In a decision that has garnered attention, Maine Governor Janet Mills has declined to remove Oxford County Sheriff Christopher Wainwright from his position, despite allegations of serious improprieties. Sheriff Wainwright has been accused of transferring firearms from an evidence locker to a gun dealer without proper documentation, failing to ensure proper certifications for school resource officers, and urging a deputy to go easy on a traffic violator.
Governor Mills, a Democrat, explained her decision, stating that the evidence presented did not meet the “extraordinary circumstances” requirement outlined in the Maine Constitution for removing a sheriff. This would mark the first time a sheriff has been removed from office in Maine since 1926.
Mills acknowledged that Sheriff Wainwright “has made mistakes and acted intemperately on occasion,” but she maintained that the accusations did not warrant his removal. She noted that the school resource officer paperwork issue predated Wainwright’s tenure and that there was no evidence he personally benefited from the gun transaction.
Regarding the traffic stop incident, Mills determined that Wainwright’s request for leniency towards a deputy’s acquaintance, whose sister was suffering from cancer, was not unlawful or unethical. However, she criticized Wainwright’s reaction to the deputy who questioned his intervention, calling it “wrong” but not indicative of a pattern of misconduct.
The decision not to remove Sheriff Wainwright has been met with mixed reactions. Some have expressed support for the governor’s adherence to due process, while others have questioned her judgment in light of the allegations against Wainwright.
The case has highlighted the challenges of balancing accountability and due process in law enforcement, particularly in situations involving elected officials.
