HINSDALE — More than four months after the fatal police shooting of Biagio Kauvil, the town has begun an independent review of the Hinsdale Police Department.

The audit, which voters unanimously approved $25,000 for in March, will be conducted by Connecticut-based Daigle Law Group, which specializes in evaluating police department operations for governmental agencies.

The review will examine the department's policies, procedures, protocols and operations, according to a letter from Town Administrator Robert Graves.

“​​The Town’s review is intended to provide an objective assessment of current practices and identify recommendations that may strengthen accountability, professionalism, training, supervision, and public confidence in the Department,” Graves wrote.

As part of the process, the town and Daigle Law Group will hold public forums where community members and stakeholders can weigh in.

The decision followed recommendations from town counsel and the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. District Attorney Timothy Shugrue echoed the call in April when he announced after a three-month investigation that while the officer who fired the fatal shot acted in lawful self-defense, investigators found considerable concern about whether department policies were followed.

Kauvil, 27, was killed during a well-being check at 53 Off South St. after he called 911 while experiencing a mental health crisis. Hinsdale Police Officer Jeffrey Spratt fired the shot that killed Kauvil during a struggle in which authorities said he was holding a handgun that discharged.

Word of the audit comes less than 24 hours after the Hinsdale Select Board publicly reacted to the Dalton Police Department's decision to suspend mutual aid to the town.

In an April 14 letter announcing the suspension, Dalton Police Chief Deanna Strout cited concerns about accountability and officer safety following Kauvil's death.

Hinsdale Select Board Chair Margaret Gregory on Wednesday night said she was "flabbergasted" by the neighboring department's decision to suspend mutual aid.

During a meeting of the Select Board, Gregory said the move already has had real consequences, including a Hinsdale officer waiting roughly 30 minutes for backup during a recent incident.

"I am just at my wits' end about why our officers have to wait to have anyone show up for a situation," she said. "It should be whoever's closest and whoever can get there the fastest."

In turn, her response prompted a call for her resignation by Scott McGowan, a former Williamstown police sergeant who already has started a Change.org petition calling for the termination of Hinsdale Police Chief Shawn Boyne and Sgt. Dominick Crupi, both of whom were involved in the January shooting but neither of whom fired the fatal shot.

McGowan, in a letter addressed to Gregory, wrote that her reaction demonstrates "a profound deficiency in basic judgment and a complete failure of institutional oversight."

"When a neighboring agency cuts ties to protect its own officers from your command structure, a competent oversight official takes immediate corrective action," McGowan wrote. "Instead, you expressed public confusion."

Gregory said she will not be resigning. Pointing to the independent review as an example of the work being done behind the scenes, she said residents like McGowan may not have the full picture.

“I believe that leadership during these difficult times requires accountability, transparency and the willingness to continue working through challenges rather than stepping away from them,” Gregory said in response to the letter. "I'm going to focus on serving the residents of Hinsdale. I'm going to support constructive dialogue and work collaboratively to move our community forward.”