NORTH ADAMS — Chief Mark Bailey has confirmed that police are investigating whether “gift cards and possibly money” were taken from the Veterans Service Office.

The accusations were brought to the department’s attention in January, he said.

Bailey and City Hall officials have not confirmed whether the investigation involves a current or former employee of the office.

“I can't give too many details because it is an active investigation,” Bailey said.

Last month, the city advertised for an administrative assistant for the North Adams Veterans Service Office. The help wanted ad prompted online discussion and speculation among community members as to why.

A source within City Hall confirmed to The Eagle that the administrative assistant was placed on paid administrative leave on Dec. 8.

The administrative assistant, Tina Samson, did not respond to The Eagle's requests for comment.

When asked about it, Mayor Jennifer Macksey said Samson is no longer employed by the city of North Adams.

“This is an ongoing personnel matter, and at this time, there's no further comment,” Macksey said.

According to public records from the North Adams Retirement Board, Samson went to work in the Veterans Service Office in July 2014. Records show that she applied Dec. 20 for her retirement allowance, with 11 years and five months of creditable service. Samson’s retirement application has not been processed, with the Retirement Board saying it’s normal for December requests not to be processed until February.

The city budget puts the position’s annual salary at $41,783.

In April 2025, Veterans Service Agent Kurtis Durocher created a policy for accepting, handling and using donations made to the Veterans Service Office. The policy requires donations be recorded in a register and a receipt must be issued to the donor upon request.

Violations of the policy may result in disciplinary action "up to and including termination of access to donation accounts, internal review, or employment consequences in accordance with municipal and department procedures."

Meanwhile, some have sought to organize a protest outside City Hall on Saturday because veterans and others want answers from the city about what is being investigated. As of Friday, the protest appeared to be postponed due to weather.