Paul Heroux, unlike sheriff Hodgson, promotes the police rather than replacing them.

Both New Bedford and Fall River police chiefs have historically had to fend off the intrusion of Sheriff Hodgson into their policing role.

Hodgson, throughout his career as sheriff, has attempted to replace police officers’ duties by threatening or offering to send his deputies into New Bedford or Fall River to act in policing capacities for which they are not trained, nor paid by taxpayers to perform.

Paul Heroux, on the other hand, respects the police and their law enforcement duties, as evidenced by his tripling the Attleboro Police Department training budget as Mayor.

It must be remembered that retired Somerset Chief of Police  George McNeil, who incidentally is supporting Paul Heroux, felt compelled to run for sheriff after being disrespected by Hodgson, and observing first hand the ineffective and expensive jail management by the Sheriff.

The police in Massachusetts are the authorized agents to respond to crime scenes, make arrests if warranted, which is their primary role in keeping the community safe. A sheriff’s role is to house, feed and provide correctional programs for the incarcerated, and to make every effort to deter them from re-offending, thereby keeping the community and the police safe.

Thomas Hodgson has repeatedly failed to perform his statutorily-mandated role as provider of  institutional assistance to lower the crime rate and protecting the community and the police.

Betty Ussach

Dartmouth