CHESHIRE, Mass. — A veteran officer of the Police Department is out after his position as school resource officer was was basically eliminated.
The Select Board on Thursday night voted to lay off Sgt. David Tarjick after the Hoosac Valley Regional School District requested he not return to the high school campus.
An investigation had cleared him of an incident with a student but he went to the school prior to being officially reinstated.
The vote came after about 19 minutes of discussion and statements from Tarjick, who had requested the posted executive session be opened.
"I love this town. I've given my all to this town, and I guess this is the thanks I get," Tarjick said. He said he was being made a "scapegoat" because of threats of a lawsuit.
The 18-year veteran of the force was accompanied by his attorney and nearly three dozen supporters who were not allowed to speak on his behalf. Public participation was not listed on the agenda as the meeting had been for executive session.
The initial incident had involved a complaint of the use of force with a student; according to Tarjick and officials, a third-party investigation cleared him of any allegations. The Select Board at an executive session on Nov. 12 voted to reinstate him as he had been relieved of his duties as SRO during this period.
He was told not to return to the school until the School Committee voted on Nov. 18, unless there was an emergency. An emergency occurred on Nov. 13, when he and another patrol officer responded to a call at the school.
Later that day, he entered the school's cafeteria as a patrol officer, spoke to couple of administrators and students and left. Apparently, the student involved in the initial complaint was in the cafeteria during his visit.
According to the timeline stated by Chair Shawn McGrath, Superintendent Aaron Dean notified the town administrator that Tarjick had been at the school and the next day sent a written letter asking he be removed.
Tarjick said he did not see the student or speak with him, and had not expected the student to even be around since they were "transitioning" back to school with half days.
"I can tell you honestly, I felt horrible after the fact, when the chief called me and told me that I was devastated by that, because there is no way in this world that I would ever do anything to ruin my reputation or to give a child like that any more anxiety than he already has," he said.
He repeatedly asked if an investigation had been done to determine if the student was in the cafeteria. The board replied that the superintendent had communicated that.
According to the timeline stated by Chair Shawn McGrath, Superintendent Aaron Dean notified the town administrator that Tarjick had been at the school and the next day sent a written letter asking he be removed.
"The school resource officer is an employee of Cheshire and as such the Town of Cheshire handles personnel decisions regarding that individual," Dean responded Friday in an email. "While I cannot comment on the investigation, I can tell you that based on the circumstances surrounding the investigation, [legal] counsel advised requesting a change in personnel with that position, which I did."
Tarjick said officers visiting the school during lunch periods was not unusual. He also said, in response to a question, that he was in full uniform, which he did not wear as SRO, so there should have been no confusion as to his status. He believed there was miscommunication on his presence at the school and said a directive from the chief was not received until late on Nov. 13.
His supporters were frustrated that they had not been allowed to speak on his behalf.
"We desperately need somebody up there," said parent Traci Keele. Her son had been bullied and physically accosted, she said, and while waiting at the school for a meeting on that, a fight had broken out.
"We do need somebody up there. ... I've had three children go to school up there since my oldest is 24, we've been in the school system ... [The students] love Officer Tarjick and they want him back."
She said there was a lack of evidence that the student was in cafeteria, calling it hearsay. Others noted that he was the only officer who lived in Cheshire and pointed to his years of respected service.
Tarjick was appointed to fill the SRO post by the Select Board in August and another officer was shifted from part time to a full-time patrol officer to take his spot. This prevented the sergeant from being restored to his patrol status, said the Select Board, as seniority is not considered.
"The position is funded through the school district, and the school district has requested your removal from the position and is looking to revisit the position," said Select Board member Michelle Francesconi.
Tarjick was the only officer on the Cheshire Police Department with the required training for the post.
The superintendent, in his email, said the status of the SRO will have to be discussed with Cheshire officials but that no action has yet been taken by the School Committee.
"Moving forward, the district will continue to collaborate with the town of Cheshire on ways we can best support the students and families in our community," he wrote.
McGrath said the reason he had been hesitant to approve this position to begin with "was because of the fact that if it's ever eliminated, for whatever reason, someone will be laid off."
Francesconi was the sole no vote, saying she would have been more comfortable speaking with the superintendent first. Dean was not at the meeting.
"I feel bad for the kids. I feel bad for the staff up there. You know, we really made a lot of headway," Tarjick said. "And there was one incident up there that, you know, it's one kid and one parent that kind of dictated everything, and they let that happen."
