Petition on Dispatch Plan

The Great Barrington (Mass.) police department and town officials are at odds over a plan to move dispatching operations to the Bershire County sheriff, and install an emergency phone outside police headquarters for after-hours walk-ups. A petition is circulating to put the plan on an April 9th referendum, but 200 signatures are needed. The police union opposes the plan, saying it would jeopardize public safety and complicate arrest procedures. The union paid for a newspaper ad suggesting the plan be put to a public vote. Read more about the debate here.