GREENFIELD — A thunderous round of applause met Franklin County Sheriff Christopher Donelan as he was sworn into office for the second time Wednesday morning to begin his second six-year term.
“Today, as I start the next 6 years, I’m proud and honored to serve in this role,” Donelan said during an acceptance speech to about 150 people inside the old jail building on Elm Street. The sheriff oversees operation of the county’s jail and house of corrections, and related programs like the civil process service division.
Around the walls, prison guards and local officials looked on as the jail’s color guard stamped its way to the front of the room and recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Above, some of the inmates also watched the proceedings from a second floor, their arms dangling through prison bars behind a banner that read, “Thank you Sheriff Donelan.”
In his first term, Donelan guided the sheriff’s department through the rise of the regional heroin epidemic. In 2013, he helped found the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region. Because of his work, Donelan has been asked to provide guidance and share thoughts on the opioid crisis both locally and nationally. Within Franklin County, he’s spearheaded drug treatment programs and other initiatives, including a regional animal control service and a drug transitional program.
Through the years, Donelan, an Orange native, served as a local police officer, probation officer, state representative and sheriff. He was first elected Nov. 2, 2010.
“It’s hard to believe that millions of dollars were spent to build that building next door, and the largest room is still here,” Donelan joked, alluding to the modern jail that lies adjacent to the old brick building where the ceremony was held. Then, he gestured to the white concrete room, and explained that it was formerly used as an execution space in the 1800’s.
“From that dark past we have evolved into a place of education and recovery, with new knowledge of addiction,” he continued, changing to a more somber tone.
Looking ahead to the next term, Donelan said he’d like to expand on the office’s drug treatment programs, providing more holistic care for inmates and their families who are struggling with addiction in order to break cycles of abuse.
“Our focus needs to be on the young ones. Sending these men home to be good fathers means breaking the cycle,” Donelan said, noting, “we have worked really hard, and there’s still more work to be done with these guys.”
“We’re very excited to see the sheriff serve another term, and about the future,” said Montague Police Chief Chip Dodge after the ceremony was over. Dodge highlighted Donelan’s work in the creation of Franklin County Sheriff Office’s Regional Dog Control Services, based in Montague.
“He’s a true partner between the Franklin County chiefs of police and corrections,” said Deerfield Police Chief John Paciorek Jr. The Deerfield chief noted a reintegration program Donelan helped bring about targeting the opioid crisis, adding, “hopefully we’ll get a grasp on this moving forward.”
In an email, Gill Police Chief David W. Hastings reflected Paciorek Jr.’s thoughts.
“As the President of the Franklin County Chiefs of Police Association I would like to publicly thank Sheriff Donelan for all of his actions to bring our county together as a law enforcement entity. The partnership that has developed between the Sheriff’s Department and local law enforcement is in direct relation to his leadership. We in Franklin County are extremely happy to work with the Sheriff’s Department under the leadership of Chris Donelan for many years to come,” Hastings wrote.
Athol Police Chief Russell T. Kleber, who spent more than 20 years as an FBI agent, said Donelan did a good job creating training opportunities for local officers during his previous term. Looking ahead, he’d like to work with the sheriff and create more training programs.
Kleber trained agents at the FBI Training Academy in Quantico, VA.
“Training in police work is very important,” Kleber said, adding, “that’s something I’d like to assist him with as well.”
“I’ve been in the bunker with him. I’ve seen in Chris someone that cares about people,” said Franklin County Register of Probate John F. Merrigan, who was the master of ceremony.
Also noteworthy during the ceremony, a few former inmates shared stories about overcoming addiction through services provided by the jail.
You can reach Andy Castillo
at: acastillo@recorder.com
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On Twitter: @AndyCCastillo