LUDLOW – The ringing of a bell recovered and restored from the former York Street Jail provided the meaning for the end of Sheriff Michael Ashe’s Jr. 42 years as Hampden County Sheriff and the beginning of the first term as Sheriff for Nick Cocchi.

With his family around him, Ashe rang the bell seven times signifying the seven terms he served. Cocchi, with his family, rang the bell once for the start of his first term.

The hour-long swearing-in ceremony on Jan. 4 was marked with great emotion as Ashe paused once during his goodbye address, clearly overcome, and Cocchi did the same during his speech. Both men received several standing ovations.

The ceremony took place in the House of Corrections’ gymnasium and was standing room only.  Master of Ceremonies Anthony Cignoli stated it would take him hours to acknowledge everyone who was there, but he did note the presence of District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, Mayor Domenic Sarno of Springfield, Mayor Richard Kos of Chicopee, Mayor Richard Cohen of Agawam and Mayor William C. Reichelt of West Springfield. Bishop Mitchell Rozanski provided a benediction.    

After taking the oath of office as administered by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Cocchi praised his staff and colleagues at the Sheriff’s Department.

“I believe, more importantly, I know we are one of the finest correctional institutions not only in the state but in the country,” Cocchi said.

He continued, “Our success must always be based on public service and not self.”

Cocchi sees the mission of the department and its programs “to provide hope where there is often none.”

He promised to “never to succumb to the outside pressures of politics, never to be lulled by complacency of our success, nor to be overcome by the forces of criminal intent and evil that rob us of our fellow man’s potential.”

Speaking of Ashe, Cocchi said, “I have a father who made me a man, a family who brought me along and a friend who has prepared me to be your sheriff.”

He referred to Ashe as his “work father,” a role, he added his colleagues in the department also assigned to Ashe.

Ashe spoke of his “mixed feelings” about his retirement, but emphasized he has no worries about Cocchi succeeding him.

He predicted Cocchi would be “one of the finest sheriffs in the department’s 355-year history.”

Ashe said the role of the department is to help “the least loved and neediest among us” and must be “guided by things of the spirit rather than things of the ego.”

He noted the approaches he brought as a social worker to corrections has resulted in the lowest recidivism rate of any urban county jail in the nation.

At the end of his speech, Ashe said, “I haven’t called someone this for a long, long time: sheriff of Hampden County.”

With that he partially raised a clenched fist and joyously whistled.