A candidate for mayor of Pittsfield is criticizing Mayor Dan Bianchi’s response to a deadly July 4th shooting that injured several others. City Clerk Linda Tyer is also calling for more city police officers.Saying crime watches have a certain role, Tyer says Mayor Bianchi’s call for residents to join a neighborhood watch program is reckless and irresponsible.
“I think it’s unfair to put an extraordinary responsibility on the crime watches for fighting crime,” said Tyer.
Bianchi says at no time should citizens act as police. Saturday’s shooting killed 25-year-old Ronald Pinel. A 20-year-old man remains in critical condition.
A Stop The Violence vigil is planned for 5 p.m. Friday at Linden Street and Robbins Avenue, near the shooting scene.
