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Date: 12/15/2022
LUDLOW – Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi has appointed Frank Ott to lead the sheriff’s Public Safety Operations.
Ott is a 30-year veteran of the department. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico, VA and most recently served on the Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, assisting federal, state and local law enforcement partners in the apprehension and prosecution of gang-related individuals for 28 years.
Cocchi said the need for the new position had to do with accountability and someone to represent the sheriff’s office in a positive light.
He added that he saw Ott as a perfect fit based on his “impressive resume” with law enforcement and work with the FBI.
There are 23 cities and towns that fall under the Hampden County jurisdiction, and Cocchi wanted to make sure each is supported and represented.
“The development of the position was to make sure we have a coordinated effort with law enforcement agencies in the community to support whatever their needs are to make sure we are providing the services that the citizens of Hampden County rightfully deserve,” Cocchi added.
Ott said he is excited to get to work and work with a longtime friend and colleague in Cocchi, but also with other departments and chiefs who he has worked with over the years.
“I am honored to be appointed by Sheriff Cocci. I cannot think of a better person to work for. I am going to do the best I can to make the sheriff proud and put his best efforts forward,” Ott added.
Since joining the sheriff’s office in 1992, Ott worked his way up the ranks, serving as a correctional officer, sergeant, lieutenant and captain on the Gang Task Force.
As a special federal officer on the Western Massachusetts Gang Task Force, Ott helped take down some of the most notorious gang members doing business in the region.
Ott will supervise nearly all the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office enforcement units and task forces, including the Marine Patrol Unit, Mounted Patrol Unit, Critical Incident Response Team, Special Response Team, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Medical Emergency Response Team and Motorcycle Unit.
Cocchi said that the position comes with a lot of tasks and responsibility that Ott will deal with every day.
Ott added, “Every day I am checking emails for community events, sending units to different schools or charity events. We also get calls for search and rescue to assist with all the local towns. We schedule units on the waterways and the mountains.”
Sheriff Cocchi said some towns can’t fill these jobs either because there are voids in positions or towns without a police department all together.
“We have a tough day every day filling them. We are not just out enforcing laws; we are starting to do policies for our officers to follow to keep up with everyone else in the county and state,” Ott added.
For those who are curious about the position, why it was needed and why Ott was appointed, Cocchi said, “I always tell people look at our track record. We do things and we succeed at them because we put competent, educated and qualified people in these positions to carry out these duties. That is important.”
Cocchi and Ott said they want to make sure to rebuild trust with the communities in Hampden County and work with them on any issues they may have. This position will help with that, according to Cocchi.
Ott said, “People want to feel safe and that is what we want to provide for them.”