Board to hear appeal from police chief

BETHEL — Selectmen will hear an appeal from “currently unavailable” police Chief Alan Carr at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the town office.

But just what the nature of that appeal is remained unknown as of Tuesday.

Citing employee-confidentiality considerations, Town Manager Jim Doar has declined to get into specifics about what happened in his office on Sept. 25 between himself and Carr.

Doar's explanation, so far, is that, “Chief Carr is currently unavailable.”

While the chief is unavailable, Doar is handling the administrative decisions, while the next ranking officer creates the weekly work schedules for officers.

Carr has not returned phone calls seeking comment.

A clerk answering the phone on Tuesday afternoon at Carr's Oxford business, Western Maine Public Safety Supply Inc. on Route 26, which he has owned since last year, said Carr had just stepped out.

Carr's cell phone does not accept messages and calls to his house in Albany Township have yet to be returned.

Bethel selectmen are also keeping mum on the matter.

Doar has steadfastly refused to confirm or deny persistent rumors that he fired the retired 25-year Maine State Police trooper. The rumors began on Sept. 25.

However, the Bethel Citizen reported Thursday that Carr's desk at the Bethel police station had been stripped of his personal belongings.

Doar said Tuesday that he's not yet sure if the Oct. 13 employee appeal meeting will be a public session or closed-session. Carr has yet to make that distinction, he said.

Once the appeal is heard, Doar said selectmen can vote that night and decide whether to back whatever Doar did, or stand by Carr.

But one way or the other, they have to make a decision within five business days of hearing the appeal, by meeting in executive session, and voting when they exit the closed-door session.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com