Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane immigrated to the United States from Ireland when he was ten years old, and his family settled in Northampton where Patrick attended local schools. He graduated from the former St. Michael’s High School in Northampton, and then attended Westfield State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree, followed by his Master’s in Criminal Justice Administration from Western New England University. Patrick served with the National Guard for six years, and then started his career at the Union Street Jail as a correctional officer under the late Sheriff John Boyle and subsequently for retired Sheriff Robert J. Garvey at the Hampshire Sheriff's Office in 1977. He became the only person in western Massachusetts to hold a certification from the American Jail Association as a Certified Jail Manager in 1999. During his tenure, Patrick has held the positions of correctional officer, captain, major in charge of security, deputy superintendent, special sheriff of Hampshire County, and in November of 2016, he was elected sheriff of Hampshire County.

Outside of the Hampshire Sheriff’s Office, Patrick has been an adjunct faculty member of Westfield State University in the Criminal Justice Program since 2006.   He and his wife Barbara live in Leeds, Massachusetts, where they raised their three daughters, Heather, Erin, and Shannon. In his free time, Patrick enjoys spending time with his family and two rescue dogs, Charlie and Nina, as well as doing home repairs and educating people in criminal justice topics. Join us on July 11 to hear from Sheriff Cahillane personally. Old Mill Inn, 87 School Street Hatfield at 12:00