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What Does the Middlesex Sheriff's Office Do?

Sheriff Peter Koutoujian hopes to answer that question during an inaugural Citizens Academy.

When people talk about the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office, it's often with a vague idea of what Sheriff Peter Koutoujian and the rest of the department do. But Koutoujian hopes to change that with his new Citizens Academy, which begins April 10. As a Waltham resident, Koutoujian said he saw how well people responded to the town’s Citizen’s Academy and thought that he could bring the same concept to the Sheriff's Office. Koutoujian has been in office for more than two years, but he acknowledged most people don’t know the ins and outs of the sheriff's department and how they differ from local and state police departments. “I had been a prosecutor for four years then I worked in the court doing some defense work after that. Until I became …

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Leadership Changes in Middlesex Sheriff's Office

Scott Brazis will take over as special sheriff—second in command—from Patrick Murphy, who's retiring.

Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian appointed new leaders to two top positions in the Middlesex Sheriff's Office. Scott Brazis will take over as special sheriff, which is essentially the second in command, according to the sheriff's office release. In Massachusetts, special sheriffs take over the office if the sheriff is sick, absent or otherwise unable to do the job. Brazis will replace Patrick Murphy, who is retiring Friday after 33 years with the Middlesex Sheriff's Office. Brazis has worked in Middlesex Sheriff's Office for 28 years, starting as a corrections officer and, most recently, serving as superintendent of the Middlesex Jail in Cambridge, according to the announcement. Now, John Costello will take over that role from …

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Middlesex Sheriff Employee Charged With Fraud

A Malden resident is facing allegations she inappropriately used sick time to pursue a career in real estate.

A Middlesex County Sheriff's Office employee is facing criminal fraud charges for allegedly working another job while she remained on medical leave from the sheriff's office. Joyce Drinkwater, 67, of Malden was charged on Nov. 19 with knowingly presenting a fraudulent claim to a public employer for a benefit, according to the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office. Drinkwater allegedly collected her full salary as she stayed on medical leave from the sheriff's office. Drinkwater, who worked in the sheriff's payroll office, took medical leave in June and when that ended she allegedly used her unused sick time remain out on leave, according to the DA's office. She allegedly certified to the sheriff's office that she was unable to work …

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Middlesex Sheriff’s Office Warns of Scam

In the phone scam, the man allegedly claiming to be a Middlesex Sheriff’s Office deputy working on behalf of group named ‘American Cash.’

The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office is warning citizens today of a telephone scam involving a man falsely claiming to work for the Civil Process Division of the office. In the scam, the man allegedly claiming to be a Middlesex Sheriff’s Office deputy working on behalf of group named ‘American Cash’ and with an out of state law firm tells the person being called he, or she, will be arrested if they do not wire money to a specific bank. The call might appear to be coming from a legitimate sheriff’s office number, but it is not. “We want citizens to be aware of this scam so they can properly protect themselves,” said Middlesex Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian in a press release. “These are not legitimate calls. Arrests performed by the Civil Process …

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Justice Dept. Awards Middlesex County Sheriff's Office $227,800 Grant

The grant funds will be used to assist with the enhancement of training and programs available to staff and offenders to assist in compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act signed into law by President George W. Bush.

The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office $227,800 from a grant program designed to prevent sexual assaults in correctional institutes and detention facilities, Sheriff Peter J. Koutoujian and U.S. Senator John Kerry announced Wednesday. “I am grateful the DOJ recognized the work we are doing in this area and are helping us maintain our zero-tolerance approach to this type of activity,” said Sheriff Koutoujian in a press release. “The Middlesex Sheriff’s Office has the responsibility for the care, custody and control of every inmate sent to us by the court and has a duty to ensure their safety within our walls. This grant will help us continue do that.” “This is an investment in prevention so we don't see …

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UPDATED: Middlesex County Sheriff's Officer Killed in Single-Car Crash

The single-car crash happened Wednesday at 4 a.m. on Treble Cove Road in Billerica. The name of the driver has not been released.

UPDATED: 1:30 p.m. Middlesex County Sheriff's employee Edward “Teddy” Dillon III, 27 of Lowell, was killed in a crash in Billerica this morning. Dillon was a member of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office since 2008. Dillon worked the midnight to 8 a.m. shift at the Middlesex House of Correction in Billerica. His job included conducting routine perimeter checks of the facility and nearby Middlesex Sheriff’s Office property. The Sheriff's office issued the following statement: “My thoughts and prayers, as well as those of the entire Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, go out to Officer Dillon’s family, friends and colleagues. We know the work of correction officers is difficult and dangerous, but that does nothing to ease the pain and shock when we lose …

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VIDEO: Campers Discover Unique Way to Cool Off [IMAGE GALLERY]

Middlesex County Sheriff's Youth Public Safety Campers from Framingham visited with the Framingham Police and Fire departments this week; a graduation ceremony will be held today in Billerica.

As the temperature rose on Wednesday, campers at the Middlesex County Sheriff's Youth Public Safety Camp didn't seem to care. The last stop of the day was a visit to the Framingham Fire headquarters. Earlier in the day, they visited the Framingham Police Station. This is the 13th year of the camp, and the second year under Middlesex County Sheriff Peter Koutoujian. The camp is available for just one week for Framingham residents. This year there are 55 Framingham kids, who range in age from 9-11, enrolled. This is an increase from last year, when 30 kids attended. County-wide there are more than 1,700 children enrolled in the camp. Each week is dedicated to different communities. Today July 13, the Framingham campers, along with campers …

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VIDEO: Learning About Firefighting (And Cooling Off)

Students in the Middlesex County Sheriff's Youth Public Safety Academy spent yesterday (July 20) afternoon at Framingham Fire headquarters.

Students in the Middlesex County Sheriff's Youth Public Safety Academy spent yesterday (July 20) afternoon at Framingham Fire headquarters. Slideshow of photos and more from the day-long events yesterday, July 20 in Framingham to come on Framingham Patch.

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