Middlesex Sheriff DiPaola Dies From Apparent Suicide

By WBUR News & Wire Services
Nov 27, 2010, 5:43 PM
11 Comments

WELLS, Maine — Middlesex County Sheriff James DiPaola, who was facing an investigation into his use of campaign funds, apparently killed himself, police said.

Sheriff James DiPaola in 2008 (AP)

DiPaola was found dead of a single gunshot wound to his head Saturday about 12:30 p.m. at Lafayette Resorts in Wells, a coastal town in southern Maine, about 30 miles south of Portland.

A hotel manager found DiPaola on his bed after cleaning staff discovered the dead bolt was activated and DiPaola failed to check out, police said. The gun believed to be the one DiPaola used was found in the room, and he left a multiple-page note, Wells police said.

The Middlesex sheriff’s office confirmed DiPaola’s death in a statement and said the office will operate under Special Sheriff John Granara.

The 57-year-old DiPaola recently announced he was retiring and was able to take advantage of a state pension law that allows retirees to run for paid elective office without losing pensions.

DiPaola, a Democrat who had just won re-election in November, could have accepted an annual pension of $98,500 in addition to his sheriff’s pay of $123,000 next year. But after the Boston Globe asked about the pension, he said he could not in good conscience accept both, even though it’s legal.

He said he would resign in January rather than take a pension in addition to his salary.

Map of Middlesex County (click to enlarge)

Gov. Deval Patrick, who criticized DiPaola’s initial plan to take a pension and pay, later praised him for resigning.

Recently, the Massachusetts attorney general’s office said it was investigating allegations of improper use of campaign funds by DiPaola. In addition, the state ethics commission was investigating whether sheriff’s office employees were raising money for DiPaola’s political committee.

“This is a shocking and tragic event,” Patrick said in a statement. “Sheriff DiPaola had a 30-year record of public service. Tonight we honor that service and pray for his family.”

DiPaola was first elected sheriff in 1996 and sworn in on Nov. 27 of that year, exactly 14 years before his death. Patrick will appoint a replacement.

DiPaola had previously served two years as a state representative for Malden’s 36th Middlesex District. He was an 18-year veteran of the Malden Police Department.

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John Mitmuseum

Way to go Boston GLOBE-YOU GOT HIM!
http://abetterframingham.org Harold J. Wolfe

You have to wonder about sheriffs who paint their names all over county vehicles. This in itself should not be legal. It should have been a tip to us all that he may have had an exagerated view of himself. Let’s see if they expose his transgressions now that he’s dead.

http://www.abetterframingham.org/dipaola.html

http://www.abetterframingham.org/handicap/middlesex-sheriff1.jpg
Joe The Plummer

Boston politics are probably as dirty and corrupt as Chicago politics.
However, when something like this happens I find it disgusting when people cheer and seem to take pleasure in this tragedy.
jo

Hopefully this will bring out more of the gutless cowards that the democrat party enablers have allowed to ruin this state.
maryann

Some obvious chasms – legal as they were – were uncovered in our civil pension system and hopefully they will be closed quickly. But the human tragedy here is what is important. A man driven to take his life and leave his family is incredibly sad and I pay my respects and wish them well.
Ashley S

I’m sure the pension issue was just the tip of the iceberg for DiPaola. It’s sad that suicide was the only way out for him. I’m sure much more will come to the surface during the investigation. My heart goes out to his family.
Phyl Petrocelli

John MIT Museum,
You are a coward, cruel person who hides behind your computer screen…
Same goes for you jo. A father, husband and a grandfather has died, regardless of how he died. Shame on you for your complete disregard for the feelings of his mourning family and loved ones. It’s just disgusting. It has nothing to do with party politics, it has to do with the complete despair that a man was experiencing. No one knows why. You should be ashamed and disgusted in your cruel, nasty and cowardly comments.
Mark

I never understood why someone who just died is beyond reproach. If we’re going to learn something from someone’s life, we’ve got to look at both the good and the bad. This is not only a tragic death; it is also a political scandal that we have to get to the bottom of.

I can’t imagine that he took his life over a legal pension scandal. There’s got to be a lot more to this that will come out later.

I advise withholding judgment until more information is available.
JT3

He took the easy way out, he knew he would lose everything…he is so corrupt, I hope his family doesn’t get his benefits…I don’t care what he was as far as a father and grandfather.
Franco

It is probable that the man ended his life, as a father, husband and grandfather, in order to save his family the destruction of public opinion. The press must do it’s job and expose corruption. The public reaction is the problem. The unfettered rage is the very same force that causes the corruption to remain secret. Expose it, prosecute it, deal with it, but the righteous indignation is a farce. Very few are so perfect as to be able to condemn another for being weak.
TATTEDPUNK50

I LOVE IT …. THE SAME PEOPLE THEY PUT IN CHARGE OF LOCKING UP OTHER PEOPLE ARE USUALLY ALWAYS DIRTIER AND MUCH MORE CRIMINAL THAN THE PEOPLE THEY LOCK UP …. I KNEW THE SHERIFF WHEN I WAS AT BILLERICA HOUSE OF CORRECTION, HE WAS ALWAYS A PIECE OF SHIT <<<