HINSDALE — The officer who fatally shot Biagio Kauvil has been cleared of criminal charges, but community members have begun circulating petitions online seeking accountability from the town police department.

One petition on Change.org, which is directed to Hinsdale Town Administrator Robert Graves, calls for the termination of Hinsdale Police Chief Shawn Boyne and Sgt. Dominick Crupi. Both were involved in the January shooting, but neither fired the fatal shot.

“When you examine the fact-pattern of this case, it boiled down to us that these two gentlemen are unfit to serve in law enforcement,” said Scott McGowan, a former Williamstown police sergeant who started the petition. “It led to a young man’s life being taken, which should’ve never happened.”

Another petition on Facebook calls for an independent investigation into Kauvil’s death.

Graves declined to comment on the petitions.

Kauvil, 27, was shot and killed Jan. 7 when Hinsdale police went to carry out a well-being check on him. Kauvil was experiencing a mental health crisis and had called 911, according to Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue.

Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said a monthslong investigation concluded that the Hinsdale Police officer who fired the shot that killed Biagio Kauvil on Jan. 7 was acting in self-defense.

A monthslong investigation into the shooting concluded that Hinsdale Police Officer Jeffrey Spratt acted in self-defense when he fired the shot that killed Kauvil.

The investigation was conducted by the Berkshire State Police Detective Unit assigned to the Berkshire DA’s Office, with cooperation from the Berkshire County Law Enforcement Council’s use of force investigation team. Shugrue released results of the investigation last week.

While Spratt will not face criminal charges, Shugrue said the team found considerable concern over how Hinsdale officers carried out the Hinsdale Police Department and town's use-of-force policies. Shugrue recommended that the town hire an investigator who is “completely independent to the agency and the town” to look into this.

McGowan's petition calling for the ousters of Boyne and Crupi had nearly 900 signatures as of Friday morning. Spratt is not named in McGowan’s petition.

Numerous law enforcement personnel responded to the Jan. 7 shooting in Hinsdale that killed 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil. In the wake of a report clearing the officer who fired the fatal shot, two petitions have begun circulating online calling for accountability in the shooting.

In the incident, a .380 Smith and Wesson handgun in Kauvil’s possession discharged as officers tried to subdue him, despite the fact it was under Kauvil’s body. The single shot went through Crupi’s hand and struck Boyne in his bulletproof vest.

It was at that point that Spratt, who pulled his weapon when Crupi said Kauvil was armed, fired his service weapon twice — first hitting Crupi in the elbow, then hitting Kauvil in the head. The investigation found that Spratt "acted in lawful self-defense and defense of another."

McGowan said that Spratt is not included in the petition because he was a patrol officer who was following the orders of the sergeant and chief on scene, who ignored the request to have a mental health expert present.

“[Spratt] was put in a very difficult scenario, but again that goes back to so many procedural errors … that all falls back on command staff,” McGowan said.

McGowan resigned as a sergeant in the Williamstown Police Department in 2021 amid an ongoing dispute with the town and members of the department.

Nikki Levardi, Kauvil’s aunt, started a petition on Facebook calling for a "fully independent investigation" into his death, a full review of use-of-force and mental health response policies, and public transparency regarding findings and accountability measures.

“This is about ensuring that all cases involving the use of deadly force are handled with fairness, objectivity, and the highest level of accountability — especially when mental health is involved,” the petition states.

Natalya Kauvil, Biagio Kauvil’s sister, gathers with other members of their family and the community at Park Square in Pittsfield to protest the shooting death of her brother.

Levardi's petition also points out that Shugrue reacted with a thumbs-up to a social media post endorsing the idea that the Hinsdale officers were “just doing their job.” Shugrue's reaction “has further undermined public confidence in the impartiality of the review process,” the petition states.

A spokesperson for the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office did not respond to requests for comment as of Friday morning.

The Facebook petition post had nearly 500 comments and more than 200 shares as of Friday morning.

There is also a “Justice Now for Biagio Kauvil” private group on Facebook. The group has nearly 300 members.

In March, Hinsdale voters approved $25,000 to retain a consultant to evaluate and audit the police department. In emailed comments Thursday, Graves said the town is conducting due diligence as part of the procurement process.

At a Hinsdale Select Board meeting on Wednesday, the board discussed the current status of its officers on leave. Graves said Spratt will remain on leave “with medical information from his doctor,” Crupi is out on “disability,” and Boyne is out on leave.

When the officers would come back was unclear. The board did not discuss the findings of the shooting investigation or Shugrue’s call for an independent look at department policy.

On Thursday, Graves said that he can’t comment on the specific status of the officers due to legal and personnel privacy requirements.

“I can confirm that appropriate processes are being followed, and we look forward to their return,” he said.