Be Aware of Runners Near BCC During Thursday Morning Fund-Raiser

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Residents are asked to be aware of traffic delays on outer West Street along the Berkshire Community College campus down to Meadow Ridge on Thanksgiving morning between 9 and 10 a.m. for the 10th annual MountainOne Thankful 5K.
 
The annual event is a fundraiser for the local Berkshire County food pantries.
 
As of Tuesday afternoon, there are close to 700 runners registered for the race. The event will have walkers and runners and more than 100 students participating for free.
 
Attendees are asked to remain on the left side of the road throughout the event to ensure traffic can flow through the event. The organizers ask the community to have patience and be aware of road conditions if they are traveling on outer West Street this Thanksgiving morning. The Pittsfield Police will be on duty to monitor and facilitate safe flow of traffic.
 
The annual event has raised more than $50,000 in the past 10 years for the community with the event and participation fundraising. Participants were charged with creating their own fundraising, which by Tuesday had raised more than $11,000.  
 
Registration for the event is open in person at Berkshire Running Center through Wednesday at 6 p.m. and the morning of the event at Berkshire Community College from 7:30 to 8:30. The race begins at 9 a.m., promptly.
 
The Berkshire Running Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the mission to improve and advance the positive effect the running community has on the neighborhoods in which we live. For more information on the foundation please visit berkshirerun.org or contact the executive director, Shiobbean Lemme at director@berkshirerun.org.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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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