Steven W. Tompkins Explained

Steven W. Tompkins
Office:Sheriff of Suffolk County
Appointed:Deval Patrick
Term Start:January 22, 2013
Predecessor:Andrea Cabral
Nationality:American
Occupation:Sheriff of Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Party:Democratic
Alma Mater:Boston College, University of Massachusetts

Steven W. Tompkins is an American law enforcement official who has served as the Sheriff of Suffolk County, MA since 2013.

Background

Tompkins received a bachelor's degree in communications from Boston College and a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.[1] Prior to entering law enforcement, Tompkins was the director of marketing and public affairs at Dimock Community Health Center. Tompkins started working at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department in 2002 as a chief of external affairs and communications for Sheriff Andrea Cabral.[2] He worked on Elizabeth Warren's 2012 Senate campaign,[3] and also served as a political advisor to her.[4]

Suffolk County Sheriff

Tompkins was appointed sheriff in 2013 by Governor Deval Patrick to replace Andrea Cabral and was subsequently elected to the position in 2014. He was reelected to the position in 2016. During his tenure Tompkins has been active in state Democratic politics including an unsuccessful run for chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.[5] He also received attention as one of several prominent Black officials, along with District Attorney Rachael Rollins and Police Commissioner William G. Gross, in major criminal legal system roles in Boston when their terms overlapped starting in 2019.[6] In 2019 Governor Charlie Baker appointed Tompkins to chair the Roxbury Community College board of trustees.[7]

In September 2015, Tompkins partnered with Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson to host a Boston City Council committee hearing at the South Bay House of Correction. The hearing was focused on soliciting input on strategies to decrease recidivism, and was the first hearing in the history of the Boston City Council to be held in a jail.[8]

During the 2016 Democratic Party presidential primary, Tompkins endorsed the candidacy of Hillary Clinton.[9] During the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries, Tompkins endorsed Elizabeth Warren's candidacy. He spoke at Warren's formal campaign launch.[10]

ICE Contract

In 2018 Tompkins oversaw the ending of a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which had been active since 2003. At the time the contract ended 182 ICE detainees were incarcerated in Suffolk County facilities and Tompkins began incarcerating women in pretrial detention from Plymouth, Essex, and Norfolk counties in the newly available space in South Bay House of Correction.[11]

Deaths in Suffolk County Jails

Tompkins and the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department has faced pressure from advocates following deaths in Suffolk County jails. In 2021 in particular four deaths in quick succession between July and September of people incarcerated at South Bay House of Correction and Nashua Street Jail sparked protests and calls for transparency and accountability for the circumstances of the deaths.[12] [13] The family of one of these individuals, Ayesha Johnson, would sue the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department in 2024 for allegedly violating Johnson's rights under the U.S. Constitution and Americans with Disabilities Act. According to the suit, Johnson lay dying on the floor of a booking cell for nearly two hours without assistance from any staff while awaiting transportation for court-ordered alcohol use treatment.[14] Following these events another person, Charail Premdas, died while incarcerated for a total of five deaths in Suffolk County jails during 2021.[15] In July 2022, the death of Ashley Emma, another person incarcerated at South Bay House of Correction, sparked further protest.[16]

Controversies

In 2015, Tompkins paid a $2,500 fine after admitting to using his badge to improperly coerce eight store owners into taking down signs for his political opponents.[17]

In 2021, Tompkins proposed forced treatment of substance use disorders in Suffolk county facilities for unhoused people in Boston, especially those living in the Mass and Cass neighborhood.[18] He faced criticism for this suggestion by advocates who believed forced treatment in the environment of the criminal legal system was inappropriate.[19] [20] [21] In October 2021 Acting Mayor Kim Janey implemented many elements of this plan through an executive order with actual evictions starting in early November.[22] The evictions garnered further controversy with unhoused people being arrested in line for medication and being sent to jail instead of treatment. The ACLU of Massachusetts also filed a class action lawsuit to stop arrests of unhoused people in the area.[23] [24]

In 2023, Tompkins was fined $12,300 fine for breaking state ethics law by creating a paid position for his niece and making his staff do his personal errands.[25] [26] Though he paid the fine, Tompkins stated his niece was qualified for the role in the External Affairs Office as she was a marketing professional and that the employees assisting with childcare were doing him a favor.[27]

