Elected as Barnstable County Sheriff and sworn into office January 1999, Jim has a Bachelors degree in Law Enforcement from Northeastern University and a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College. Born in South Boston, he attended grammar school in Dorchester and high school in Weymouth. After an honorable discharge from the United States Navy, Jim made his home in Falmouth, where he and his wife Rose have raised four children.
Jim began his career in Law Enforcement in 1974, when he entered the State Police Academy in Framingham. After assignments as a uniformed trooper out of the Framingham Barracks and State Police Logan Airport, he was assigned to investigate organized crime in the Boston and South Shore areas. In 1977, he transferred to the Crime Prevention and Control Unit (CPAC), attached to the Office of Cape and Islands District Attorney Phillip A. Rollins. During his many years at this assignment, Jim became a court-qualified expert in matters relating to Organized Crime/Gaming, Narcotics and Arson. He also coordinated and taught at the first homicide school ever offered at the Massachusetts State Police Academy. Jim retired as the Detective lieutenant in charge of the State Police Detectives covering Barnstable, Dukes and Nantucket Counties.
Since being sworn
in to his first term of office on January 6, 1999, Sheriff Cummings
has made many changes within the organization to enhance the professionalism
of law enforcement staff. Every correctional officer employed by the
Sheriff’s Office must meet strict hiring standards including a
written examination, physical fitness test and oral review. Individuals
found to meet these standards attend a specialized eight-week training
academy that combines classroom lecture with physical fitness training.
The first promotional examination process was also introduced for current
employees to ensure law enforcement staff continue their careers with
the same momentum of which they began. To further increase public safety
within Barnstable County, Sheriff Cummings expanded the K9
Unit and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation,
started a Warrant Apprehension Unit with state and local police, and
converted the former Sheriff’s residence to badly needed office
space.
Sheriff Cummings
has also undertaken youth prevention programs as a priority. The Sheriff's Youth Ranch is home to the Sheriff’s Youth academy,
a twelve-week program for Barnstable County Youth. Teachers, police
officers and parents recommend the youth for the program. The mission
of the program is to empower individuals, families and communities to
stop violence, substance abuse, delinquency, and crime, thereby preventing
adult incarceration by meeting developmental needs positively through
effective prevention/intervention services. In addition to the Youth
Academy, Sheriff Cummings initiated an Out of School Suspension Program,
Inside Program and Outdoor Challenge Ropes Course. In recognition of
the strides made to address at-risk youth within Barnstable County,
Sheriff Cummings was appointed to the National Sheriffs Association’s
Committee for Youth Programs and Juvenile Justice.
The Sheriff has
also brought TRIAD to Barnstable County. This
program puts the senior population, the local police and the Sheriff
together to solve problems with and for the senior community. 12 towns
have signed TRIAD agreements and Sheriff Cummings hopes to have all
fifteen towns involved with TRIAD.
A formal ground-breaking ceremony was held in September 2002 for the new Barnstable County Correctional facility, a forty million dollar facility located on the Massachusetts Military Reservation in Bourne. The new three hundred cell Barnstable County Correctional Facility is a state of the art, direct supervision facility.
Sheriff Cummings serves on the following Boards:
Otis Civilian Advisory Council Board member
Advisory Board for Big Brothers and Big Sisters
Family Pantry Corporation Trustee
Police Activities League of Cape Cod
Member of the National Sheriff’s Association
Executive Committee of the Regional Emergency Planning Committee
Governor’s Appointee to the MMR Civilian Advisory Council to the Environmental Management Commission
Sheriff Cummings has served on the following Boards:
Community Action Council
Cape Cod & Islands Council, Boy Scouts of America
National Sheriff's Assoc. Committe for Youth Programs & Juvenile Justice
National Sheriff's Assoc. Committee for Crime Prevention
YMCA of Cape Cod
Cape Cod and Islands Youth Council Workforce Investment Executive Board
Honors and Awards . . . (click here)
