Hancock County Sheriff Scott Kane is again looking to hire a chief deputy after the veteran officer who took the role last fall stepped down for another position in the agency.
The change comes during a period of turnover for the Hancock County agency, in which several other officers have either left for different jobs or been promoted to new roles. It also comes after some heated debate last year over who should fill the chief deputy role.
Jon Mahon, the former state police lieutenant who Kane appointed chief deputy last September, has left that role but continues to serve as a full-time deputy with the department, county officials said. He now primarily provides security at the county’s airport in Trenton.
Mahon agreed to take on the chief deputy role on a short-term basis after Corey Bagley left the post last summer. Kane and the patrol deputies’ union agreed in writing that Mahon would fill the position for six months or until a new chief deputy was hired — whichever came first. He would also retain his seniority among the unionized staff upon returning to his patrol position.
That change happened a month earlier than expected, because “we were short-handed in patrol so he went back to cover the airport,” Kane said Friday, noting that he’s still looking for another chief deputy
The issue of filling the chief deputy position has been a fraught for the county since last spring, when Bagley went on leave. The sheriff appoints the chief deputy, but county commissioners have final say over the role’s salary and benefits package.
At a meeting last June, Bagley’s departure boiled over into an argument when Commissioner Bill Clark, who previously served as sheriff, accused Kane of forcing Bagley out so that he could re-hire his brother, Patrick Kane, who retired from the chief deputy position in October 2022.
Scott Kane denied the allegation, saying that Bagley was voluntarily retiring. After formally retiring from the department in August, Bagley took a job as an Ellsworth police detective.
Patrick Kane, who now works for a property management and development company, declined to accept the chief deputy position after commissioners — at Clark’s behest — offered him only part-time wages and no benefits.
Now, the departure of Mahon from the chief deputy post is one of several recent staff changes in the agency.
Multiple officers have attained higher ranks. This month, Dakota Dupuis was promoted to lieutenant while fellow deputies Rob Morang, Marcus Downes and Kyle Kramer became sergeants. Last month, Brian Archer was promoted from sergeant to lieutenant.
Other longtime officers have left the sheriff’s department.
Tim Cote, a longtime lieutenant, resigned to take a position this month as a detective with the Hancock County District Attorney’s Office. Chris Thornton, another longtime lieutenant, retired from the county at the end of December but continues to be assigned to the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency through the Washington County Sheriff’s Department, according to that county’s chief deputy, Michael Crabtree.
Daniel Harlan, a former sergeant with Hancock County, left to become a patrolman with the Brewer Police Department. His first day there was Jan. 16, according to Brewer Police Capt. Tony Pinette.
Lt. Jacob Day was planning to resign at the end of last week to take a private sector job, Kane recently told commissioners.
“We will miss Jake,” Kane said. “He’s been a very valuable member of the sheriff’s office.”
The county also has a vacant patrol deputy position after adding it to the budget this year to try to offset reduced patrols by Maine State Police.
