Massachusetts Law Enforcement Network

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Posted by: Irishpride

Bearing in mind all the statutory authority the Sheriff holds I'm a little curious to see how everyone feels about this.

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Posted by: PearlOnyx

Theoretically, if elected the Sheriff could the Sheriff legally enter the facility? There are restrictions in this state on convicted felons entering correctional facilities.

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Posted by:

1st who and what county is this happening in? And isnt there or shouldnt there be some by law that prevents this?

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Posted by:

Usually here in Massachusetts, it's the other way around. You usually are elected Sheriff then later on you become a convicted felon. Why is this guy bucking the trend??


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MassachusettsCopRant/
Oh, the fun we are having in here. Don't miss out.

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Posted by: PBC FL Cop

Republican Frank Beshai, a convicted felon, who served time at the Worcester County House of Correction ran for Worcester County Sheriff about 6 years ago, and sadly enough received about 70,000 votes.

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Posted by: Irishpride

Leo Pelletier a former cook for the Bristol County Sheriff's Office and a long-time Fall River City counselor announced he intends to run against his former boss Sheriff Thomas Hodgson.

In 1984, Pelletier pleaded guilty to five gaming charges including two felonies stemming from an April 1983 arrest in a citywide gaming raid.

He was fined $1,000 on the felony charge of setting up and promoting a lottery, while the other charges were placed on file.

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Posted by:

[quote="HousingCop"]Usually here in Massachusetts, it's the other way around. You usually are elected Sheriff then later on you become a convicted felon. Why is this guy bucking the trend??


Your exactly right is usually is the other way around it is kind of ironic these guys are even trying such a task. Sounds like a case of the guy pissed off at city hall so he decides to run to attempt to make a difference.


This really shouldnt surprise anyone does anyone here know of any other convicted felons who are on the job or in a position of authority? MUMs the word here but I will say this I know of an SO that has someone on there very very high payroll and position who's a convicted felon, I wont say what county or who it is but my point is ...... Well you know what I'm getting at.

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Posted by:

Quote:

Originally Posted by PearlOnyx Theoretically, if elected the Sheriff could the Sheriff legally enter the facility? There are restrictions in this state on convicted felons entering correctional facilities.

Thats a very interesting point Pearl, do you have any more info on how that works ie any MGL or is that a dept policy. I guess if the felon is elected he can work from Home? YA gotta love this state. I'm shocked theres no bylaw that prevents this from happening.

I mean there are alot of convicted felons that have run for office but an LE office???????

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Posted by: Otto

Unfortunately, I don't think there is any way to stop a felon from becoming sheriff.

By statute, all visitors must sign a statement under penalties of perjury indicating among other things, if they have been convicted of a felony and the purpose of the visit. However, there are no statutory prohibitions against felons entering correctional facilities in Massachusetts.

About six months ago the US Supreme Court decided unanimously, in Bazetta v. Michigan, that neither prisoners, nor their family have a constitutional right to visit, or to be visited. Felons still can visit if department policy permits.

In Massachusetts, the sheriff can authorize his officers or deputies to carry any weapons he sees fit, but there is no requirement that they, or the sheriff must be armed, so our gun laws don't help us out either (they usually don't anyway).

A felon cannot be appointed to the position of correctional officer. But a sheriff is not necessarily a correctional officer.

I guess we are in the hands of the "good judgement" of the electorate.

Yikes!!

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Posted by: bbelichick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Otto I guess we are in the hands of the "good judgement" of the electorate.

As our little poll has proved (2 members of a Law Enforcement board voting to allow a freaking felon to be a Sheriff), intelligence is NOT a requirement to vote ANYWHERE.

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Posted by: Wolfman

Too bad certain "law officials" aren't subject to the same background check requirement that the rest of us are. Not guaranteed but a good way to keep most of the wingnuts out.

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Posted by: PearlOnyx

Out of curiosity, I flipped through my three ring binder of all my crap from the DOC Academy (yes I saved it all), and found the CMR dealing with perimeter security. It does state that a BOP, NCIC, III, etc. will be conducted prior to allowing a non-preapproved visitor to enter. There is something then that states that the procedure does not need to be performed on "law enforcement" officials. This must be the loophole for felon sheriff's! I like when guys come up to visit their friends and "OOps, you have a warrant!"

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Posted by: k9sheriff

Or even funnier, when a few weeks ago one comes to visit his friend, of course forgetting about the class D substance in his coat as it is going through the x-ray machine. The police were happy to arrest him.I didn't mean to get off the subject.

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