New details about a sheriff’s misconduct emerged Wednesday in a complaint that Oxford County commissioners are sending to the governor, asking her to remove him from office.
While Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright knew he was under investigation for illegally trading guns from evidence, and had been told not to dispose of public property, he continued to do so last year by selling exercise equipment, the complaint states.
The sheriff not only unlawfully disposed of guns from evidence, allowed uncertified but armed cops to work as school resource officers, and asked a deputy to be lenient on an acquaintance, but he sold county exercise equipment without approval and in violation from the law after being rebuked for similar actions, commissioners wrote in their request for Gov. Janet Mills to replace him with someone new.
“While the property at issue in this subsequent breach was exercise equipment rather than firearms, the Sheriff’s willful and knowing violation of County policy and state law while under active investigation for the same behavior is a significant and meaningful indication that the Sheriff has no intention of following the law or County policy going forward,” commissioners wrote.
County attorney Amy Dieterich declined to elaborate on what happened to the exercise equipment, saying the county would expound on details in a hearing before the governor.
“All that we are prepared to share about this issue is what is set forth in the complaint and that the equipment was donated, not sold,” she said.
Wainwright has said his actions do not merit removal from office.
In response, the commissioners said the sheriff has not taken responsibility, which further backs up their decision to petition the governor, who is the only one who can remove a sheriff.
“Rather than take responsibility for his actions and failures and apologize to his constituents, the Sheriff has since issued public statements in which he has professed ignorance and showed no remorse for his actions, which have further eroded the Board’s and public’s trust,” commissioners said.
“Sheriff Wainwright’s trade of firearms and firearm parts from the County’s evidence room without permission, accurate documentation or following required legal procedures violated several Maine civil laws, a criminal statute, County policy and put Oxford County at risk,” the commissioners wrote.
The governor needs to “replace him with an individual who is capable and worthy of the job,” they said.
