Now that the election is over, we can start to focus on other things! Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian will host a community discussion on Tuesday, November 12, 2019 at 7:00pm, at the Angier Elementary School, open to all. He’ll be talking about the work of the Sheriff’s office (detail below), but what questions do you have for him?
About the event: This community discussion is sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN) as well as theLeague of Women Voters of Arlington, Norward, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston. Sheriff Koutoujian will talk about the work of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, partnerships with local law enforcement and efforts to address the needs of justice-involved individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. He’ll also discuss innovative programs for incarcerated military veterans and young adult offenders.
Peter J. Koutoujian has been Middlesex Sheriff since he was sworn in by former Governor Deval Patrick on January 21, 2011. In February of 2019, Koutoujian was elected as Vice President of Major County Sheriffs of America, representing sheriffs from the most populous counties in the country. Koutoujian currently serves as President of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association, and is a founding member of Law Enforcement Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration, a group committed to reducing rates of incarceration. He has also been recognized as a “Champion of Justice Reform” by the Coalition for Public Safety – a national bipartisan collective advancing criminal justice reform.
Prior to serving as sheriff, Koutoujian served as a state legislator holding several leadership positions, including Chairman of the Joint Committee on Financial Services and Chairman of the Joint Committee on Public Health. Additionally, he chaired the Commonwealth’s OxyContin and Other Drug Abuse Commission created in 2004. A staunch public safety advocate, Koutoujian has also led efforts around victims’ rights and suicide prevention.
A lawyer by trade, Koutoujian served as a Middlesex County prosecutor before being elected to the Massachusetts Legislature. Koutoujian is a graduate of Bridgewater State University, the New England School of Law and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Here’s my question for Sheriff Koutoujian:
Since Newton’s “Welcoming City” ordinance limits cooperation between city and federal immigration authorities and prevents investigation or detainment of an immigrant based solely on legal status, if such an illegal immigrant found in Newton does happen to come under the authority or control of the Sheriff’s Department having authority over operation of prisons and jails, will the Sheriff’s Department cooperate with federal immigration authorities in detainment of such illegal immigrant?
(This question is not conditioned by the fact that Newton elects to label illegal immigrants as undocumented persons, and that Newton essentially subscribes to open unenforced USA borders entitling illegal immigrants (or undocumented persons) full entitlements as if those persons were citizens of the USA.)
As this questioner may not be able to be in attendance at the upcoming meeting, will someone please pose the above question and seek a definitive and clear response from Sheriff Koutoujian.
Thank you.
I’d ask Sheriff Koutoujian — well, maybe not ask him but implore him — to coax his Human Resources honcho Scott Lennon out of his self-imposed exile and back into Newton civic life. The City Council, and especially the Council Presidency Lennon left behind, is far poorer without him. Sheriff, can you help Newton get Scott back? We need him!
I’d like to know if the Sheriff’s office has taken any enforcement action related to Governor Baker’s four month vaping ban, and the details of any such action.
Now that we’ve let the fox into the hen house, I’d like to know if our Sheriffs office has made ( or seen ), any progress in Marijuana DUI enforcement .?
What sort of progress can we ( drivers, cyclists and pedestrians ), expect to see going forward on this issue.?
Mike S. & Blueprint,
In Massachusetts, law ENFORCEMENT authority goes to its cities and towns, State police, and many colleges and universities, but NOT to Sheriffs’ Departments which essentially only retain operational authority over jails, correctional facilities, and service of process.
This is a unique opportunity to discuss important local issues.
Please join Tuesday & please spread the word to those who might be interested….
Can anyone report on the meeting, and any questions asked, which occurred earlier tonight?
@Jim Epstein There will be NewTV coverage. This is probably the best resource – a lot of ground was covered. I’ll provide a link once it’s available. Thanks for your interest!