The latest being the story about a inmate complaining he was made to work and not paid fairly for doing woodwork in the jail’s wood shop. Its amazing the timing of this story was so close to Sheriff Cahillane defeating two other candidates. Its equally amazing that the FBI inquired about this and someone knowing the system may think of this as a way to throw more dirt on decent man who holds the office of sheriff. I started at the Hampshire County jail in 1973, several years before Patrick Cahillane, and inmates were making things for people then from both outside the jail and some staff members as well. They were paid in cigarettes at the Union Street jail, as that was like money. Also money might be put into their accounts for coffee and store goods. It wasn’t much but it was better than staying in one’s cell all day long. No inmate was ever made to do anything for anyone for free. You can imagine the quality of the goods you would get back if you did that to an inmate.
Then another Gazette story pops up stating candidate Gittleson’s campaign signs are being stolen again in her home town. Doesn’t actually accuse anyone by name but the seed is planted in some minds.
There is only one candidate that is the sensible choice and that is the guy who has done every single uniformed officer’s job in the Sheriff’s Department for decades and worked up the ranks to the Sheriff’s Office and has earned the respect and support from the district attorney and attorneys alike in Hampshire County for the job he has done over the years.
Fran Taylor
Southampton