Former School Superintendent Admits to Sending Threatening Texts to Police Chief Candidate

Lynn Clark, the former superintendent of Chicopee Public Schools in Massachusetts, has pled guilty to two counts of making false statements in connection to 99 threatening text messages sent to a police chief candidate in 2021.

Threatening Messages Sent to Police Chief Candidate

The messages, designed to force the candidate to withdraw from the hiring process, were sent from fictitious phone numbers purchased through a mobile app. The city of Chicopee had been in the process of hiring a new police chief in December 2021 when the candidate received the threatening texts from unknown numbers. Consequently, the candidate withdrew their application, leading to a delay in the selection process.

Charges and Investigation

Clark was charged in April 2022 and subsequently removed from her position as superintendent. Investigators determined that Clark had purchased the fictitious phone numbers and sent the threatening messages to herself, falsely accusing other city workers of involvement. The charges of making false statements each carry a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to one year of supervised release, and a fine of up to $10,000. Clark is scheduled to be sentenced on April 30.