[jo]

Will the sheriffs office in massachusetts ever merge together? One uniform, all cruisers marked the same, one union. One policy and procedure for all. You would be able to transfer from office to office depending where you wanted to live. Form large special units, and so on. I would think this would be good for the correctional officers as well. I believe all sheriffs offices are now paid by the state anyway. I also think we are the only state agency left that is not uniformed through out the state. Can anyone think of one that is not.

Mass State Police

Mass Highway

Mass Parole

Mass Court Officers

Mass Probation

DOC

Why not the office of sheriff?

 

[TheFuzz357]

One uniform, all cruisers marked the same, one union. One policy and procedure for all. You would be able to transfer from office to office depending where you wanted to live. Form large special units, and so on.

Last I checked we called that the STATE POLICE and we already have one of those. Do we need two statewide "police" agencies. If you were thinking more along the lines of what most Sheriff's employees do now, that would be called the DOC and we already have one of those, too. In fact a few years back they thought exactly what you just posted and they attempted to merge the county SD's with the DOC. The only thing that changed was the SD's are now paid by the state and have state benefits.
Don't get discouraged, though. It was a good thought. Just not well thought out. :roll:

 

[jo]

Don't get me wrong with my question. I just really don't understand why the office of sheriff is probably the only state agency that is not uniformed through out the state. When all other state agencys are REQUIRED to work as one.

 

[MatchStick]

County!

 

[jo]

State Employees. No more county government in massachusetts since the early 90s.

 

[fscpd907]

State College Police are not unifrom with many noticeable differences between departments.

 

[jo]

County court houses, state court officers, state probation officers??

Posted Wed Nov 17, 17:08:

Never gave much thought to State College Police Departments. So, would it be better if they were uniformed through out the state. I would think it would be good for those officers. Better training, equipment, larger union. Money would probably be better also.

 

[MatchStick]

State Employees. No more county government in massachusetts since the early 90s.

The county is the region that they serve. We have enough duplication of services going on already, we don't need more boundary blurring.

 

[Guest]

State Employees. No more county government in massachusetts since the early 90s.

The county is the region that they serve. We have enough duplication of services going on already, we don't need more boundary blurring.

This all begs the question: Why do the Sheriff Departments still exist :?:

 

[jo]

I wonder why they still exist myself. Why not merge with DOC. I just wonder why a state agency is not uniformed through out the state.

 

[DoD102]

Why do they exist? One word. POLITICS!

 

[Otto]

Although sheriff's employees may be paid by the state, they are not state employees. They are in the employ of the sheriff who has sole authority to hire, fire, promote, etc...

I believe the district attorneys and their offices work the same.

 

[USMCTrooper]

The first step in ridding Massachusetts of the office of sheriff is a constitutional amendment. Sheriff, as is District Attorney, is a constitutional office and despite the abolishment of county government, until the State Constitution is amended dissolving their existence, you won't see the DOC run all correctional facilities. What is befuddling to me is Governor Romney who campaigned on disbanding duplicitous agencies. He has eliminated the MDC (into DEM to make the DCR) and has relenetlessly sought to put the MTA into MassHwy. Given the rate of spending among certain sheriffs, why hasn't he targeted them? :? POLITICS. Is anyone surprised that at a recent event he was introduced by none other than........a sheriff? They are pols pure and simple.

 

[mpd61]

Will the sheriffs office in massachusetts ever merge together? One uniform, all cruisers marked the same, one union. One policy and procedure for all. You would be able to transfer from office to office depending where you wanted to live. Form large special units, and so on.

Yeah!
It could work under the DOC!!!!!!
:twisted:

 

[Guest]

no thanks, all set with the DOC, leave us alone, DOC has way too many problems for me. I dont want to be under that umbrella

 

[94c]

Don't get me wrong with my question. I just really don't understand why the office of sheriff is probably the only state agency that is not uniformed through out the state. When all other state agencys are REQUIRED to work as one.

You will never merge the sheriffs department for the same reason you will never merge the different brands of toilet paper.

At least with toilet paper you know what your getting.

 

[BB-59]

I wonder why they still exist myself. Why not merge with DOC. I just wonder why a state agency is not uniformed through out the state.

I can answer that for you in one word, POLITICS! And do not think for a minute that because the state pays 90% of there budgets that they are the same. No sheriff will happily go along with loosing the power, prestige, and $$$ that goes with the title. Why give up a 6 year locked in position that pays over $100,00.00 (and don't forget the raise Mitt suggested for them, although the rank and file get 2%).

Look how many positions are created for politcal reasons, and you want to end all that? To even consider a merger you would have to change the CMRs to start and I wont even get into labor issues. Stop griping and start pushing the legistlature to do their job and define exactly what the sheriffs function really boils down to.

 

[SPO123]

Sheriffs still exist becaus of elections...same as county DA. If you make it all state, they lose control. Nobody wants that....