Mass. Police Union Warns of ‘Crisis‑Level’ Staffing, Safety Issues

GROVELAND, MA—Union representatives detailed “crisis-level” concerns at the Groveland Police Department in a letter to town officials that claims the officers are understaffed, overworked and operating in a hostile environment.

The Groveland police union, also known as the Massachusetts Coalition of Police Local 420, delivered the letter to the Select Board on April 27, distributing the statement to numerous local government officials.

Sgt. Chris L’Italien, president of the union, outlined the urgency of issues described in the letter, such as concerns about department management, public safety, officer safety and what it called “basic operational reliability.”

During 2025 contract negotiations, union representatives warned Town Administrator Rebecca Oldham and Police Chief Jeffrey Gillen that department turnover could lead to challenges in staffing. Without improvements to compensation, officer retention and recruitment would become larger issues in the future, according to the letter.

“I would say that the entirety of last year we operated around 50 to 60% of our staffing,” L’Italien said. “People were just working crazy hours that we’re not accustomed to. Morale was at an all-time low.”

The staffing crisis began in late 2024 and continued through 2025, placing a strain on both officers and their families. It also claimed that department leadership, including Gillen and Capt. Heather Riley, didn’t provide enough relief for those affected, the letter reads.

“This placed a significant strain on Groveland officers, negatively affecting the department’s morale as a whole and negatively impacting officers’ families at home,” the union indicates. “Chief Gillen and Capt. Riley refused to step in to take some of the load.”

Gillen allegedly offered solutions the union described as “not operationally feasible,” which included assigning overnight dispatch coverage to surrounding municipalities. Another proposal — lowering staffing levels below past practice minimums — was later rejected by the union as they viewed it as a risk to officer safety.

“We’ve dropped below minimum staffing, which is two officers per shift, in the past,” L’Italien said. “We’ve had one officer per shift to run the entire town of Groveland, which I’m sure the residents are not aware of.”

The letter warned the department is facing another staffing shortage, with the departure of Lt. Steven Petrone, who the union described as a “pillar” of the police force and considered as the next-in-line for chief.

Petrone worked for Groveland for nearly two decades, and his leaving left officers unsure of what to expect for the department’s future, L’Italien said

He said the union is expecting another 40% of the department to resign, as several veteran officers are now in the hiring process with other departments.

The Groveland Police Department could be left with a majority of officers who have less than two years of municipal police experience, L’Italien said.

The staffing decisions have at times been driven by budget considerations at the expense of minimum coverage levels, the letter said.

“Chief Gillen’s decisions to staff the police department below past practice staffing minimums were irresponsible, shortsighted and displayed a callous disregard for the safety of officers, residents, and business owners and their property,” it reads.

Concerns were also raised about the force’s training practices, as the union said the department eliminated its field training officer program for part-time personnel last year.

The elimination of the program affected the department’s ability to meet accreditation standards, forcing it into a self-assessment period, according to the letter.

Among the issues, a deteriorating relationship between the police and fire departments of Groveland was also cited. The letter said that until July 2025, the bond had never been better between the officers and firefighters. However, it alleges that tensions arose after officers sought advice from Fire Chief Robert Valentine, mentioning what they described as a “hostile work environment” under Gillen.

“When Chief Gillen learned of officers confiding in Chief Valentine, the relationship between Chief Gillen and Chief Valentine, which was once a model relationship between Police Chief and Fire Chief, deteriorated to nothing, causing public safety meetings with the Town Administrator to be held separately,” the letter reads

“The Groveland Police officers continue to support and work alongside the Groveland Fire Department despite Chief Gillen’s efforts to drive a wedge between the two public safety departments.”

The union said it is not seeking conflict, but its requests include a call for accountability, fairness and a safer working environment.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the union said it had not received a response. A request for comment from the town was also unanswered.

L’Italien said it was the union’s original intention to handle such matters privately, but without a response, they felt a public approach was the only other option.

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