By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Leyden, MA) Officer Tina Riddell, formally of the Leyden Police Department, is speaking out after her reappointment as Sergeant was denied by the Leyden Selectobard after Police Chief Dan Galvis failed to recommend her. Riddell said the issue between her and Galvis seemed to start when she took employment with the Winchester Police Department, which was approved by Jeff Niepp the Head Selectboard Chair. Riddell said she can’t even communicate with Galvis anymore after her new position. The performance concerns that Galvis raised at the Selectboard hearing started after Riddell started her job in New Hampshire. Riddell says the way Galvis behaved after that point was odd to her, because he provided a good reference for her for that position.
“I wanted more training this is why i explore other departments and was unsure of my teaching position at the time,” said Riddell.
Prior to working with the Leyden Police Department, Riddell worked as a police officer at Springfield College. She doesn’t have anything on her record that would prevent her from being an officer, and she has never had to fight for reappointment before. Riddell said she would have had a conversation with Galvis if he was unhappy with her working at the Winchester Police Department, but one was never had. Now, she is fighting to get the word out about what she says is unfair treatment.