AUGUSTA, Maine — Oxford County commissioners are seeking the removal of Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright from his position. Prior to making a decision, Gov. Janet Mills ordered a hearing, which was held Monday, to present the facts and allegations against Wainwright.
Wainwright, other members of the sheriff's office, and Oxford County commissioners testified Monday where a few of Wainwright's actions came under scrutiny.
Recorded phone calls show Wainwright pressured a deputy to dismiss a traffic violation of an acquaintance, which made the deputy feel "very torn."
"From the Attorney General's Office, I can shred any traffic ticket I want. You guys work in my discretion," Wainwright told Deputy Tyler Fournier over the phone. "Do you feel like I don't have the authority to have a conversation like that with you? Do you not feel like that you work in the sheriffs discretion, and that I dictate policy?"
Fournier testified Monday that he felt fixing the traffic violation was an indirect order, but it "didn't feel right."
"I was definitely taken off guard by it. I've never been approached that way before, and I was very torn," Deputy Fournier said.
Wainwright's lawyer asked him during his testimony if he had any regret with that situation. He answered saying:
"That I actually put those deputies in that position. That I allowed the emotion and the heat of that campaign to get the better of me. And I should never have put the deputies in that position with a phone call," Wainwright answered.
Wainwright also was able to testify to accusations that he wrongfully disposed dozens firearms that were forfeited or obtained by the department.
Wainwright defended selling guns from the department's evidence room in 2021. Detective Michael Halacy, the manager of the department's evidence room, said he was concerned when Wainwright told him the department shouldn't work to find the owners of the guns.
In the complaint letter, county commissioners also questioned two hires Wainwright had made in 2019, stating he hired two school resource officers who were not certified law enforcement officers.
Wainwright testified stating the contracts for the two officers were already in place when he came into office in 2019, and he didn't know their certifications had expired.
County Commissioner David Duguay said he's lost trust in the sheriff and there's nothing Wainwright can do to repair that trust. He said he would have preferred Wainwright resign, rather than seeking removal from the governor.
The hearing is expected to conclude on Wednesday. Once finished, the hearing officer will give Gov. Mills a written report and make a recommendation based on the evidence provided during the hearing.
The governor's press secretary Ben Goodman said while there is not an exact timeframe for how long it will take for Gov. Mills to make her decision, she hopes to make a decision "within a reasonable amount of time."