June 2, 2004 

SHERIFF PUCKSTERS FINISH FIFTH

On May 28^th and 29^th, the hockey team composed of corrections officers representing the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office placed fifth out of 12 squads in the second annual Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Hockey Tournament at the New England Ice Sports Center in Marlboro.  In back-to-back games on Friday night, Franklin County beat Norfolk County, 7-4, then tied Suffolk County, 2-2, before losing 4-0 to Norfolk in a return match on Saturday.  Jeff Sullivan provided the bulk of the offense with five goals and an assist while Bob Haughey, Casey Fahey, Chris Pettengill and Mat Ainsworth all knocked home single tallies. Jim Sturges contributed three assists and Matt Kempf had one helper for the CO’s, who were helped in their efforts by teammates Jason Collins, Bob Hall, Greg Roberts, Nick Carme and Mike Tucker.  The team was assembled and coached by Ray Brown. University of Massachusetts net-minder Mike Waidlich of Millers Falls played between the pipes and kicked aside 77 shots in the three games.

      Pictured from L to R: (Top) Ray Brown, Chris Pettingill, Nick Carme, Jason Collins,
      Mike Waidlich, Jim Sturges, Mike Tucker, Matt Kempf, Jason Kilgour. 
      (Bottom) Bob Hall, Casey Fahey, Jeff Sullivan, Mat Ainsworth, Greg Roberts, Bob Haughey.

April 1, 2004

Bowl for Kids Sake

On Saturday, March 20th, 2004, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County held its annual Bowl-a-thon at the French King Entertainment Center.  The event saw over 165 bowlers of all ages from various organizations and agencies raise $22,000 in pledges and sponsorships.  Big Brothers Big Sisters is a volunteer-based organization serving Franklin County and the North Quabbin area.  The organization supports the community by contributing a variety of programs that assist in enhancing the well-being of young people throughout the region.

                   Employees and friends of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office participate
                   annually in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl-a-thon. Bowlers this year
                   (above) raised approximately $1,000 for the cause.

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March 29, 2004

Sheriff's Office to Offer Light Bulbs to Elderly

As part of the ongoing effort to assist the elderly, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office will soon begin distributing energy-efficient light bulbs to Franklin County senior citizens.  “This is a cooperative venture between Western Mass Electric Company and the TRIAD Division of my Office,” Sheriff Fred Macdonald said. 

TRIAD provides a host of crime prevention, education and safety services to over 2,000 elderly residents of the county.  This most recent venture achieves the objectives of reducing electricity use and assisting the senior citizens with keeping energy costs down. 

According to TRIAD Division Captain Howard Sheperd, who will be coordinating the program, the light bulbs will be available to existing WMECO customers and will be installed by members of the Sheriff’s TRIAD Division.  “This is a great initiative by WMECO to both conserve energy and help our seniors at the same time.  We are very excited that we can add this to the programs already offered by the Sheriff’s Office aimed at enhancing the safety, security, and quality of life of our senior citizens,” said Sheperd.

“WMECO is very proud to assist the Sheriff’s TRIAD Division with this unique program,” said John T. Walsh, Residential Project Administrator in WMECO’s Conservation and Load Management Department.  “In addition to the light bulbs, we will also be providing materials which will help these customers take advantage of other programs offered by WMECO, as well as the state and federal government.

Initially, WMECO will make a minimum of 10,000 bulbs available.  Senior citizens who are current WMECO customers and wish to have the new bulbs installed should contact the TRIAD Office at (413) 774-4726.

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January 9, 2004

Sheriff Teams Up With Masons For Child Safety

On Monday, January 12^th, the 180 students of the Colrain Central School will be the recipients of the most high-tech child safety program in the northeast.  The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has teamed up with the Massachusetts Freemasons in sponsoring the C.H.I.P. – Child Identification Program.  The program expands upon the Child ID Program already offered by the Sheriff’s Office by incorporating additional technologies aimed at locating and identifying children who are lost or abducted.

In addition to the photo, fingerprint and medical information provided by the Sheriff’s Office, C.H.I.P. adds videotaped interviews of each student, as well as an impression of the student’s teeth taken by a health professional.

“Providing this service to an entire school is a big undertaking,” Sheriff Macdonald said.  “By collaborating with the Masons, the Sheriff’s Office is able to combine forces and make a valuable service available to more Franklin County families,” he added.

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October 14, 2003

Sheriff’s Office to Distribute Gunlocks

Sheriff Fred Macdonald announced that the Sheriff’s Office is participating in Project Childsafe, the nationwide program that will distribute millions of gunlocks to all fifty states and to the five U.S. territories.

