What a coincidence that I was sitting at my computer penning an editorial for a Boston newspaper about the spending and operations of the Massachusetts sheriffs, when I see a front-page story in the Recorder about the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office assisting Erving’s Police Department with its staffing shortage.
That’s what we do in Franklin County, we collaborate, we help, we think outside the box. This type of activity is now threatened by an investigation into the sheriffs’ budgets and operations started by the state Legislature.
Without getting too far into the weeds, Sheriffs switched from county government to state government back in the 1990s and never once since then has the state fully funded their budget requests.
Intentionally underfunding sheriffs with a wink and a nod, then claiming the state budget is balanced, is a game played with a common understanding by both sides that all would be made good.
Legislators are now acting like this process is somehow new and shocking. Leaders have asked the inspector general to investigate the way sheriffs are funded and the “outside Activities” they are engaged in.
In Franklin County, the questionable programs include the TRIAD program supporting senior citizens, the Regional Dog Kennel and Adoption Center, staffing the Emergency Warming Centers and police patrols.
All of these programs were begun with the full knowledge and support of state government. The regional kennel, for example, was begun and eventually expanded with a regionalization grant from the administration of former Gov. Deval Patrick. Expanded to almost all 26 towns in the county, it has been a huge success and now provides certified animal control officers that help member towns meet that unfunded mandate, that’s in addition to the thousands of dogs that have been saved from euthanization because of the adoption center.
Police patrols by deputies started a couple of years ago when Greenfield police shut down their midnight shift. Remember that? I Received phone calls from the mayor and the state senator asking that the Sheriff’s Office get involved in finding a solution. Many towns are facing a crisis in police staffing, Erving now among them. The Sheriff’s Office steps up to help, then is criticized for spending the money and operating outside its “core mission.”
When I was sheriff, I expanded the footprint of the Sheriff’s Office. Never did I do it on my own. It was with the support, and often at the specific request, of our legislative delegation. As a team, the Sheriffs Office and legislators would tackle problems by working together, finding solutions and providing necessary services to ensure safety and security in our communities. I don’t think it is too dramatic to say that all of this is under threat.
These collaborations are viewed in Boston as negative or even somehow corrupt. Nothing could be further from the truth. We work together to survive. We collaborate because its in our spirit. As sheriff, I brought the Sheriff’s Office into that community spirit.
In Hampden County, the sheriff recently announced the end of several community programs his office is involved with along with the layoff of 50 employees.
Residents of Franklin County need to know this threat exists. This investigation could result in all of the community programs being eliminated and the work of the Sheriff’s Office being confined to within the boundary of Elm Street. This would dial back over a decade of progress working together to keep us safe.
I encourage you to reach out to state Sen. Jo Comerford or state Rep. Susannah Whipps if you or your community is currently served by a collaboration with the Sheriff’s Office. The inspector general’s final report is due out in May. He has already called into question whether sheriffs should be working in the partnerships like we have in Franklin County. The way we operate in Franklin County is not corrupt, it is good government. Efficient, effective and directly improving our communities.
Christopher J. Donelan is a former state representative and retired sheriff of Franklin County.