LUDLOW – Ask Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi what has been the greatest challenge in his first 100 days in office and the answer might surprise you.

“It’s getting my hands, my mind and my heart around the responsibility for a lot of people’s well-being,” Cocchi told Reminder Publications.

He added, “It’s the biggest surprise that I never even thought about.”

The sheriff noted he has a staff of more than 800 people, most of who have families. Understanding how his decisions affect their lives has “probably been the biggest learning curve for me and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

Cocchi praised his staff and said, “The day-today operations are in great hands.” He wants to continue the family environment of the staff and said that effort starts with him.

During his first 100 days, Cocchi strived to fulfill promises he made during his long campaign to become the successor to Sheriff Michael Ashe Jr. Among his accomplishments is the fully implemented Western Massachusetts Recovery and Wellness Center on Mill Street in Springfield. He has hosted a regional legislative breakfast to bring elected officials up to date on issues facing Hampden County.

He has also convened a Veteran’s Services Organization Roundtable, inviting veteran’s affairs professionals to discuss issues facing incarcerated vets and he created “Freedom Pups,” a program of having inmates interact with shelter dogs.

Cocchi has launched a new Officer Academy Class of 32 recruits to ensure the jail is fully staffed and has instituted a “Day of Action,” which will provide assistance and support in beautification and cleanup projects.

“During my campaign, I set an aggressive agenda of what I planned to achieve in my first days as sheriff,” Cocchi said.  “I am incredibly proud of the work we have accomplished during these first 100 days and how the team at the Sheriff’s Department has come together to really move our department forward and reach our short term goals.”

With budget discussions taking place in Boston, Cocchi said if the second version of the House budget was enacted “we’d hit a triple; we could survive.”

He asked, “Is it everything we need? No.” Cocchi explained more funding should be allocated for mental health programs and the women’s prison as well.

The phrase “level funding” might imply giving Cocchi what he needs to run the jail and its programs, but he explained level funding doesn’t account for various increases that are out of his control. For instance, level funding creates a $1.7 million payroll deficit, he explained.

The sheriff has been to Boston several times to discuss the needs of the jail with legislators including House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Stanley Rosenberg.

 “They’re not done seeing me,” he added. Cocchi noted the meetings so far have been “very respectful and positive.”

With the opioid crisis still raging, Cocchi said that having a drug court in Hampden County to divert addicts away from the jail and into treatment beds is positive. The addition of 65 to 85 new treatment beds by the Commonwealth also is vital.

Cocchi has lobbied for a larger tax on the sale of recreational marijuana to fund treatment programs as well as co-sponsored legislation in the Senate, which mandates an increase in the amount of days insurance plans will cover in-patient addiction treatment.

The sheriff described his position as “a 24/7 job coming with a ton of responsibility.” In the next breath, though, he added “I love my job.”