“Childsafe is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice to promote responsible firearms ownership and storage,” the Sheriff said. 

Beginning on Monday, October 20^th, the Sheriff’s Office will be distributing over 1,000 gunlocks at the following three locations: 

• Franklin County Sheriff’s Office - Visiting Center
  160 Elm Street, Greenfield
  Monday & Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday:  8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
  
   
• Franklin County Sheriff’s Office - Civil Process Division
  466 Main Street, Greenfield
  Monday - Friday:  9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  
   
• Franklin County Sheriff’s Office - Community Corrections Center 
  The Armory, 8 Prospect Street, Greenfield
  Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday: 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

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October 6, 2003

Child ID Program Expanded

For each of the past three years, the Sheriff’s Office has offered complimentary child identification and fingerprinting at the Franklin County Fair.  This year, the parents of over six hundred children attending the Fair were given an ID packet, which includes photo, fingerprints and vital information that could be used in the event that a child is abducted, injured or lost. Beginning this month, the Sheriff’s ID Program will be expanded to include on-site visits to schools and daycare centers.  “By going directly to where the children are, we are better able to ensure that parents throughout the county have access to this program,” Sheriff Fred Macdonald said. 

The program will be at the Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School on October 28^th, and at a daycare in Montague Center on October 7^th.  School officials or daycare providers interested in scheduling to have the ID Program provide an on-site visit should contact the Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach Officer Deputy Susan Corey at (413) 774-4014 ext. 141 or Administrative Assistant Doni Beauregard at (413) 774-4014 ext. 161.

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September 10, 2003

Massachusetts Sheriffs Testify at Senate Oversight Hearing
Advocate for Role in Homeland Security Response

Massachusetts Sheriffs stand ready to contribute to the fight against terrorism and want a voice in the planning of the Commonwealth’s response to Homeland Security episodes.
 

Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association President and Dukes County Sheriff Michael A. McCormack and three of his Sheriff colleagues delivered this message earlier today (9/10/03) at a Senate Post Audit and Oversight Committee hearing at the State House in Boston.  McCormack and Sheriffs Thomas M. Hodgson of Bristol County, Joseph F. McDonough of Plymouth County and Andrea J. Cabral of Suffolk County suggested sheriffs are uniquely positioned among local law enforcement agencies to contribute equipment, staff and communications technology that would extend the first response effectiveness and impact of local and state police and increase the efficiency and effectiveness of an overall State terror response plan.
 

“People think of us as local jailers and don’t stop to think of the resources we have to offer,” says McCormack.  “But our deputies and staffs have the same scope of training and skill in dealing with large-scale riots and disturbances as police officers.  We have command structures and equipment to react immediately and expertly to any emergency or danger inside our facilities.  This skill, training and experience is transferable to terror episodes occurring outside our facilities and gives us the qualifications and standing to be part of the Commonwealth’s effort to develop a sound, effective and safety-driven plan to respond to Homeland Security issues.”
 

Hodgson, McDonough and Cabral testified how they see their individual departments contributing to the development and execution of a state lead terror response plan in their respective counties.  They referenced the suggestions of their colleagues from across the state and spoke after Middlesex Sheriff James V. DiPaola opened the Wednesday hearing as the first panelist.
 

The Wednesday hearing, held in the State House Gardiner Auditorium, brought together the Senate’s Post Audit and Oversight Committee chaired by Senator Marc R. Pacheco of Taunton with the Senate Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Public Health, Senator Richard Moore of Uxbridge and the Senate Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Public Safety, Senator Jarrett Barrios of Cambridge.  The three committees are conducting a first of its kind assessment of readiness, coordination and capability among the state’s public health institutions, transportation agencies and local and state law enforcement organizations to deal with sudden terror episodes or threats.
 

Sheriff’s resources vary by county, but include operating partnerships, such as the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council in Greater Boston that has staff of Norfolk County Sheriff’s Department working in tandem with 33 area police departments in providing mutual aid response to large-scale disturbances or crimes requiring special weapons or regional response teams.  Sheriffs also offer, according to McCormack, intelligence sharing, deployment of tactical response teams, training of security detention personnel, administration of first-aid and CPR as roles and functions they could execute in a coordinated response plan.  He also noted portable food preparation, communications coordination, use of command vehicles and transportation equipment as resources they could deploy to an external terror response command site.
 

Franklin County Sheriff Fred Macdonald echoed the remarks of his fellow Sheriffs.  “As public safety officials, we have an obligation to provide for any and all contingencies.  When it comes to Homeland Security, collaboration among law enforcement agencies is of the utmost importance.”

