Board rehires Gagnon to fill police vacancy
Date: 1/31/2011
Jan 31, 2011By Chris Maza
Reminder Assistant Editor
EAST LONGMEADOW — The Board of Selectmen hired James Gagnon for a second time to the Police Department as a military replacement for an officer who has been called to active duty.
The town had already hired Gagnon in its last round of police hires, but the Massachusetts Civil Service Commission informed the Selectmen that the hiring did not take place in accordance to state law, according to Selectman James Driscoll.
"We were anxious to get the process going, but Civil Service was extremely slow in getting back to us," Driscoll said.
Police Chief Doug Mellis said the hiring of Gagnon is conditional. Gagnon must first pass a physical agility exam required by the state and a psychiatric evaluation, which was requested by the Selectmen.
Gagnon must also complete a 22-week training course at the Western Massachusetts Regional Police Academy, located at Springfield Technical Community College.
Mellis told
Reminder Publications after Gagnon's initial hiring that he hoped to be able to make Gagnon's temporary position a permanent one in the future.
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