Personal life

Tompkins' wife, Suzanne Tompkins, passed away in 2016 from complications of systemic lupus.[5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: In the news: Steven W. Tompkins . The Bay State Banner . 29 September 2021 . 20 September 2019.
  2. Web site: Steven Tompkins . Bay State Banner . 29 September 2021. 8 August 2012.
  3. Web site: Steve Tompkins endorses Michelle Wu for Boston mayor . Boston Herald . 4 October 2021 . 1 September 2021.
  4. Web site: Levenson . Michael . Aide named to replace Cabral as sheriff . The Boston Globe . 29 September 2021 . 23 January 2013.
  5. Web site: O'Sullivan . Jim . Steve Tompkins returns to race for state Democratic Party chairman . The Boston Globe . 29 September 2021 . 17 October 2016.
  6. Web site: Walker . Adrian . The color of justice in Suffolk County may soon be black . The Boston Globe . 29 September 2021 . 11 September 2018.
  7. Web site: Sheriff of Suffolk County Steven W. Tompkins Appointed Chair of RCC Board of Trustees . www.rcc.mass.edu . Roxbury Community College . 5 October 2021 . 2019.
  8. Multiple sources:
  9. Web site: Miller . Yawu . Presidential campaigns battle for votes in Mass. . The Bay State Banner . 7 April 2023 . 24 February 2016.
  10. Web site: Tennant . Paul . Off and running: Warren launches presidential bid in Lawrence . Eagle-Tribune . 4 October 2021 . en . February 9, 2019.
  11. Web site: Dooling . Shannon . Suffolk Sheriff Ends Contract With ICE To Make Room For More Female Inmates . WBUR . 29 September 2021 . 29 September 2021.
  12. Web site: Murphy . Shelley . Three people died at a Boston jail. Their families are desperate for answers . The Boston Globe . 29 September 2021 . 17 August 2021.
  13. Web site: Becker . Deborah . Prisoner Dies At Nashua Street Jail In Boston . WBUR . 29 September 2021 . 17 September 2021.
  14. Web site: Crimaldi . Laura . Family of Dorchester mom who died in custody of Suffolk sheriff’s office sues . The Boston Globe . 25 July 2024 . 24 July 2024.
  15. Web site: Becker . Deborah . Suffolk County Sheriff reports 5th prisoner death this year . WBUR . 14 December 2021 . 14 December 2021.
  16. Web site: Garrido . Shannon . Protest Held Outside of South Bay Jail in Response to Death of Female Inmate . Live Boston . 23 August 2022 .
  17. Web site: Scharfenberg . David . Suffolk sheriff fined for asking shops to remove opponent's signs . The Boston Globe . 29 September 2021 . 23 September 2015.
  18. Web site: Leung . Shirley . Suffolk Sheriff Tompkins proposes to convert empty detention center into temporary housing for people living in tents by Mass. and Cass . The Boston Globe . 29 September 2021 . 25 September 2021.
  19. Web site: Becker . Deborah . Sheriff Proposes Committing People Living At Mass And Cass To A Re-Purposed Detention Center . WBUR . 29 September 2021 . 26 September 2021.
  20. Web site: MacDonald . Danny . Some advocates and experts push back against sheriff's Mass. and Cass proposal . The Boston Globe . 29 September 2021 . 27 September 2021.
  21. Web site: Rose . Carol . We can't arrest our way out of Mass. and Cass . The Boston Globe . 29 September 2021 . 29 September 2021.
  22. Web site: Bedford . Tori . 'I Have No Place To Go': City Evicts And Arrests At Mass And Cass, Clears Tents . GBH . 7 November 2021 . 1 November 2021.
  23. Web site: Bedford . Tori . ACLU Sues City To Stop 'Fundamentally Unlawful' Tent-Clearing And Arrests At Mass. and Cass . GBH . 7 November 2021 . 5 November 2021.
  24. Web site: Bedford . Tori . Man Arrested At Mass And Cass Denied Treatment, Sent To Worcester Jail With Ongoing COVID-19 Outbreak . GBH . 7 November 2021 . 2 November 2021.
  25. Web site: 2023-03-06 . Suffolk Sheriff Steve Tompkins fined for giving niece job, having employees run errands . 2023-03-09 . Boston Herald . en-US.
  26. Web site: Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins pays fine for creating state job for niece, having employees run his errands . 2023-03-09 . CBS . 6 March 2023 . en-US.
  27. Web site: Becker . Deb . Suffolk sheriff pays ethics fine, but says people were just trying to help . WBUR . 17 May 2023 . 6 March 2023.