PITTSFIELD, Mass. — New District Attorney Timothy Shugrue pledged on Wednesday to make Berkshire County a safer and better community and be responsive to stakeholders. 

 

His first act was to create an Office of Community Engagement within the prosecutor's office. 

 

"I will express my thanks to you via the daily work my office is committed to. I will not only serve a prosecutorial manner, but perhaps more importantly, an administration that is devoted to improving Berkshire County," the new DA said to the capacity crowd in Berkshire Superior Court for his swearing in.

 

All of the seats in Housing Court were filled for the oath taking of Sheriff Thomas Bowler at an hour earlier and more than 100 people packed into the Superior Court to welcome Shurgrue into office. Standing ovations followed each swearing-in by Judge John Agostini.

 

Bowler said he looks forward to collaborating with Shugrue's administration in the drive toward a "stronger, healthier, and safer community" and continuing the work that he has done over the past two terms.

 

"We have accomplished a lot in 12 years," he said. "And we're going to keep going for another six."

 

Bowler was re-elected to a third six-year term while Shugrue, a private attorney and former assistant DA, won his office over incumbent Andrea Harrington in the September primary.

 

Harrington attended the event and gave her best wishes to the new administration. 

 

"I'm incredibly honored that I had the opportunity to serve as the Berkshire District attorney," she said. "It's an amazing responsibility and I am very excited to see the future successes from the office and I wish my successor all the best."

 

Shugrue ran against what he called the "failed experiment" of Harrington's progressive term, racking up more than 60 percent of the vote. He believes that prosecuting low-level crimes along with diversion programs will be effective in changing behaviors.

 

Retired Judge Daniel Ford feels that Shugrue will be a "positive force" with an overarching theme of fairness.

 

"He has widely pledged to take a tough approach to serious and violent crime mistakes, especially for if firearms are involved," the judge said. "People who choose to engage in that type of activity and better watch their backsides now because I know Tim well enough to know that he means what he says and that he will be relentless in holding those people accountable. ...

 

"But he has also pledged not to seek jail time or to saddle young people with criminal records for relatively minor crimes stemming from youthful indiscretions. He has repeatedly said that he believes in second chances."

 

Shurgue said taking the oath of office was one of the greatest honors of his life, second to the one he took 36 years ago when he became a lawyer. He aims to restore confidence and integrity in the office from law enforcement and the larger community.

 

Twenty assistant district attorneys were also sworn in and Shugrue said more than 80 percent of the office's employees have agreed to continue working for the new DA.

 

Shugrue said he will be fair and responsible in his approach to reform and feels it is irresponsible not to charge people who commit lower-level crimes such as shoplifting.

 

"In order to see progress, we have to make changes. People who break the law must be held accountable for their actions," he said.

 

Shugrue said Berkshire County DAs have seen rape, child abuse, and domestic violence as punishable by the greatest extent of the law. But, he feels that the office needs to expand its definition of a serious offense.

 

He highlighted the issue of illegal firearms held by adults and youths in the community and vowed to impose state prison sentences for such charges when necessary to protect the community.

 

"As your next district attorney, I also vow to try to improve your quality of life by making Berkshire County safe for citizens who obey the law and do not deserve to be victims of crime," Shugrue explained.

 

"And I do that by aggressively prosecuting career violent criminals while at the same time connecting youthful, nonviolent offenders to community support for better outcomes. I brought on an attorney who has years of experience successfully establishing and overseeing diversion programs in Springfield. ... Bringing that work to Berkshire County will benefit our entire community."

 

He said the Office of Community Engagement will be focused on reform. The department will be tasked with re-establishing partnerships with community stakeholders, returning education programs to schools, enhancing accessibility for seniors, and connecting with mental health providers.

 

"The Shugrue administration will follow a nationwide trend of district attorney offices that value transparent, proactive involvement in communities," he said.

 

Bowler highlighted his long relationship with Shugrue that spans more than 50 years, attending middle school and high school together. He joked that the DA had long hair, wire-rimmed round glasses, and looked exactly like John Lennon.

 

"Tim was a hippie," Bowler added.

 

He detailed Shugrue's career, which included work in the Berkshire County DA's office as an ADA and founding Berkshire County Kids' Place for child victims of sexual abuse.

 

"There is no doubt that Tim Shugrue will bring common sense to the DA's office and accountability to the criminal justice system," he said.