James DiPaola
Encyclopedia
James Vincent DiPaola was county sheriff
of Middlesex County
, Massachusetts
, from 1996 until his death in 2010. He had served as a Malden
police officer for 18 years and was a Massachusetts state representative
from 1993 to 1996. On November 26, 2010, DiPaola committed suicide. At the time of his death, he was facing multiple allegations from the state and press over ethics issues.
, and attended Malden Catholic High School
and Malden High School
. After graduating he attended North Shore Community College
, where he studied criminal justice, and the University of Massachusetts Boston
, where he received a B.A. in political science
. He was a patrolman, sergeant and undercover narcotics detective in the Malden Police Department for 18 years, and served 25 years in the United States Military Reserves. In November 1992 he was elected as a Democrat
to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
for the 36th Middlesex District, and he was sworn into office in January 1993. On November 27, 1996, he was sworn in as Middlesex County Sheriff after winning a special election. After serving the remainder of a partial term, he was elected to a full six-year term in November 1998 and re-elected in November 2004 and November 2010.
for exploiting a state pension loophole which allowed him to file for retirement, then announce a run for re-election. This would allow him to serve his third full term while collecting both a salary and pension. He maintained that it was a legal maneuver, and he had no reason to decline the opportunity: "There is nothing evil about it. I don't see it as grabbing something. I'm supposed to say no to it?" The next day, however, he phoned the Globe after a "sleepless night" and confessed his own feelings of guilt, saying, "I'd always be remembered for this, for double-dipping, that that would be my legacy." He abandoned the plan and decided not to serve the following term. The following week, DiPaola revealed that the State Ethics Commission was investigating his office over allegations that his employees were illegally raising money for his re-election. On November 27, 2010, DiPaola was found dead in a hotel in Wells, Maine
, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He had died between 5:30 pm and 7 pm the evening before.
Sheriffs in the United States
In the United States, a sheriff is a county official and is typically the top law enforcement officer of a county. Historically, the sheriff was also commander of the militia in that county. Distinctive to law enforcement in the United States, sheriffs are usually elected. The political election of...
of Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
-National protected areas:* Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge* Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge* Longfellow National Historic Site* Lowell National Historical Park* Minute Man National Historical Park* Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, from 1996 until his death in 2010. He had served as a Malden
Malden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
police officer for 18 years and was a Massachusetts state representative
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
from 1993 to 1996. On November 26, 2010, DiPaola committed suicide. At the time of his death, he was facing multiple allegations from the state and press over ethics issues.
Career
James Vincent DiPaola was born May 5, 1953, in Malden, MassachusettsMalden, Massachusetts
Malden is a suburban city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 59,450 at the 2010 census. In 2009 Malden was ranked as the "Best Place to Raise Your Kids" in Massachusetts by Bloomberg Businessweek Magazine.-History:...
, and attended Malden Catholic High School
Malden Catholic High School
Malden Catholic High School, founded in 1932, is a private, Catholic secondary school for young men located in Malden, Massachusetts. It is located in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. The school was founded by the Congregation of the Brothers of St. Francis Xavier , an international...
and Malden High School
Malden High School
Malden High School is a public high school located in Malden, Massachusetts. Accredited by New England Association of Schools and Colleges , it awards high school diplomas.The school was founded in 1857.-Centre St.:...
. After graduating he attended North Shore Community College
North Shore Community College
North Shore Community College is a two-year community college in Danvers and Lynn Massachusetts. It offers associate degrees as well as a transfer program for students to earn credits for transfer to other colleges...
, where he studied criminal justice, and the University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Massachusetts Boston
The University of Massachusetts Boston, also known as UMass Boston, is an urban public research university and the second largest campus in the five-campus University of Massachusetts system. The university is located on on Harbor Point in the City of Boston, Massachusetts, United States...
, where he received a B.A. in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He was a patrolman, sergeant and undercover narcotics detective in the Malden Police Department for 18 years, and served 25 years in the United States Military Reserves. In November 1992 he was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Massachusetts House of Representatives
Massachusetts House of Representatives
The Massachusetts House of Representatives is the lower house of the Massachusetts General Court, the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It is composed of 160 members elected from single-member electoral districts across the Commonwealth. Representatives serve two-year terms...
for the 36th Middlesex District, and he was sworn into office in January 1993. On November 27, 1996, he was sworn in as Middlesex County Sheriff after winning a special election. After serving the remainder of a partial term, he was elected to a full six-year term in November 1998 and re-elected in November 2004 and November 2010.
Ethics charges and death
On November 19, 2010, DiPaola was questioned by reporters for The Boston GlobeThe Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
for exploiting a state pension loophole which allowed him to file for retirement, then announce a run for re-election. This would allow him to serve his third full term while collecting both a salary and pension. He maintained that it was a legal maneuver, and he had no reason to decline the opportunity: "There is nothing evil about it. I don't see it as grabbing something. I'm supposed to say no to it?" The next day, however, he phoned the Globe after a "sleepless night" and confessed his own feelings of guilt, saying, "I'd always be remembered for this, for double-dipping, that that would be my legacy." He abandoned the plan and decided not to serve the following term. The following week, DiPaola revealed that the State Ethics Commission was investigating his office over allegations that his employees were illegally raising money for his re-election. On November 27, 2010, DiPaola was found dead in a hotel in Wells, Maine
Wells, Maine
Wells is a town in York County, Maine, United States. Founded in 1643, it is the third-oldest town in Maine. The population was 9,400 at the 2000 census. Wells Beach is a popular summer destination.-History:...
, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He had died between 5:30 pm and 7 pm the evening before.