Two candidates for Hillsborough County Sheriff will appear on the ballot on November 6: James A. (“Jim”) Hardy (R), the incumbent, and Bill Barry (D).
The budget for the Hillsborough County Sheriff department is $6,169,772. The sheriff’s salary is $65,500. The staff includes 23 full-time deputies, around 15 part-time deputies, six full-time dispatchers, five administrative support staff, around 60 per diem court officers on staff, and around. 40 court officers daily for court security/custody and control of prisoners at court facilities. The main office is at 329 Mast Road, Goffstown, with satellite offices 300 Chestnut St., Manchester, and 19 Temple St., Nashua.
The sheriff and his deputies are all certified police offices in the state of NH and must maintain that certification through ongoing annual training and testing approved by New Hampshire Police Standards and Training. The sheriff and his deputies have the same authority to enforce laws throughout the state as they do in their own county.
The primary duties are:
- Serving civil process.
- Providing security in Hillsborough Superior Court.
- Transporting incarcerated persons as well as juveniles to the Youth Development Center in Manchester.
- Managing a communications and dispatch division.
Jim Hardy
James (“Jim”) Hardy, age 60, lives in Pelham, and has held the seat for 16 years. He is a graduate of the NH Police Academy. He previously served in the Pelham Police Department and in the Hillsborough County Sherriff’s office as Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant, Lieutenant & Captain.
He wrote, “I have a record of providing law enforcement and civil services to all the people of Hillsborough County in a professional, cost-effective, efficient, and non-partisan manner that is free from any special interests.’
“The sheriff’s office rarely delivers good news to the people we contact. That was true when families in the county were hurt by the great recession and it is true today when families are being impacted by the opioid crisis. My office is working diligently and successfully with other law enforcement agencies throughout the county on the supply side of the opioid crisis. We have had many successes, but this is a major, ongoing crisis. My office also sees the devastating impact on families on the demand side of the crisis. Again, I have a proven record of treating people in a fair and compassionate way when their lives are shattered.”
Bill Barry
William (“Bill”) Barry, a Democrat, is 58 years old. He is a graduate of Manchester Central High School, Daniel Webster College with a degree in Aviation Management, and of NH Police Academy. He is the Manchester Alderman for Ward 10 where he is Vice Chair for Finance and Chair for Public Safety, Health, and Traffic. In that role, he has worked with agencies to find a solution to the opioid problem. If elected Sheriff, he pledges to continue this effort.
Barry wrote, “I have always been very passionate about protecting our children and our seniors. They are the most vulnerable citizens in our community. I will continue this effort as Sheriff of Hillsborough County by visiting our schools and youth groups as well as our senior centers.”
He has volunteered in the community for almost 40 years: Coaching youth sports; and serving in Big Brothers/Big Sisters as a mentor, Make-A-Wish Foundation of NH, Challenger League and Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army, Webster House, Cashin Senior Center and several others. He is on the board of directors for the Manchester Community Resource Center and Central Crew. He the past president of both the Webster House and the Hillsborough County Law Enforcement Association.
He was employed for 26 Years with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (1985-2011) and the Auburn Police Department (2011-current). His record includes:
- 2007 – National Law Enforcement Officer of the Year by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for the recovery of two missing children as well as the arrest of the person responsible for their disappearance and the murder of a 4-year-old boy.
- 2009 – “Youth Service Award” by the Queen City Rotary in 2009
- 2011 – A special badge from the FBI for his work on finding one of the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives, and a special commendation from former FBI director Robert Mueller for that effort.
- 2012 – Working with Bob Freitas of the NH Cold Case Unit, made an arrest on a cold case murder that occurred in Auburn in 2001. The perpetrator pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in the NH State Prison.
