Scott has served as Holyoke's chief since 2001.
04.07.2011 | SPRINGFIELD - Holyoke Police Chief Anthony R. Scott and comedian Bill Cosby at the Valley Press Club roast on Thursday night. Chief Scott will be retiring this month.
SPRINGFIELD - Legendary comedian Bill Cosby is set to lead an "Inquisitional Court" in the roasting of Holyoke Police Chief Anthony R. Scott at a retirement celebration this evening.
Scott, who has served as the city's chief since 2001, is retiring this month.
The roast is being held at Springfield's MassMutual Center. Cosby will be joined on stage by local media personalities and politicians, ranging from former Holyoke Mayor Michael J. Sullivan to abc40's Ray Hershel. The masters of ceremony are Brad Shepard, co-host of the WHYN Morning Show, and Michael A. “Bax” Baxendale, co-host of the WAQY Rock 102, the Bax & O’Brien show.
As the event got underway, the lobby outside the MassMutual Center's second-floor Grand Ballroom filled with public officials. A number of area police chiefs, including Francis Fox from Belchertown and Chicopee's John Ferraro were in attendance.
"You make a poor Southerner feel great," Scott quipped as he invited the crowd to begin eating dinner.
Asked what was going through his mind as a roomful of people prepare to celebrate his career -- and have some fun at his expense, Scott said: "I mean, 750 people coming out for a Southern boy from the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans -- it feels good. This is really good. This is a culmination of 45 years. I feel damn good. I appreciate the support from all the people of Holyoke."
During his tenure as Holyoke's top cop, Scott cultivated a reputation as a no-nonsense crime fighter and an advocate against lenient jail sentences and low bails. He often invoked a catch phrase -- the "Hampden County Merry-Go-Round of Justice" -- in press releases that read like screeds against repeat offenders.
While Scott has had a rocky relationship with several members of Holyoke's city council, several councilors turned out for the event, including Kevin A. Jourdain, Todd A. McGee, Brenna E. Murphy and James M. Leahy.
"Despite conventional wisdom, not all city councilors are against the guy. I think Chief Scott is a really good guy. I wanted to come out and wish him well," Jourdain said.
Cosby's relationship with Chief Scott and the city of Holyoke dates back several years. In December, Cosby headlined a farewell dinner for senior citizens that Scott and Holyoke Mayor Elaine A. Pluta hosted at the Log Cabin. Cosby was also a featured speaker at Holyoke's 2007 "National Night Out Against Crime" events.
Proceeds from Scott's retirement roast will benefit the Valley Press Club scholarship program.