Westfield Town Administrator's Role In Police Chief Selection Process

James Gildea



 Candidates for the position of Chief of Police are informed of the process that will take place to determine who will be appointed.  Westfield Town Administrator James Gildea makes a recommendation to the Town Council.  This process has been the center of allegations pointing to "favoritism", "fixing", and missing test scores.  The Fact of The Matter is in possession of a survey (to be posted shortly) James Gildea issued to all police department personnel in 2005 when the search was on to replace Chief Bernard Tracy, who left under a cloud of alleged corruption, complaints, and lawsuits.  The survey, was an invitation to assist the town administrator in the selection process.  Gildea has played an integral role in the tenure's of Westfield's last two Police Chiefs.  Considering the current set of circumstances surrounding Westfield Police Chief John Parizeau's tenure, in the wake of Bernard Tracy's regime, dare we say...."a third strike, your out!"  Its time that Mayor Skibitsky's claim of "transparency in government" be put to the test in anticipation of an impending Westfield Police Chief selection process.