Hampden County Sheriff ARRESTED on OUI at MGM Springfield

Newly released body camera footage is shedding light on the September 21, 2024, OUI arrest of Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi in Springfield, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts State Police bodycam video captures the moment Lt. Corey Mackey first encountered Cocchi’s state-owned SUV with a missing tire parked outside the MGM Springfield casino.

The footage shows Sheriff Cocchi initially claiming someone else had been driving, before later admitting he was behind the wheel after leaving Springfield Country Club where he had been golfing and drinking. State police noted the sheriff had glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, and the odor of alcohol. Cocchi repeatedly declined to take field sobriety tests before eventually being placed in handcuffs.

In the video, Cocchi can be heard joking with a department employee, directing someone off-camera to change the vehicle’s tire, and disputing aspects of the investigation. At times, he interrupts troopers and attempts to explain the damage to his vehicle, but troopers insist everything must be handled “by the book.”

Cocchi was arrested and arraigned on a charge of OUI-Liquor. He later admitted to sufficient facts in court, resulting in a 45-day license suspension, mandatory alcohol education program, and fines totaling over $2,400. Officials confirmed the charge will be dismissed in 2025 if he remains out of trouble.

Since the incident, Sheriff Cocchi has publicly apologized, acknowledging it was “not his finest moment” and stating he takes full responsibility for his actions. He also praised the professionalism of the Massachusetts State Police, saying they did their job appropriately and that he expects no special treatment.

This extensive bodycam footage offers the public a closer look at the arrest and investigation, adding critical context to the arrest reports filed by state police. Sheriff Cocchi, first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2022, is serving his second six-year term and will be up for re-election again in 2028.

Watch the full video to see the key moments from the Hampden County Sheriff’s OUI arrest in Springfield, MA.

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