All of the officers of one Hampden County police department are resigning.
The Blandford Police Department, which had a roster of four officers, cited safety issues in its decision to step down on Monday, including cruisers that barely run, expired and poorly fitting bulletproof vests, non-functional radios and inadequate staffing.
Blandford residents can still call 911, and a state police trooper will respond, according to town officials, and Hampden Sheriff Nicholas Cocchi is increasing his department's presence there.
Blandford and the town of Chester had been considering a plan to merge their police departments.