter some political supporters but not those of Michael Bissonnette.
It was announced on Oct. 13 that Bissonnette has been charged with assault and battery on a police officer, displaying campaign material within 150 feet of a polling place, intimidation of a witness, disorderly conduct, disorderly conduct at a polling place and threatening a police officer in a complaint filed in Westfield District Court.
The complaint was the result of an alleged altercation between Chicopee Police Lt. John Provonost and Bissonnette at a polling place on the primary election day Sept. 8.
Bissonnette’s Facebook page was loaded with messages of support from residents who see the complaint as a means to stop Bissonnette from regaining the position of mayor.
In the court documents, Provonost said Bissonnette acted aggressively when he was told he could not enter a polling place while wearing a “Bissonnette for Mayor” sticker on his coat, a violation of state law.
Provonost said in the complaint he told Bissonnette, ‘“You have to leave the area with that campaign sticker.’ Mr. Bissonnette then ripped the sticker off his chest and got closer to my face once again, bumped his stomach and body against mine and stated, ‘There I’m a (expletive) regular citizen now, what are you going to do about it tough guy.”’
There was no arrest on the scene. At the time of the incident Reminder Publications asked the Chicopee Police Department for a clarification of the incident and was told no definitive statements could be made until an investigation was completed.
When asked to comment, Bissonnette referred to a post he made on Facebook, “The timing of this speaks for itself. The Kos Kops did this two years ago when they got caught for unauthorized photographing of a murder scene. They fooled a lot of people then. Logically if I had assaulted a police officer, I would have been immediately arrested – especially by this cop known as ‘Lt. Crazy’ around the station. In addition, although I remained at the scene, no one came to interview me or ask for a statement about what happened. I would have told them that the only time I got into his face was when he asked if I had ‘met my wife on Ashley Madison.’ Yes I lost my temper at that point. With two recent shootings, gang activity and numerous robberies, it would seem that the law enforcement focus should be on preventing crime and protecting our citizens. Instead we again have officers who live out of town trying to influence the elections. The bad cops know I will I hold everyone equally accountable and they are clearly willing to do whatever it takes to prevent my election. Is this really the kind of ‘honesty and integrity’ you were promised? Eventually, as it did with the murder photos, the truth will come out. Don't Get Fooled Again!”
Bissonnette’s statement refers to the case of illegal photos of murder victim Amanda Plasse being taken and shared by some members of the Police Department.
Bissonnette appeared on “The Adam Wright Show” on WHYN radio on Oct. 14 and characterized the election so far as “diabolical.”
He said Provonost has “a pretty long history with me” and referred to how he allegedly confronted Bissonnette during the 2005 mayoral election at a candidate’s forum at the senior center. Bissonnette charged Provonost would park his car in front of his campaign headquarters daily during the last election.
Provonost himself is currently involved in legal action about his allegedly pointing his service weapon at a fellow officer during an argument concerning paranormal subjects.
While Bissonnette told Wright that Provonost’s statements about his wife Erin “cranked my shaft quite a bit,” he added that at no time did he push the officer.
Bissonnette believes the complaint was timed “to make an impact on the election.”