District Attorney to Host Workshop on Organized Retail Crime and Financial Fraud

10:37AM / Friday, April 11, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. On Monday, April 14, the Berkshire District Attorney's Office, in partnership with the New England State Police Information Network, will host a workshop addressing organized retail crime and financial fraud.

At the workshop, speakers will discuss organized retail crime, financial crime, organized retail crime legislation, and current frauds effecting Berkshire County businesses and banks.

Speakers include Ben Dugan, Executive Director for Central Investigations for CVS Health; Mark Solomon, International President of the International Association of Finance Crimes Investigations; Ryan Kearney, General Counsel for Retailers Association of Massachusetts; and Kelly Kemp, Second Assistant District Attorney at the Berkshire District Attorney's Office.

The impetus of the conference was the concern over retail and financial crimes occurring in Berkshire County and across the country. These crimes effect both businesses and residents alike and threaten the financial well-being of the Berkshire Community. While many businesses have reported a decrease in retail crimes over the past two years, education regarding the crime trends and awareness is critical to continuing the reduction in organized retail crime and financial fraud in the Berkshires.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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