BOSTON, Mass. — Republican candidate for governor Mike Minogue is calling on Governor Maura Healey to address serious public safety concerns raised by the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association regarding the PROTECT Act.
In an October 22 letter, 12 of Massachusetts’ 14 sheriffs warned that restrictions on notifying federal immigration authorities could result in individuals with histories of serious violent crimes—including murder, rape, and kidnapping—being released without advance notification to federal law enforcement. The sheriffs warned of an “unintended public safety consequence of the PROTECT Act.”
Minogue believes these concerns deserve immediate attention and that public safety must remain a top priority when passing legislation affecting cooperation between law enforcement agencies.
Mike Minogue issued the following statement:
“Our sheriffs are sounding the alarm, and Governor Healey needs to listen.
“When 12 of our 14 sheriffs raise serious concerns about legislation that will impact public safety, those warnings should not be ignored. These are the professionals on the front lines who understand the challenges of keeping our communities safe.
“When individuals charged with serious violent crimes can be released without advance notification to federal authorities, we need to examine whether the law is putting public safety at risk. This should not be a partisan issue, and Governor Healey and state lawmakers need to listen to our sheriffs and work with them to address these concerns before creating potential gaps in public safety.
“As governor, I will lower the temperature, work closely with our sheriffs, police chiefs, and law enforcement professionals to strengthen cooperation and put the safety of Massachusetts residents first.”
