ITEM FILE PHOTO
Sheriff-elect Kevin Coppinger celebrates his victory in the race for Essex County Sheriff.
By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — Kevin Coppinger, the Essex County sheriff-elect, is wasting no time preparing to take over his new job in January.
The Lynn Police Department chief, who defeated Republican Peabody City Councilor Anne Manning-Martin by a whopping 51 to 35 percent margin on Tuesday, talked to retiring Sheriff Frank Cousins this week about a smooth transition.
“My immediate plan is to put together a small transition team who can help me figure things out and design a plan for the future,” he said.
He declined to name members of the transition team, but said the panel will be comprised of law enforcement professionals, as well as community members.
But before that happens he and his family will take a short vacation following the grueling, nearly year-long campaign. He declined to provide the dates or the destination.
“We need to catch up on our sleep,” he said. “Obviously, I am still chief of police until the end of the year and I’ll work with Sheriff Cousins on a smooth transition.”
The Essex County Sheriff’s Department oversees defendants awaiting trial and inmates convicted of crimes. There are about 1,850 prisoners under the sheriff’s custody.
The sheriff’s job includes operation of the House of Correction in Middleton and facilities and offices in Lynn, Salem, Lawrence and Salisbury employing 620 people. The department’s budget is $66 million and the sheriff serves a six-year term and earns $152,000.
Coppinger also said he plans to work with Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy on selection of the new chief if she needs help.
“I will gladly assist her,” he said.
Coppinger, who has served as chief since 2009, won’t comment on his possible replacement.
Among the candidates eligible to apply from the Lynn Police Department are deputy chiefs Leonard Desmarais and Michael Mageary, and captains Mark O’Toole, Christopher Reddy, Edward Blake, William Borders and Michael Vail.
Joseph Driscoll, the city’s personnel director, said the city’s practice for civil service hiring a chief has included a contract with MMA Consulting Group Inc. The Plymouth-based company provides an Assessment Center which includes an expert committee that interviews the candidates, asks their responses to real life situations, grades them and recommends the top three to the mayor, who makes the selection.
Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com.