Week Four: Community Services

- Assistant Deputy Superintendent Pratt entertained us this session with an overview of the community services provide by the Sheriff’s Department. The Citizens’ Academy is the newest initiative of Sheriff Cousins to reach out to the community and share whatever information they are able to with the public. They work closely with other departments in the county. Since most towns can’t afford to maintain their own K9 units, for example, they frequently deploy theirs to the towns and cities as needed. Each week, they provide the Department of Immigration with a list of undocumented inmates.
- The Sheriff’s Department is also linked with Elder Services and the District Attorney’s office to provide outreach to the seniors. They have coordinated a program in each community called Triad. Participating seniors are given a round yellow sticker for their rear windshield if they own a vehicle to inform responders in the event of an accident that the victim’s medical and emergency information is locate within the glove compartment. The correctional officers also run a series of talks on topics such as understanding teen grandchildren and avoiding contractor scams.
- The pride and joy of the department appeared to be their involvement with Special Olympics. An uncle of participants in the Olympics when he joined the department, Pratt was pleasantly surprised to discover this. He soon became a regular participant in the multitude of related activities. They organize a convoy of police cruisers from all over Massachusetts to arrive at the start of the Olympics. To raise funds, they have a canoe race each year, a road race and a night in area restaurants where you can tip the cop while they assist the waiters and waitresses, all their tips going to the organization.
This session ended fairly early. Unfortunately, I didn't have my car there since my husband and dropped me off nor did I bother to bring my cell phone since they want you to keep them turned off inside. I had about forty five minutes to sit in the waiting room where the visitors wait to get in to see their incarcerated family and friends. The majority of the visitors were Latinos, primarily women and children. Most of them were speaking in Spanish. I enjoy sitting and listening, not letting on that I understand what they are saying. There is a television set up in there and about fifty chairs. A very friendly correctional officer stands guard by the metal detector at the entrance and converses with people, answers questions as needed. I felt as if I was waiting for a train in a station, it was quite comfortable and not the least bit intimidating. At one point, one of the officers came in and called almost everyone in the room by name and they were escorted through the administration building into the prison. About five or six people remained in the lobby with me until my ride finally came.
- Next week, assuming the weather is better, we will meet some of the department’s police dogs and learn more about how the K9 services are used.