The resources that the Franklin Sheriff’s Office could provide in the event of a terrorist threat include: a seven-member Tactical Response Team trained in disturbance control; night vision surveillance; portable radio communications; transportation vehicles, and; portable food services.  In addition, the Sheriff’s Office has ninety staff members certified in CPR/first aid and twenty staff members who are certified First Responders. The Sheriff’s Office also maintains training and reaction plans for dealing with insurrections, bomb threats, external demonstrations, escapes, loss of utilities, staff job actions; chemical/biological contamination, severe weather, prison overcrowding and large-scale prisoner transfers.

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September 10, 2003

Sheriff Offers Self-Defense Training for Women

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office is offering a 15-hour course teaching no-nonsense, practical techniques of defense through its R.A.D. Program (Rape Aggression Defense), the largest women’s self-defense system in the country.  All students receive a lifetime return and practice policy.  This course is offered free of charge.

According to Sheriff Fred Macdonald, R.A.D. is one of many Community Outreach Programs administered by the Sheriff’s Office.  “This program recognizes the safety risks women face and gives them the ability to defend themselves if attacked,” the Sheriff said. 

Under the direction of Community Outreach Deputy Sue Corey, two officers who are certified R.A.D. instructors conduct the training session. 

The course covers five nights:
September 18, 24 and 25
October 1 and 2
5:00 –  8:00 PM each night
Congregational Church, Turners Falls, MA  

For further information or to register, contact Lt. Susan Corey or Doni Beauregard at the Sheriff’s Office:  (413) 774-4014.

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September 1, 2003

Sheriff's Office to Offer Free Fingerprint Kits

Sheriff Fred Macdonald has announced that the Sheriff's Office will again offer free picture and fingerprinting for children at the Franklin County Fair. 

"Last year we provided identification packets to over 600 children," the Sheriff said.

The ID packets include a current photo, fingerprints and important information that would help authorities to recover a child who has been lost or abducted.

"We don't like to think about our children being lost or hurt.  But the reality is that the potential is there.  As Sheriff, I want to give parents the tools to assist law enforcement in the event that a child is in harm's way," the Sheriff said.

The Sheriff's Office will be staffing a booth at the fairgrounds beginning Thursday from 4 to 10 PM, and Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 10 PM.

"I strongly urge all parents to stop by and take advantage of this opportunity," Macdonald said.

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July 17, 2003

Sheriff Releases Statistics on Community Corrections 

Sheriff Fred Macdonald released the Community Corrections Center statistics for the fiscal year July 1, 2002 through May 31, 2003.  Community Corrections Centers were established in thirteen counties under the jurisdiction of the Sheriffs’ Offices in 1998.  The objective of the centers is to provide a treatment-based alternative sanction for offenders who could otherwise face incarceration.  “The offenders referred to our Center receive intensive treatment and strict supervision,” the Sheriff said.

Last year, the Center in Franklin County had an average monthly census of 150 clients.  During its three years of operation, total monthly referrals receiving drug screening, treatment, or electronic monitoring exceeded 338 clients.  “When compared to the Jail population, which averages 170 prisoners, 338 community-based offenders is significant.  At one point last year, our Jail census peaked at 185.  Between the Jail, House of Correction and Community Corrections Center, there were 523 offenders under some form of Sheriff’s Office supervision,” the Sheriff said.   

Offenders are sentenced or “assigned” to the Center directly from the court.  “Level II” offenders receive drug screening only.  “Level III” offenders receive drug screening and are required to participate in mandatory treatment and community service programs.  “Level IV”, the strictest level, requires drug screening, program participation and electronic monitoring.  “Level IV participants wear an ankle bracelet which transmits a signal to a main computer.  Deputies assigned to the Center are notified by pager if the offender deviates from his or her approved itinerary,” the Sheriff said.

“When an offender violates, it is the teamwork between the Sheriff’s Office and the Probation Department that ensures prompt action to bring clients back into compliance,” said Laura Waskiewicz, Director of the Center.  As soon as an offender violates, a Sheriff’s deputy notifies the probation officer responsible for that offender.  Depending upon the severity of the violation, the chief probation officer may issue a warrant and, with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Office or local police, the offender is arrested.  “This supervision is provided 24 hours, seven days per week.  Our response to any violation of the rules is swift and certain,” said Ms. Waskiewicz. 

“The combination of a strong treatment component with a firm response to rules violation has made the Center successful.  Our primary goal, as always, is public safety,” Macdonald said.  Toward that end, the mandatory drug and alcohol screening is the most important aspect of supervising offenders in the community. 

