A Massachusetts sheriff who was arrested by the FBI in Florida on extortion charges earlier this month has agreed to “step away” from his position, Gov. Maura Healey announced Wednesday.
Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins will remain off the job until the federal case against him is resolved, according to Healey.
“The allegations against Sheriff Tompkins are serious. The Suffolk County Sheriff is responsible for managing more than a thousand employees, hundreds of inmates, and programs that are essential to public safety and rehabilitation,” Healey said in a statement. “It is a full-time job that demands full-time attention. The people of Massachusetts need to be able to trust in the integrity of the criminal justice system and that their elected officials are fully engaged in the work of serving the public.”…