Sheriff Cummings and Sheriff Hodgson Retire

Sheriff Hodgson(left) poses for a picture with Sheriff Cummings (right).

Two long-time Massachusetts Sheriffs said farewell as the new year began. Barnstable County Sheriff James Cummings and Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson both began their retirement after serving as sheriffs for decades.

Sheriff Cummings served as sheriff of Barnstable County for 24 years. He was elected as the Sheriff of Barnstable County and sworn into office in January 1999. In 2004, Sheriff Cummings opened the new Barnstable County Correctional Facility located just outside Joint Base Cape Cod and received National Accreditation from the American Correctional Society three times for superior facility operations.

The facility has also been recognized as a rehabilitation center. Sheriff Cummings implemented a Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program (RSAT) for the inmates and received national recognition for its success in reducing recidivism. The program was also the first of its kind to provide injected naltrexone (Vivitrol) to inmates to facilitate a drug free transition back to the community, which received recognition from the White House National Drug Control Strategy.

Sheriff Cummings poses with his fellow sheriffs after receiving his retirement plaque.

Back at our December meeting, the sheriffs presented Sheriff Cummings with a retirement plague to honor his hard work, commitment to corrections, and many years of service.

Sheriff Cummings poses with his family on his last day in office.

The Cape Cod community came out in force on Sheriff Cummings last day in office for a well deserved send off.

MSA Executive Director Carrie Hill (far left), Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald(left), and Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi (far right) present Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson (right) with a plaque on his last day in office.

Sheriff Thomas Hodgson served as sheriff of Bristol County for 25 years. He was appointed sheriff in 1997 and his first of four election victories was in 1998.

His facilities achieved back-to-back 100% audit scores from American Corrections Association, and also held national honors from the National Commission on Corrections Health Care. Over the years, he created many vital programs inside and outside the jail to benefit the inmates and the community.

On Tuesday, January 3rd, Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald, and MSA Executive Director Carrie Hill presented Sheriff Hodgson with a similar retirement plaque on behalf of the Massachusetts Sheriffs on this last day in office. The retirement plaques, both Sheriff Cummings and Sheriff Hodgson received, feature a badge from each Massachusetts Sheriff's Office. Sheriff Hodgson' staff also gave him a big send off for his last day in office.

We'd like to thank both Sheriff Cummings and Sheriff Hodgson for their many years of dedication and service. We wish them all the best moving forward!