HADLEY — Despite a potentially challenging environment for finding new officers, including a state police reform bill that limits the options for staffing the department, two new officers are joining Hadley police.

The Select Board this week voted unanimously to hire William Delgado, a police officer for more than 20 years in Holyoke, and Jailinne Ruz, a Hadley native who currently works for the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in San Antonio, Texas.

Police Lt. Mitchell Kuc told the Select Board that he and Police Chief Michael Mason were recommending the hires in the context of the new state law, which affects how part-time and reserve officers can be used.

“We were going into this one a little on the apprehensive side,” Kuc said. “This is our first hiring process where we’re bringing in outside candidates directly into our full-time ranks.”

Kuc noted that the reform bill has eliminated reserve policing, which had been used to bring in and screen new candidates and see if they were a good fit for working in the department. 

Even so, the department fielded more than 10 applications for the openings.

“I don’t think we could have come out any better in this process,” Kuc said.

In December, Mason told the Select Board that the Municipal Police Training Commission and the Peace Officer Standards Training Commission, both created from state police reform legislation, has meant that some officers would no longer be eligible to work under waivers and exemptions. At the time, the department had two lieutenants, three sergeants, a staff sergeant, 10 full-time officers and two part-time officers. The Select Board also authorized the hiring of a new officer for a position held by an officer who is on an extended sick leave.

A Southampton resident, Delgado has been a member of the patrol unit, detective bureau, and a drug and gang task force in Holyoke. Kuc said Delgado came with high recommendations from Holyoke Police Chief David Pratt.

“He’s looking for a fresh start and a different atmosphere,” Kuc said of Delgado.

Ruiz grew up in Hadley, moving to San Antonio, where she became a deputy sheriff and was then promoted to corporal. Ruiz has also been a member of a peer support team that shows care and concern for her colleagues.

“Two great candidates,” said Select Board member Joyce Chunglo, who serves as the board’s liaison to public safety departments.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.]]>