Richard Bretschneider was elected sheriff in 1998. His term expires next year, and some people doubt he will be reelected. (Rob Benchley)


By Jenna Russell


Globe Staff /


NANTUCKET - Richard Bretschneider presides over the smallest sheriff’s office in the state. He is the only Massachusetts sheriff with no jail. Yet despite his modest duties, Bretschneider, 50, has wielded unexpected power on this island 30 miles offshore - and become a deeply controversial figure.

DiscussCOMMENTS (6)


Now, with his term set to expire next year, the Nantucket sheriff is facing a dramatic shift in stature. On Jan. 1, the state will take over his and six other county sheriffs’ offices. Bretschneider’s pay will be cut nearly 30 percent. He will also be stripped of his ties to a lucrative tax fund that imbued his tiny office with disproportionate luster and clout.

The change could end a strange and fractured chapter on Nantucket.

Full Story:

Sheriff’s clashes with officials create big waves in Nantucket - The Boston Globe

Unless I'm reading this story wrong he seems to be doing a pretty good job for his people and the state. He may not have a jail but he seems to be doing the job he was given. As long as his own community isn't going without then what does it matter if it goes back into the state?

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He shares a cramped, one-room office with his two full-time employees on the second floor of Nantucket’s government building, but said he is rarely there because his duties - collecting delinquent child support, mediating evictions, seeing that prisoners are transported to jail on the Cape - take him out around the island, where he is a familiar sight at the wheel of his sport utility vehicle.

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A special provision in the legislation, which he approved, will give Nantucket $250,000 a year for 20 years to pay for its new police station.

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Some have questioned his choice of causes. He spent thousands on cellphones and dogs for the State Police and paid $750 for a brake job on one of their vehicles, frustrating local officials.

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When the town stopped payment on a $50,000 check he wrote for two retinal eye scanners to identify missing persons - one for Nantucket and one for Martha’s Vineyard - he threatened legal action.

Nantucket is much different than the rest of the state, as the county consists of only one municipality, and the county commissioners powers are weilded by Nantucket's Board of Selectmen.

With no jail and a single PD that covers the entire island, the only task left for this Sheriff is civil process--which could be handled by a constable or two for a fee-based cost paid by those with from whom the process is to be served. Seems to me they could save a healthy chunk of change by disbanding his office all together--though, I believe, it would take a state constitutional amendment to do so.

Still, while I agree his office is irrelevent and antiquated, and he's throwing money around like a drunken sailor, it seems to me the town is stepping all over his prick.

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Legislators also cut Bretschneider’s salary from $97,000 to $71,000 to reflect his lesser duties, and barred him from collecting extra fees for serving papers. He says the cut is unfair because other sheriffs have hundreds of employees to delegate work to, while he must handle most of the load on his own.

How much process is there to be served in Nantucket anyways? I'm sure even Korey Humphreys could bang out that much work without losing any weight.

If the citizens of Nantucket really, really wants elected accountability from someone who should be doing nothing more than delivering paper, fine, but cut his pay commensurate with his duties.

I wasn't aware of how it worked. Thanks for the clarification. What caught me off was his comment about the old boy network followed by the pensioner saying he had to go, but the younger (I'm guessing?) comment about him being a help.

A sheriff without a jail. Now I've heard it all.

Even sheriff Andy Taylor had a jail.

Granted, Otis the drunk let himself in every night, but they still had a jail.

Originally Posted by Boston Irish Lass

Unless I'm reading this story wrong he seems to be doing a pretty good job for his people and the state.

Can you please help me out on exactly what job he is doing?

And the guy is making $97,000 a year?

No wonder my pension and quinn bill is under attack.

This guy only gets $1 million a year. The Plymouth County Sheriff got $65 million this fiscal year and even with the belt tightening could see almost $70 million next fiscal year.

Originally Posted by SheriffMcWaste

This guy only gets $1 million a year. The Plymouth County Sheriff got $65 million this fiscal year and even with the belt tightening could see almost $70 million next fiscal year.

Did you get fired or can't come up with the $500 fee?

Someone with your vast knowledge on the corruption occurring in the PCSD needs to start sharing a little dirt.

Instead of regurgitating the same old crap.

Originally Posted by 94c

Did you get fired or can't come up with the $500 fee? Someone with your vast knowledge on the corruption occurring in the PCSD needs to start sharing a little dirt. Instead of regurgitating the same old crap.

His "dirt" is mostly public information and quite friggin BORING!!!!!!!!

Since when does the Sheriff do the job for DOR? DOR handles child support and the (inept) collection of delinquent support.

sounds like small town politics.

at least the money was going to Nantucket residents.

now it goes to the state and people like barney frank get to tell you how to spend it