SPRINGFIELD – Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi said the Sheriff’s Department is slated for a 2 percent increase in the most current version of the Commonwealth’s Fiscal year 2018 budget.

Cocchi said during an interview on Focus Springfield with this reporter the issue of lobbying the Legislature for funding was “a major bone of contention” among the candidates who had hoped to succeed Sheriff Michael Ashe Jr.

Cocchi said the process “isn’t as hard as people think it is because we’re brining our report card and our report card is extremely good.”

He continued, “Our recidivism rate is one of the lowest in the county. It continues to drop. Our efforts are recognized by the governor of the Commonwealth, Charlie Baker. He wants to model employment services for offenders out of Hampden County.”

The governor’s budget was “very respectful of Hampden County” with a 2 percent increase. “We didn’t hit a home run. I say we hit a triple and we’re not done,”Cocchi added.

Cocchi said he recently met with Dan Bennett, the secretary of Public Safety, and has met with both the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate.

The sheriff readily admitted he was surprised with the fact political leaders in the Legislature knew who he was and was familiar with the work of the Sheriff’s Department.

"I was very, very appreciative. It made me feel good. It also made me realize the work we’re doing every day is being recognized down in Bean Town,” he said.

He added he would be fiscally responsible.

Another aspect of the election was the support of rank and file correctional officers for another candidate. Cocchi said to win them over, “I’m just being me.”

He explained he started as a correctional officer and understands what they go through every day.

“I understand what it’s like to get up and 10 o’clock at night and be in for work at 11:25 at night and work until 8 o’clock in the morning. I understand what it’s like to work the 4 [p.m.] to 12 [a.m.] shift. I know what’s it like to come in on weekends and holidays and Christmas and Easter. I know it’s tough,” he said.

Cocchi wants to make the work environment as comfortable as possible while still holding the staff responsible for doing a good job.

Issues about staff meals are being addressed and he added contract negotiations with the union representing the correctional officers would be forthcoming.

He said many of the staff has decided to work with him.

“I asked them to take a leap of faith with me,” Cocchi said.

He views the staff in the department as a family and said within every family there are differences.

“I’m very proud of what the men and women do. They don’t have to love you, but we’re always hoping we all respect each other. We are a family. Families have squabbles. Families don’t always agree. At the end of the day, families stick together. In our line of work something bad can happen and we’re going to fight every day tooth and nail to make sure nothing bad happens at Hampden County and all of our men and women go home safely to their families, all those inmates are kept in the best of health in a safe and humane in a facility conducive to positive change and that’s what we work for every day,” he said.

To see the complete interview got to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ha3-VhxogJA&feature=youtu.be