BELCHERTOWN — A Belchertown police officer for 26 years who grew up in town and graduated from Belchertown High School in 1986 will lead the department.
Kevin J. Pacunas was recently hired as the town’s police chief, succeeding Christopher Pronovost, who retired June 30 after being at the helm since 2016.
“As a resident of Belchertown, it is an incredible honor to be appointed as the town’s new police chief,” Pacunas wrote in an email to the Gazette.
Pacunas was appointed in a 4-0 vote by the Select Board on Aug. 1, following a search that narrowed the field of candidates to three finalists who were interviewed in July.
Pacunas said a guiding philosophy for the department will be community engagement and community policing.
“Our officers will engage with all segments of our community,” Pacunas said. “Mental health and overdose-related calls are still a problem and are some of the areas where community outreach is a priority.”
He was selected over Carl V. Mazzaferro II, a Longmeadow police captain, and Mark L. Smith, police chief in North Brookfield, in part because of his grant-writing skills, track record as DARE and school resource officer for eight years, and his knowledge of the town.
“He’s a townie. He lives for Belchertown,” board member Ronald E. Aponte said at the Aug. 1 meeting, adding that Pacunas would be working for the town around the clock and year-round, rather than making the chief position a 9-to-5 job.
“What separates Lt. Pacunas from Capt. Mazzaferro is Belchertown,” Aponte said. “It’s in Lt. Pacunas’ DNA and I think he should be the next chief of police for the town of Belchertown.”
Aponte also praised the other finalists. “They all showed they were skilled, experienced and all three interviewed well,” he said.
Chairwoman Jennifer D. Turner said a number of letters from residents endorsed the internal candidate.
“They really made an impact — they spoke to your character and who we have in the department,” Turner said.
At the meeting, Pacunas expressed appreciation for those who had come out to support him. “I thank you for putting your confidence and trust and faith in me,” Pacunas said.
Pacunas said one of the toughest challenges in policing across the country is recruiting and retaining qualified and diverse police officers. But as an accredited department, he is not expecting to make any immediate changes to the way it operates.
Pacunas earned a bachelor’s of science degree in law enforcement from Western New England University and a master’s of science degree in criminal justice from Westfield State University.
Following his initial hire to the force in 1996, he was promoted to sergeant in 2003 and lieutenant in 2017.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
