Subject: Media

Authored By: Chief Michael Wynn

Authorized By: Mayor Daniel L. Bianchi
Released At: 25 August 2015 11:34 AM
(PITTSFIELD, Mass) The City of Pittsfield acknowledges that Mark Lenihan, a sergeant
within the Pittsfield Police Department, has filed an action in Federal District Court against
the City, as noted in an article published in The Berkshire Eagle on Saturday, Aug. 22. The
article addresses Mr. Lenihans suit regarding promotion and hiring practices within the
department.
The City denies the allegations made by Mr. Lenihan and the City will be vigorously
defending this action. That noted, the City provides the following information to correct the
allegations made by Mr. Lenihan:
Candidates Matthew Bianchi and David Granger, Jr. were never applicants for
employment with the Pittsfield Police Department.
Candidate Bianchi did not appear high enough on the state provided Civil Service list
to appear. He never signed the list indicating a willingness to accept a position.

Candidate Granger did appear on the list but never signed.

When the Department specifically Captain Granger became aware of the Civil
Service error in classifying Candidate Granger as a veteran, both the Personnel Office and
the Human Resources Division Civil Service Unit were contacted.
o Civil Service acknowledged that this was a classification error on their part
due to the father being a veteran and merging the records; Civil Service
immediately corrected the order of the list.
o This inquiry revealed that Candidate Granger never claimed veteran
preference on his applications to the State Police or HRD, which is supported
in the records of both organizations.
o Candidate Granger never signed the corrected list.
Neither candidate was ever provided with, or completed a PPD Employment
Application package.
Neither candidate was ever interviewed for a position with the Pittsfield Police
Department.

 Pittsfield Police Department hiring and promotion procedures are dictated by

Massachusetts Civil Service Law and strictly followed.
PPD promotional procedures and practices have been reviewed by the Civil Service
Unit and Civil Service Commission.

These practices have been successfully defended at bypass appeal hearings since 2009.

Among the criteria utilized and accepted by the Civil Service Commission are:

Disciplinary Record

Specialized Training

Documented Leadership experience

Documented Specialized Service

Education

Interview performance

Each of these criteria are evaluated for each promotion made and have been effectively relied
upon since 2009.

The case acknowledging these criteria can be found here:

http://www.mass.gov/anf/docs/csc/decisions/bypass/kennedy-christopher-2-121009.pdf