The testimonial was held because Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott is retiring April 30 after being chief since 2001.
SPRINGFIELD – Holyoke Police Chief Anthony R. Scott believes judges are to blame for everything from global warming to whales beaching themselves.
Glenn Beck is a liberal compared to Scott.
Those lines and others – such as how Scott loves press releases and loves attention – spiced a testimonial Thursday that showed Scott had become enough of a public figure in his 10 years as chief to draw 750 people to a dinner roast in his honor led by his friend, comedian Bill Cosby.
The roast featured local officials, area police chiefs and media personalities in a banquet room at the MassMutual Center.
Scott, who will be 65 April 19, is retiring April 30 after having been chief in Holyoke since 2001.
Speakers mixed one-liners aimed at Scott and each other in telling stories about the bad-guy-jailer and judge-hounder, with more than one marveling that a police chief from a small city had the juice to generate such an event.
“I’ve been chief in Chicopee for 20 years and trust me, half the people in Chicopee don’t know who I am,” Chicopee Police Chief John R. Ferraro Jr. said.
Cosby noted the packed room and began with a joke from the late Red Skelton discussing a funeral for a disliked man that drew 100,000 people.
“And Red said, ‘When you give the people what they want ,’” said Cosby pausing. “Well, here you are.”
Cosby has appeared at several functions at Scott’s request, including a dinner Scott threw for Holyoke senior citizens in December. He recalled a summer event held outdoors with hungry bugs.
“And they love dark meat. And these things, when they fly, they don’t land on a white person,” Cosby said.
Cosby ended with warm words for Scott, who was seated to the left of the podium on the dais.
“I know that you will never forget him because he’s very, very super, wonderful and human, and he has given of himself and that’s what public service is about. Thank you and God bless Chief Scott,” Cosby said, as the crowd erupted with the comedian’s second standing ovation of the night.
Ticket prices were $40 per person or $375 per table of 10, with Scott emphasizing that all of the money was being donated to the Valley Press Club scholarship fund.
Scott told The Republican before mounting the dais he was touched by the sold-out crowd.
“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,” Scott said.
Hampden District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni referred to Scott’s blistering of judges for what he perceived to be their coddling of criminals with light sentences.
The new district attorney noted Scott’s flood of and “very well thought out and articulate ... rants about the justice system and the revolving door and those creatures that the devil put on earth called, the judges.”
Scott’s investigations, Mastroianni said, have turned up evidence judges are to blame for the economic melt-down, global warming and beached whales.
Since taking office, Mastroianni said he has learned of previously secret information, such as: Chief Scott wants his own TV show as a judge: “Judge Chief Scott.”
“It truly is a case of judge envy,” Mastroianni said.
Chicopee Mayor Michael D. Bissonnette and a few others took note that Scott is a hard-core Republican with a stomp-on-the-bad-guys attitude toward crime. Pointing to Scott, Bissonnett said there was a reason the Fox News Channel and political pundit Beck have parted ways.
“Beck was too liberal for them. They want the real conservative,” Bissonnette said.
Holyoke Mayor Elaine A. Pluta said a politician learned fast in the Paper City not to mess with the chief’s budget. Senior citizens in the city’s high-rises can be counted on for two things, Pluta said: They vote and wave signs that say, “We love Chief Scott.”
Pluta and Bissonnette held up a banner for a “marketing campaign.” It consisted of a photo of Scott imposed on a merry go round horse – “Get on your pony and ride” – a reference to Scott’s staple criticism of Massachusetts justice as “the merry go round of justice.”
The masters of ceremonies for the roast were Brad Shepard, co-host of the WHYN Morning Show, and Michael A. "Bax" Baxendale, co-host of WAQY Rock 102 FM Bax & O'Brien Show.
The roast panel included John O'Brien of Rock 102, Meghan B. Sullivan, of the law firm Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, state Sen. Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield.