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Cape newspaper files lawsuit seeking names of reserve deputy sheriffs
Associated Press
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
BARNSTABLE, Mass. - The Cape Cod Times filed a complaint in superior court on Tuesday asking the court to order the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department to reveal names of about 200 reserve deputy sheriffs.
The newspaper had asked for the names on Feb. 28, arguing that the list of reserve deputies and their assignments are public documents under the state's public record law. The sheriff's office denied the request, saying that the list is not a public record.
The newspaper's complaint against Sheriff James M. Cummings in Barnstable Superior Court argued that the refusal was illegal, and asked the court to force Cummings to turn over the records.
Cummings did not immediately return a call seeking comment Tuesday.
Barnstable's reserve deputy sheriffs are civilians who are allowed to purchase look-alike deputy sheriff badges without any law enforcement training. They are nominated by either the sheriff's office employees or the Barnstable County Deputy Sheriff's Association, a private organization.
Worcester County is the only other county in the state with a similar program. (Kind of sounds like Middlesex Co.'s set up to me)
A system under former Barnstable Sheriff John DeMello had about 35 civilian reserve sheriffs and 35 professional deputy sheriffs. All were members of the deputy sheriff's association.
After Cummings' 1998 election, the number of reserve deputy sheriffs rose to about 200, according to the newspaper.
Cummings has previously said that the reserve system is ``a social thing'' that has ``nothing to do with the sheriff's office.''
The newspaper asked for the names of the reserve deputy sheriffs after the start of a criminal investigation into activities of one reserve deputy
Associated Press
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
BARNSTABLE, Mass. - The Cape Cod Times filed a complaint in superior court on Tuesday asking the court to order the Barnstable County Sheriff's Department to reveal names of about 200 reserve deputy sheriffs.
The newspaper had asked for the names on Feb. 28, arguing that the list of reserve deputies and their assignments are public documents under the state's public record law. The sheriff's office denied the request, saying that the list is not a public record.
The newspaper's complaint against Sheriff James M. Cummings in Barnstable Superior Court argued that the refusal was illegal, and asked the court to force Cummings to turn over the records.
Cummings did not immediately return a call seeking comment Tuesday.
Barnstable's reserve deputy sheriffs are civilians who are allowed to purchase look-alike deputy sheriff badges without any law enforcement training. They are nominated by either the sheriff's office employees or the Barnstable County Deputy Sheriff's Association, a private organization.
Worcester County is the only other county in the state with a similar program. (Kind of sounds like Middlesex Co.'s set up to me)
A system under former Barnstable Sheriff John DeMello had about 35 civilian reserve sheriffs and 35 professional deputy sheriffs. All were members of the deputy sheriff's association.
After Cummings' 1998 election, the number of reserve deputy sheriffs rose to about 200, according to the newspaper.
Cummings has previously said that the reserve system is ``a social thing'' that has ``nothing to do with the sheriff's office.''
The newspaper asked for the names of the reserve deputy sheriffs after the start of a criminal investigation into activities of one reserve deputy