Jeff Perry Must Resign.

The Barnstable County Sheriff James Cummings must take us all for fools, and I am sure he is getting a good laugh out of this. It has already been reported by Cape Cod Today that the sheriff's office lost more than one-hundred thousand dollars that probably would have come their way if Cummings had not appointed world's-worst-former-cop, Jeff Perry to the position of special sheriff (he will take over when Cummings retires). Imagine that, the former cop and legislator who lied his way into the State House with a phony degree and a B.S. story that he had been a good cop in Wareham, has somehow conned Cummings into believing that losing what is left of his reputation is worth hiring the likes of the failed U.S. Rep candidate, Jeff Perry.

There was a time in America's history when politicians like James Cummings could get away with the most outrageous things. No one was looking. People were not adding up the tax dollars. The Sheriff's position seemed easy enough for a man like Cummings, a former state police officer. Run the jail, supervise some sheriffs, and we'll give you a six-figure salary and basic political autonomy for life. But apparently that wasn't good enough for Cummings. He's already used up the political autonomy. Now he's in the limelight, now every agency that can get into his office and examine what he's been doing with his time and our money will be knocking on his door. He can thank the Perry appointment for that. Why? Because some might think it is kind of fishy that a man like you, who spent his life in law enforcement would hire a two-bit cop with a bad rep from Wareham to fill your shoes. This looks like an attempt on your part to pay your friend $110.000 a year, and bump up the size of his retiree benefits, only because he lost the election to the House, and because he is your friend. And of course, because you are certain you have the "power" to do it. Well, that's a crime, Sheriff. It is called political patronage. And in this case, it is blatant.

Maybe you felt that you should have the authority to make decisions that make no sense at all - decisions like hiring an ex-cop with a very bad reputation as a special sheriff at $110.000 a year. Now you probably think this thing with your pal Perry is going to blow over. But you couldn't be more wrong than that. You actually went out and hired a private detective, a former FBI man, to see what Perry's involvement was in the sexual assaults. By the way, do you always hire a private detective in these matters? And if you do, who pays for his services? According to you, the P.I. came back with results that are in conflict with all earlier investigations, including one by the State Police. Remember them? Even the underage victim swears that Perry was present when his good friend, the serial pedophile cop Flanagan assaulted her. The victim says she looked right at Perry screaming for help. And was not helped.

On another occasion Perry arrived at a scene where this pedophile had sexually assaulted an underage girl just moments before. Perry filed no report. Also, with one of the victims there is an open question on whether he intimidated the girl's parents the same night she was sexually assaulted. They say he did. The assault was filed by a cop from another town, Bourne. because Perry refused to file it. It is almost beyond comprehension that a police officer would spend so much of his time protecting a pedophile, instead of his victims. And this is the man who Cummings wants to drop on us as a sheriff.

And there is the Perry litany, all of it proved. Yes, he did use a fake diploma on his campaign web site when he first ran for the state legislature.

Yes he did backup over a radar gun when he was on duty as a Wareham cop, and then lie to the chief about what happened to it.

Yes he did use a remote device to change the traffic lights so he could write more tickets when he was a police sergeant in Wareham.

Yes, he and his police chief were originally charged in matters pertaining to the sexual assaults of two minor girls in Wareham. A deal was worked out, whereby Wareham was successfully sued by the girls, Perry left the police dept. (With a letter saying he was a "good cop." (Try to find another resigned cop with a letter from his dept stating that he was a good cop.) He was not a good cop. This we know from his Chief's own words taken at a deposition, where he stated he didn't always believe what Perry said. Perry's leaving, like all deals, has been kept mostly secret for a good many years. But the details of this deal between Perry and the town of Wareham will come to the surface.

Cummings might have drawn himself into some trouble here. Trouble follows Perry, even into the Sheriff's office.

It has been well-known on the Cape among certain parties that Perry was interested in this special sheriff position for quite some time. In fact, it has been kept empty for three years, two while Perry finished off his Rep. duties, and during the election, an election in which Cummings himself actually campaigned for Perry. Sure, there were many other crucial things that $110.000 could have been used for in the BCSD. but Cummings was intent on giving it to Perry.

Another matter is an apparent investigation by the Board of Bar Overseers who were looking into the possibility that Perry might have lied on his bar examination application. Is that investigation over?

Also, when a state official hires a friend, he or she first has to alert the State Ethics Commission and justify the hiring to their satisfaction. The individual can not - under state law - be hired unless this step was taken. There are no exceptions to this law. Was it followed?

Cummings and Perry are very good friends. Now that Perry is jobless, Cummings is there to help with ample taxpayer dollars to this failed politican who always told us how truly outrageous and immoral was the patronage system in this state. I wonder what he thinks of it now.

If you would like to express your opinion on this matter

please contact;

The State Ethics Commission

One Ashburton Place Boston, MA 02108

Tele: 617-371-9500

The State Ethics Commission is the only state agency that investigates complaints of political patronage. You can write or call.