CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - Chicopee City Councilor Samuel Shumsky is urging civility after receiving threats and experiencing an alleged vehicle tampering incident following a recent council meeting. In a statement released Monday on councilor Shumsky's personal Instagram, Shumsky described recent events after the council's latest meeting, where he voted to advance a topic for discussion during a subcommittee meeting planned for December 16 at 6 p.m. Since then, he has received threatening phone calls, with two wishing him severe injury or death. "In the days following that decision, the public has been very open about how they would like to handle it, with some conversations and statements aimed toward me going as far as to suggest that my well-being could be affected." Chicopee City Councilor Samuel Shumsky Shumsky revealed that he received numerous phone calls, two of which included threats of severe injury and death. Additionally, he reported that someone loosened the lug nuts on his car, nearly causing a tire to fall off while he was driving on Interstate 291. "In the face of this and for the sake of civility, I am asking everyone to please step back and attack the nature of this issue, not a physical attack towards me or others," Shumsky said, adding that no council or committee members should face such hostility. The city councilor emphasized his concern, adding, "I will not stand silent when expressions of threats, wishes, or acts of harm against me to be injured or, even worse, killed." "We have the liberty to agree and to disagree respectfully," Shumsky said. "Men and women have fought and died for this right. We do not have the right to threaten those with whom we may have a difference of opinion." Shumsky concluded, "We are not just Ward 6, Chicopee, or Massachusetts, but the United States of America. Let’s engage with respect and civility." Chicopee police confirmed with 22News that the messages sent to councilor Shumsky were inappropriate, but not direct threats. Local News Headlines Holyoke Police chief finalist interview open to public Union Station prepares for busy Thanksgiving travel week Chicopee city councilor responds to death threats, urges civility Springfield honors Native American’s with flag raising event WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.