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District Attorney Sam Sutter responds.
EverythingWestport.com
Friday, August 12, 2011
Letter to the
Editor:
 First of all, if
I ever said the case involving Westport Highway Surveyor Harold “Jack” Sisson
is “politically charged,” I meant that it is politically charged for the town
of Westport. It’s not politically charged for me.
Politically charged situations have never deterred me as district
attorney.
Left: District Attorney Sam
Sutter speaking to the ROMEOS on October 24, 2010.
There have been numerous investigations and prosecutions since I became
district attorney in 2007 which some may have considered “politically
charged.” Our track record on these cases speaks for itself.
In this particular case, political considerations had nothing to do with my
decision. My decision to send this investigation back to the Westport Police
was solely and categorically about what I should do as district attorney, and
what I do not have the resources to do.
I have two full-time investigators that are salaried employees at the Bristol
District Attorney’s office. One investigates child abuse cases; the other
investigates district court cases that require additional investigation. I
also have a part-time investigator who primarily assists with the
investigations of cold homicide cases.
In addition to these salaried employees, there are 21 state troopers assigned
to the district attorney’s office to investigate around 600 cases each year,
involving every unattended death (approximately 200 per year), all suspicious
deaths, all homicides, cold homicide cases from the past 35 years, major
county drug dealing, neighborhood gangs, and illegal gun trafficking.
The allegations against Mr. Sisson involve three distinct areas. The first,
alleging he took town property and gave it away on several different
occasions, is a simple larceny. Larcenies are directly within the purview of
the local police department. Larcenies by town employees should be
investigated by the local police department. Larcenies by elected officials
with no supervisory authority over the police department should also be
investigated by the local police department. The Westport highway surveyor
has no supervisory authority over the police department; therefore, the
larceny allegations against him should be investigated by the Westport
Police.
Since I became district attorney, there have been several larceny
investigations of city and town employees in Bristol County that have been
conducted by local police departments, not by the district attorney’s office.
The only time the district attorney’s office, in my view, should get involved
in investigating a local larceny is when the allegation involves an
individual who, through their elected or appointed position, has supervisory
authority over the police. That would present a conflict for the local police
department. That does not exist here.
The second allegation against Mr. Sisson, that he violated the competitive
bidding process in the purchasing and hauling of sand, is blatantly not within
the purview of a county district attorney’s office. Over the past 27 years,
since I began practicing law in Massachusetts, I have never seen a county
district attorney’s office get involved in the investigation of a bidding
process. It is either a matter for the Attorney General’s Public Corruption
Unit, if it rises to the level of a criminal violation; or it is a matter for
the inspector general if the allegation only rises to the level of a civil
infraction.
Finally, the third allegation against Mr. Sisson charges that he ordered
Westport Highway Department crews to perform work on private land during work
hours. In my view, that is not a criminal matter, but is a matter for the
State Ethics Commission.
I believe the boundary lines between law enforcement agencies, and
governmental agencies in general, need to be more clearly defined than they
are now. I believe when boundary lines are not clearly defined, you
inevitably have duplication of effort and confusion.
We have now clearly entered an era when governmental resources are being
limited by stark economic realities; therefore, we must maximize the
efficiency of the governmental resources we do have. In this case, there are
governmental agencies that have the clear authority and experience to handle
these investigations. Furthermore, as I repeated frequently in my
conversation with the editorial writer, if Mr. Sisson is ultimately charged,
we will prosecute the case.
Over the past four-and-a-half years, I have expanded the ambit of Bristol
District Attorney investigations to include cold homicide cases, non-fatal
shootings, neighborhood gangs, wiretap operations and the illegal sales of
firearms. At some point, I have to say I am not going to expand our
investigations beyond this boundary line. Otherwise, we will have to reduce
what we are presently doing.
An investigation into an alleged larceny by an individual who has no
supervisory authority over the police; an investigation into the violation of
the state bidding process; and an investigation into the kind of work being
done during work hours, are investigations that are beyond the boundary lines
I have drawn for my office. Politics has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Sam
Sutter is the Bristol County District Attorney.
Calling all sand sculptors!
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Hey all you
amateur sand sculptors - bring your plastic shovels and pails and a
good dose of imagination to Horseneck Beach tomorrow as the Department of
Conservation and Recreation is bringing back their sand sculpture competition
after a three year hiatus.
"They convinced me to start it back up again," said current park
interceptor Jude Stull. Sarah Gomez, previous DCR park interpreter, resurrected
the Sand Sculpture Festival in August of 2008 after many years of its absence
at the state-run beach.
Above from the
left: Kaitlyn - age 15, Seth
Jones - age 16, Shaylee Jones - age 11, and mom Wendy Jones all of Berkley
were the 2008 All Ages Group 1st place winners with their sand fortress.
Sand Sculpture Festival at Horseneck Beach. Horseneck Beach State Reservation, 5 John Reed Road at the southern end
of Route 88.
Register by phone at 508.636.8816 or get a form on the day of the
event. Great prizes from area businesses.
There are three age categories: ages 6-12, ages
13-17 and adults. All children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
The construction of the sand sculptures will
start at 11 a.m. and finish at 2 p.m. Judging will begin at 2:15 p.m. and
prizes will be given once the judges have made their decisions. All
contestants will be assigned to their own plot.
 All sculptures must consist entirely of beach sand (no rocks, sticks, shells,
or seaweed). Sand and salt water will be provided, participants are asked to
bring their own pails, shovel, etc.
Mr. Stull said that the tide will be going out
during the contest hours, so sculptures won't be victims of a washout before
the contest is over.
Event participation is free, but there is a $7
parking fee.
Judges have been chosen from the beach's staff.
All are welcome, young and old alike. Prizes will
be suited for the categories.
Pre-registration is recommended, but not
required. Call 508.636.8816.
 Prizes have been donated by Lee’s Market, Calico, Sticks, Stones &
Stars, Village Pizza, Not Your Average Joes, Perry’s Bakery, Bud's by the
Beach, Handy Hill Creamery, Alderbrook Farm, Partners,
New York Bagel, Elaine’s, Woods Ice Cream, No Problemo,
Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures and more.
The Department of Conservation and Recreation is
sponsoring the event..
Click
here to read about and view photos from the 2008 event.
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