During the last fiscal year, the Center performed a grand total of 3,925 drug screens from urine samples and a total of 638 alcohol screens.  Of the drug tests performed, 420 were positive.  

“When they test positive, we notify their probation officer, so that corrective action may be taken,” the Sheriff said.  Corrective action may include moving the offender to a higher security level, termination from the program and incarceration for violation of the terms of probation.

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July 11, 2003

One Step Closer to New County Jail 

Sheriff Fred Macdonald announced today that the Sheriff’s Office and the state Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) have selected Springfield-based Fontaine Brothers as the general contractor for the Franklin County Jail Replacement Project.  Fontaine’s proposal met all the essential elements of the bid and came in 2.7 million dollars under DCAM’s earlier construction cost estimate.  “Initiating capital construction is a slow and frustrating process, but this is the kind of good news worth waiting for,” Sheriff Macdonald said.

Now that the contractor has been selected, the next step in the process is for DCAM to formally award the contract and establish a construction start date.  Earlier this year, an announcement by DCAM that the project would be delayed for a second time in one year prompted a forceful protest by Franklin County legislators led by Senate President pro tem Stan Rosenberg. Senator Rosenberg organized a meeting between all the legislators who represent Franklin County and members of Governor Romney’s staff.  “I believe that the meeting was successful and I thank both the legislators and the Governor for sitting down and discussing how to get this project underway,” the Sheriff said.

Initial funding for the antiquated 19^th century facility was part of a prison bond bill signed by Governor Weld in 1996.  There is currently 32 million dollars allocated for the project.  The replacement facility was put out to bid in June 2002, but was delayed for a year due to the state bond cap (the amount of money that can be spent annually on capital projects).  The project was put back out to bid in March of this year.  The Sheriff says that the need for a new facility in Franklin County cannot be overestimated:  “The size of the cells in the current facility fail to meet constitutional standards; the electrical and plumbing systems do not meet code; there is no secondary egress in the event of fire; prisoners cannot be classified properly due to lack of appropriate inmate housing; and the lack of automated locking systems make the facility expensive to staff due to the number of posts required for each shift.”

According to the Macdonald, a new facility will enhance the ability of the Sheriff’s Office to assist local and state police.  “Currently we provide lock-up services to the state police and to Franklin County towns,” the Sheriff said.  Under state law, the county jail may be used as a lock-up for police departments who do not have lock-ups in their stations.  Recently, Sheriff Macdonald filed legislation that would expand the use of the jail by allowing police officers to detain persons placed into protective custody.  “Franklin County is unique,” the Sheriff said.  “We have to work together to deliver the best possible services to the citizens.  I am thankful to the legislators and to the Franklin County Chiefs of Police and Selectmen’s Associations for their letters of support in getting this project back on track.”

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June 1, 2003

New Jail Officially Out to Bid

Sheriff Fred Macdonald announced today that the state has officially opened the bid process for the replacement of the Franklin County Jail and House of Correction. The official bidding process began on March 12th. A "pre-bid conference" was held by DCAM at the jail on March 28th. The purpose of the conference was to provide contractors with an opportunity to do a site examination prior to submitting their bid. The closing date for bids was April 24th. 

"We've waited an awfully long time," the Sheriff said. When first running for office in 1992, Macdonald made replacement of the outdated Elm Street facility a top priority of his administration. " A new facility will not only bring work opportunities to the construction trades during a tough economic period, but it will also provide a model facility that will serve the public safety needs of Franklin County for decades," the Sheriff said. 

The new facility will be located adjacent to the existing jail at 160 Elm Street. It will be comprised of four inmate "pods" with a total of 144 cells, as well as administrative and support space. Based on the "design-build" construction method, the facility should be ready for occupancy within 18 to 24 months of groundbreaking. Although the bid is official, the Sheriff said he will rest easier when the first shovel goes into the ground. "We've been through studies, tough budget years, bond cap limitations, reviews and delays. Getting this project underway is a victory for the citizens of our region," the Sheriff said. " I can only say that this was a team effort. Without the unwavering support of our legislators, Senator Stan Rosenberg, former Representative John Merrigan, and Representatives Steve Kulik and Shawn Kelly, we probably would not be celebrating this achievement. I am sincerely grateful to them for keeping their eyes on this project and I know that our new Representative Chris Donelan will be there to see this project to completion," said Macdonald.

The Sheriff's Office will host a forum for members of the press to view the blueprints of the new facility to receive more in-depth information about the project.

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