BETHEL – Former Police Chief Darren M. Tripp has requested an appeal with the Board of Selectmen regarding his firing Thursday by Town Manager Scott Cole.

Cole said Tuesday that the town asked for a tentative date of Monday, March 1, for Tripp’s appeal to be heard.

Tripp, who had five working days to appeal his job termination, did so Friday.

The Board of Selectmen has remained distant from the situation because town ordinance requires it to act as a jury in appellate capacity on personnel matters.

“It’s just like a court case with a prosecution and defense,” Cole said.

“The town manager must present his case to selectmen about why the termination was justified, then the former employee must convince selectmen that it was not justifiable,” he added.

It was not known Tuesday if Tripp or his attorney, Thomas Carey, of Rumford want the appeal held in public or executive session.

After firing Tripp, Cole enacted a joint plan between the Bethel Police Department and Oxford County Sheriff’s Office in Paris to provide law enforcement coverage over the interim, estimated to be between four to six weeks.

On Friday, Cole named patrolman Charles Beal – the department’s only full-time officer – as the officer in charge. Beal, however, has yet to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy for law enforcement training and certification.

Cole said Beal is scheduled to attend the academy in August.

The town manager’s surprise move Thursday reduced Bethel’s four-member, full-time police force to Beal, who was hired last summer. He is complemented by a contingent of reserve officers. The two other full-time positions are vacant.

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