Jail officer fired for pranks
AUBURN — An Androscoggin County Jail supervisor was fired Wednesday for his involvement in on-the-job pranks that included duct-taping a worker to a chair and putting another worker in a choke hold.
Sheriff Guy Desjardins said Cpl. Patrick Gorham's so-called horseplay put at risk the security of workers and inmates and could have put the county in jeopardy had an emergency arisen at the time.
Commissioners mulled the sheriff's recommendation behind closed doors for about 45 minutes Wednesday night before voting 2-1 in favor of the firing.
Commissioner Elaine Makas voted against the action.
"I mean no disrespect to the sheriff, but I believe that the penalty of dismissal exceeds the severity of the errors," she said.
Another corrections officer, Robert Murphy, was suspended without pay for a week (four 12-hour days) and would be put on probation for three months for his part in the duct-taping incident, commissioners voted unanimously. He also would get a letter of reprimand.
Another supervisor, Sgt. Kevin Harmon, resigned after the duct-taping incident came to light.
Desjardins showed videos from jail security cameras of the two incidents to commissioners on the wall of a meeting room in the Androscoggin County building. He narrated the actions engaged in by Gorham and Murphy.
In the duct-tape incident, which occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 22, Corrections Officer John Morissette is duct-taped to a chair, his arms bound and his head wrapped with tape. The chair is wheeled into an elevator where he is sent to another floor.
"What I've seen here ... is something I've never experienced or seen in my law enforcement career," Desjardins told the commission. "It turned my stomach."
Sgt. Rielly Bryant of the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office represented Gorham for the union before the commission. He said Desjardins overreacted to the incident and criticized the county's top cop for inconsistent disciplinary actions.
He said Desjardins jumped the gun, decided on his punishment and took his case to the commissioners before the investigation was complete.
"This discipline is out of line," Bryant said.
Commissioners consulted with their lawyer, Bryan Dench, throughout the evening.
Desjardins showed a second video involving Gorham in an early-morning incident in August. In it, he can be seen putting Corrections Officer Eric Hesketh in a choke hold, then goes out of picture range. About half a minute later, the officer returns to his desk and lays his head on his desk top repeatedly. He later reported that he felt disoriented and nauseous. The incident affected him for about half an hour, he said, according to Desjardins.
Desjardins said Gorham's actions were "totally, totally unacceptable." He said such a move is considered deadly force. The Maine Criminal Justice Academy has stopped teaching it.
Hesketh said he volunteered for the choke hold after challenging Gorham that it wouldn't affect him.
Bryant said Gorham was in complete control during the incident and is a department self-defense instructor.
Bryant said Desjardins was on a witch hunt, compiling evidence to support his recommendation to fire Gorham as an example to other corrections workers.
Bryant said Gorham never denied his involvement and took full responsibility for his actions.
"He's been up front and forward about everything," Bryant said.
Desjardin said a department worker brought the incident to his attention and he had no choice but to investigate. He said Maine State Police were investigating whether any criminal violation occurred.
cwilliams@sunjournal.com
truthmaster80 says
The truth will always supersede the power of the lie. Mr. Gorham should not have only lost his job, but he should have been charged with assault and battery pursuant to title 17-A M.R.S.A (Maine's Criminal Code). Not only did Mr. Gorham's conduct create a hostile work environment for the rest of his co-workers, his conduct meets the requirements of the crime of Assault and Battery. It's refreshing to see that the commissioners are willing to stand up to such an abuse of power. BRAVO.