Caledonia County Sheriff James Hemond died over the weekend at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, the department announced in a statement Sunday.
“As some of you know our Sheriff has been battling a rare form of cancer,” the department’s statement read. “Most of you wouldn’t have known it as he was here almost everyday working to achieve as much of his goals as Sheriff as he could.”
Hammond was two years into a four-year term as sheriff. “He still had more to go and we will honor him by continuing to achieve his goals,” the statement added.
The 47-year-old resident of Waterford won election to the sheriff’s post in November 2022. He had previously served nearly 20 years in the Northeast Kingdom county’s department.
Days after the election, Hemond posted online thanking those who backed his campaign.
“I am looking forward to getting to work — building the department back up, and returning a strong, positive presence,” Hemond wrote in his post.
He also wrote about how he considered himself lucky to have “grown up, lived, worked, and played in the NEK, and even more fortunate to serve as your Sheriff, so you can do the same.”
Tim Lueders-Dumont, director of the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs, said in a statement that Hemond was a “dedicated public servant” known for his “professionalism and collegiality.” Lueders-Dumont said Hemond was always willing to help out other law enforcement officers in Caledonia County and across the state.
“James was a kind and humble person who made a positive impact in the lives of those around him,” Lueders-Dumont added.
Deputies and staff at the Caledonia County Sheriff’s Department dedicated the department’s building to him last month. “Sheriff Hemond was instrumental in getting our building renovated so that we could grow and provide more services to our community,” read a statement accompanying the dedication.
Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux said Monday that Hemond was a person who cared deeply about his staff and his family. Hemond is survived by his wife and two children.
“I just always found him to be very accommodating,” Marcoux said. “He was truly one of the nice people in the business.”
Robert Gerrish, the Caledonia County high bailiff, will assume the duties of sheriff pending the appointment of a new sheriff by Gov. Phil Scott, according to Annie Noonan, labor relations and operations director for the Vermont Department of State’s Attorneys and Sheriffs.
Amanda Wheeler, a spokesperson for Scott, said in an email Monday that the governor’s office would be reaching out to the Caledonia County Republican Committee, since Hemond was elected as a Republican, to solicit a list of names to fill the sheriff’s position.
Read the story on VTDigger here: ‘We will honor him by continuing to achieve his goals’: Caledonia County sheriff dies at 47.