Representatives from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts met yesterday with Sheriff Kevin Coppinger and the members of the Financial Advisory Board of the Essex County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ECRECC) to discuss future options for the center. The ECRECC, located in Middleton and which currently falls under the Sheriff’s oversight, has been in operation since 2013. […]
PART 1 Last month Essex County Sheriff Kevin Coppinger appeared on the Paying Attention Podcast with Tom Duggan to discuss the opioid crisis and what he is doing in the Sheriff’s Department to help stem the tide. “I served in the Lynn Police Dept. for 32 years, before that I was a police officer in […]
By: Tom Duggan, May 30, 2017 all photos: Tom Duggan (c) Copyright, 2017 The Valley Patriot Federal, state, county, and federal law enforcement officials conducted a major drug and immigration sweep in Lawrence Tuesday. Officials say more than 2 1/2 kilos of fentanyl (representing over 100,000 bags) and six weapons were seized in morning raids that […]
LAWRENCE UNDER SIEGE By: Tom Duggan – 4-30-17 HERE COME THE FEDS After a significant spike in violent crimes over the last six months, Lawrence Police Chief James Fitzpatrick has called in some heavy reinforcements to take back the streets and protect the nearly 90,000 people living in his city. Lawrence is the poorest community […]
BOSTON – Two former corrections officers at the Essex County Correctional Facility were sentenced recently in U.S. District Court in Boston for their involvement with smuggling Suboxone into the Essex County House of Corrections – Middleton for inmates. Katherine Sullivan, 32, of Londonderry, N.H., was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs […]
During the reign of Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins we have seen political relatives hired to major, high-paying jobs, sober houses located in crack neighborhoods in Lawrence, complaints of employees (or vendors) having relationships with inmates, sweetheart deals given to high price donors (like Wayne Capolupo), and a group of corrections officers who are overworked, […]
The Essex County Sheriff Seeking Two Inmates Who Walked Away from Lawrence Correctional Alternative Center Essex County Sheriff Frank G. Cousins Jr. has finally released photos of the two inmates who walked away from the minimum security Lawrence Correctional Alternative Center Wednesday MANUEL PEREZ, AGE 22, OF PUERTO RICO, is a pretrial inmate who faces […]
PAYING ATTENTION ON LINE EXTRA During the republican debate for Essex County Sheriff in Methuen last month, each of the candidates were asked if they would support their party’s nominee if they don’t win the THURSDAY, Sept. 8th primary. All of the candidates said they would, except recently registered republican Jim Jajuga. He used […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL The Valley Patriot hosted two debates in the Essex County Sheriff’s race last month. During the Democratic Party candidate debate, superintendent of the Middleton jail, Michael Marks, explained that the Sheriff’s Department needs more than $71M to operate. He also explained that the legislature only gave them $50M last year as […]
Four of the five Republican primary candidates for Essex County Sheriff debated at the American Legion on Broadway in Methuen. They are: Anne Manning-Martin, Jeff Gallo, Craig Lane, and Jim Jajuga, Jr. Moderating the debate were Valley Patriot publisher Tom Duggan and Executive Director of the Greater Lawrence Psychological Center, Carina Pappalardo.) CLICK PHOTO TO […]
The Valley Patriot newspaper hosted a debate for the Democratic Candidates for Essex County Sheriff at North Andover High School on Thursday, August 18, 2016. The candidates are: Michael Marks, Paul Russell, Jerry Robito, Kevin Coppinger, and Ed O’Reilly. The debate moderators were: Tom Duggan, Valley Patriot Publisher, Christine Morabito and Jerry Flynn. The […]
By: Tom Duggan – August 25, 2016 Last week The Valley Patriot hosted a substantive debate (SEE VIDEO) with the Democratic Party Candidates for Essex County Sheriff, leaving no doubt about the difference between the six candidates. The debate was held at North Andover High School and was sponsored by Colizzi Memorials in Methuen, Minasian and […]
PAYING ATTENTION ON-LINE EXTRA This week the Newburyport Daily News (owned by the Eagle ~Tribune, headquartered in Alabama) ran a hit piece on Salisbury Selectman candidate Gil Medeiros being fired 8 years ago from his job at the Essex County Sheriff’s Department. And, while the Daily news seems to have finally figured out how […]
By: Christine Morabito – March 2014 Because of its proximity to Interstates 495, 95 and 93, the Merrimack Valley has been uniquely impacted by a shocking increase in heroin and prescription drug abuse. The drugs are reportedly entering Massachusetts by way of New York City and the Texas border. Making matters worse, the now inexpensive heroin […]
By: Jerry Robito – April, 2014 The position of Sheriff should not be held by a career politician. Instead, it should be held by a law enforcement professional who has worked in corrections. The Sheriff of Essex County has been an elected position since 1856, and there has never been an elected Sheriff that has […]