Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Hires Vice President

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Coop Bank) announced the hiring of Gina Vallone to its retail banking team as a Vice President and Branch Manager of its Dalton Avenue location. 
 
She has significant experience in branch management, financial advising, personal insurance sales and management, relationship management and customer service.  
 
Vallone joins Coop Bank after working for the previous fifteen years at Lee Bank in their retail and community banking departments. For the last five years, Vallone has been managing Lee Bank’s Pittsfield and Lenox branches. Prior to banking, she worked in personal insurance line sales and customer relations with Minkler Insurance Agency. 
 
"Coop Bank is excited to add Gina to our growing team," said CEO J. Jay Anderson. "She has significant experience in branch and relationship management, customer service, and consumer banking and insurance product sales and development."
 
Vallone has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Elizabeth Freeman Center. She was born and raised in Berkshire County and currently resides in Pittsfield with her family.

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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