CHICOPEE, Mass. — The superintendent of schools in Chicopee has been charged in federal court in connection with threatening messages sent to a candidate for police chief in that city.
Lynn Clark, 51, of Belchertown, is facing one count of making false statements, the U.S. Attorney’s office said.
Federal authorities said Clark sent about 99 threatening messages in reference to a candidate for chief of police. The messages started in November 2021, after that candidate applied for the role, the U.S. Attorney said.
According to the complaint, Clark received several of the messages herself. They were also sent to the candidate and the candidate’s spouse, investigators said. These included a photograph of the spouse, which the candidate believed to only be located in their office, and a photograph of the candidate driving Clark’s car, according to the complaint.
Investigators said the messages were intended to force the candidate to withdraw their application. The application was ultimately withdrawn, delaying the city’s selection process.
The messages were reported to law enforcement on Dec. 3, 2021. Investigators found they were sent from fictitious phone numbers purchased through a burner app.
Federal authorities said Clark denied sending the messages on several occasions and cast suspicion on other people. She suggested they could have been sent by other city employees, the candidate’s colleagues or a member of her own family, the U.S. Attorney said.
According to the complaint, Clark claimed she was worried the information in the texts would tarnish her reputation and that of the candidate for chief.
Clark later admitted to sending the messages, the U.S. Attorney said. She told investigators she believed many of the candidate’s accomplishments were based off her own work, and if that person was appointed police chief, her position as superintendent would be negatively impacted, according to the complaint.
Clark further told investigators she wanted the candidate “knocked down a peg,” the complaint states.
Federal authorities said Clark sent the messages from a burner app, which she hid on her phone or computer and periodically deleted and redownloaded. She told investigators she has used similar burner apps to contact parents of students when they did not respond to calls made from a number associated with the school district, according to the complaint.
Clark will make an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield on Wednesday.
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