Greenfield Police Chief Brian Giammarino was the officer who shot and killed Lane Lesko on June 21 following a car chase that ended in Peterborough, according to Greenfield officials.
Giammarino is expected to remain on paid leave until the Attorney General’s office releases the results of its investigation, which could come by the end of the week, according to Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeff Strelzin.
“I think the expectation is to have this wrapped up this week,” he said.
Hancock Chief Andrew Wood is leading the Greenfield department in an interim role, handling financial and manpower issues resulting in part from Giammarino’s absence.
“He understands what needs to happen and is OK. with that,” Wood said of Giammarino.
He said Giammarino wants to return to his post, but that Wood told him to be patient and recover.
“I told him the same thing that he would’ve told me,” Wood said.
Giammarino was placed on what Margaret Charig Bliss, chair of the Select Board, called “mutually agreed-upon leave” at a non-public meeting on June 24, just days after the shooting.
July 7 was the first Select Board meeting since.
Wood told the board he anticipates Giammarino’s return sometime in the middle of August.
At the meeting, he updated the members of the board on department business during Giammarino’s leave, highlighted by a shortage of officers for the coming weeks.
Between the chief’s leave after the shooting and other officers away for reasons ranging from training to medical, Wood said Greenfield would need to ask support from neighboring communities and the sheriff’s department and state troopers, though their abilities to help are limited.
“We’re going to be short but we’re going to make it work,” he said.
Wood said that other local departments sympathize with Greenfield because of how close officers are, including the many who work for multiple departments, and because of their respect for Giammarino.
Greenfield officials swore in a new officer for temporary service until Aug. 25 to help curtail the shortage.
Shane Joseph Sweeney is a patrol officer in Hancock who has relationships with Wood and Giammarino. The board was happy to approve his appointment when they heard that Sweeney has Giammarino’s full support.
“He’s got a good head on his shoulders,” Wood said of Sweeney. “He’s a go-getter.”
A portion of the July 7 meeting were determined to be non-public, after a motion by Chair Margaret Charig Bliss.
After the audience had left, the board spoke in private with Wood for approximately 40 minutes.
Giammarino is also an employee of the Hancock Police Department as a part-time sergeant. He is not formally on leave in Hancock, but has not worked since the shooting, and has not been paid, according to Wood.
Wood said, “It’s been busy, which is OK until this is all over with.”
Brandon Latham can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 228 or blatham@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @blathamMLT.