WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Members of the town s Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee on Monday expressed their displeasure that incidents at the Williamstown Police Department alleged in a federal lawsuit against the town were not investigated at the times that they occurred. As part of its research into town policies and procedures, the DIRE Committee requested records of internal investigations at the WPD for the last 10 years. The response back summarizing was that … nothing was classified as internal affairs records within the Williamstown Police Department since Jan. 1, 2010, Andrew Art told his fellow committee members. There was one investigation that was handled by the Massachusetts State Police that was identified, but the records related to that investigation were not provided to the committee on the grounds that they had not been provided to other requesters. The basis for an exemption [was] the current litigation involving the [Sgt. Scott] McGo
Both McGowan's suit and the town's response to the same allegation in a complaint to the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination indicate that Chief Kyle Johnson referred the investigation of the complaint to the State Police.
A whole dag-gone community problem
Sharon School Committee holds forum letting residents share instances of racial discrimination
Mary Ellen Gambon
After several recent incidents of allegations of racial intolerance directed at the Sharon School Committee and Sharon Public School teachers, the committee held a two-hour listening session for people to express their personal experiences and to educate community members on how these events have affected them and their children.
Broadcast on Sharon’s public access cable station and held via the Zoom platform to encourage public participation, 87 residents shared their experiences. School Committee chair Judy Crosby moderated the meeting, which was also attended by other School Committee members.