January 12, 2011 - Old Colony Memorial - By Rich Harbert

PLYMOUTH COUNTY — With a second national accreditation and a new state governing structure in place in 2010, the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department looks outward – to turbines and firing ranges – for 2011.

Later this winter, Sheriff Joseph McDonald will approach the town with plans to build a wind turbine on land between Route 3 and the county jail in Plymouth. Construction is already underway, meanwhile, on an indoor firing range elsewhere on jail property that would serve police departments from throughout the county.

McDonald outlined his construction plans this week as he began his second term as sheriff.

McDonald took the oath of office from District Attorney Timothy Cruz Saturday at Plymouth Memorial Hall. He then administered similar oaths to more than 300 deputy sheriffs in his service.

The ceremonies included a special tribute to the late John Buckley, a lieutenant from Duxbury who headed the department’s warrant apprehension unit. Buckley died unexpectedly in November. Buckley’s widow and children – Cindi, son Dylan and daughter Madison – were recognized Saturday as his badge was retired.

McDonald, a Kingston Republican who grew up in Marshfield and served as a prosecutor under Marshfield resident Cruz, is the first sheriff to win re-election to the seat since Peter Flynn did so in the early 1990s. He breezed to victory in the November elections after his Democratic opponent, Rick Pond, dropped out of the race just after winning his party’s nomination.