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JANUARY 22, 2026 | FREE
IN THIS
EDITION CHICOPEE
Vieau looks to keep city affordable; highlights other goals Heading into his fourth term, Mayor John Vieau shared his goals and upcoming projects for the city of Chicopee in a sitdown with Reminder Publishing.
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HOLYOKE
St. Patrick’s Committee preps to name Grand Colleen With January almost over, the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke is gearing up for multiple events ahead of the 73rd St. Patrick’s parade weekend.
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Holyoke receives MassCEC grant to replace aging cables
Holyoke Gas and Electric recently received a $460,000 grant from the HealeyDriscoll administration through the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center.
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Chicopee swears in acting police chief By Tyler Garnet
tgarnet@thereminder.com
CHICOPEE — Deputy Police Chief Eric Watson was sworn in as acting police chief of the Chicopee Police Department during a ceremony on Jan. 14. The appointment comes after former Police Chief Patrick Major retired earlier this month. Major dedicated more than 30 years of service to the city of Chicopee. He advanced through the ranks and was appointed police chief in 2022 before officially announcing his retirement last month. Watson will serve as acting police chief while the city initiates its search for a permanent chief. He brings 27 years of service to the Chicopee Police Department, beginning his career as a police officer in 1999 before he was promoted to deputy police chief in 2023. In his new role, Watson will continue to lead the department with integrity, honor and dedication to public service, according to the city. Watson talked about his journey in the Chicopee Police Department and what he learned from Major about leadership. “I’m honored and humbled by the kind words today about how public safety isn’t about one role or one position, it’s about working together, and over the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to work together with Chief Major, and I’ve gained a real appreciation for the way that he led the department,” he said.
Above, Acting Police Chief Eric Watson stands in front of members of the Chicopee Police Department as well as neighboring departments. At right, Chicopee City Clerk Keith Rattell (right) swears in Deputy Police Chief Eric Watson (left) to serve as the acting police chief of the Chicopee Police Department. Reminder Publishing photos by Tyler Garnet
Watson has completed numerous advanced training programs to support his professional development. Most recently, he participated in executive leadership training through the Police Executive Research Forum and the
Policing Leadership Academy. He also founded the Real Time Crime Information Center, a critical operational resource designed to support officers and investigators during serious incidents and complex investigations. The RTIC integrates multiple lawful
data sources into a centralized system, enabling trained personnel to support public safety decisions quickly, accurately and responsibly, according to the city. See WATSON on page 3