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Residents urge select board to back Chief Pierre Gomez after ‘gangster’ remark; NAACP calls for systemic response
Summary
Dozens of residents spoke at an emotional public comment period urging the Select Board to support Chief Pierre Gomez after a viral meeting clip in which a resident described him as a "gangster" for wearing a hoodie; the Rutland Area NAACP called for explicit leadership support and for the town to address long‑standing patterns of bias.
Dozens of Northfield residents used a special Select Board meeting on April 22 to press the town to respond after a viral clip surfaced in which an ambulance department member said the police chief “looked like a gangster” while wearing a hoodie.
Mia Schultz, president of the Rutland Area NAACP, told the board in an online comment that she had contacted town leadership previously and described a pattern of racialized comments and procedural avoidance that had eroded trust in Chief Pierre Gomez’s tenure. “Will you stand up? Will you speak plainly? Will you offer the public your unequivocal support for your chief?” Schultz asked, urging leaders to acknowledge harm and take visible action rather than symbolic steps.
Residents in the meeting room and online gave vocal support for Gomez. Beth Leonard recounted positive personal interactions with the chief and said she and her family feel safer because of his leadership. Several younger speakers — including a second‑grade student who told the board “people should treat others with respect and kindness” — framed the exchange as a teachable moment for the community.
Other commenters urged both accountability and education. Lorna Dhoni said she did not believe the ambulance member was a racist but thought the comment was poorly phrased and asked that leaders insist on professional conduct at public events. Sean Adoni and others urged residents to accept both the need for consequence and the need to assist people in learning better language and behavior.
The board began the meeting with an explicit statement that the town is “committed to upholding a code of ethics and commits to non‑prejudicial treatment in the workplace” and that accountability “demands we investigate, identify, and eliminate hatred and bigotry where they exist.” The chair said personnel matters cannot be discussed in public detail but acknowledged the town would investigate and later moved to bring related contract and personnel matters into executive session with counsel.
The public participation period led into routine business later in the meeting. The Select Board did not announce personnel discipline during the April 22 session; the board indicated it would consult counsel in executive session and may make decisions afterward.
Accusation and response: a member of the ambulance department was alleged to have said the chief “looks like a gangster” when wearing a gray hoodie; community members characterized that phrasing as racially loaded, and the NAACP called on town leaders to offer loud, public support for Chief Gomez and to address any systemic conditions that allowed the remarks to occur.
The meeting closed the public participation after many speakers and scheduled an executive session to discuss the ambulance staff petition and related contract/personnel matters.
