BRIDGTON – A former police officer was granted a temporary protection from abuse order against Norway Police Chief Tim Richards after complaining that Richards harassed her.

The hearing on the complaint is set for March 4 at 9th District Court in Bridgton.

The request was filed by Cynthia M. Mitchell, 41, of Harrison last Thursday. Richards was served the order by the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office on Friday. Sheriff’s Office Capt. James P. Miclon said Richards was out of town on Thursday.

Mitchell said in the order that Richards called, despite her having ended a relationship with him.

“He continues to call me on Wednesday and Thursday nights,” Mitchell said. “I have told him I want no contact at all with him, but he still calls.”

Mitchell said that she and Richards have been “quasi-dating” since sometime during the summer of 2002. She left the Norway police force in the fall of 2001.

She also accused Richards of assaulting her once, according to the complaint.

Richards, 45, was arrested June 6, 2001, on a charge of assaulting his former wife, Patricia. He pleaded not guilty in Bridgton District Court and his trial was changed from Oxford County Superior Court to Franklin County Superior Court.

There on Feb. 5, 2002, Assistant Attorney General Fernand LaRochelle, said the case was filed, with the stipulation that there be no further incidents over the next six months. If Richards violated the conditions of the filing, the case would have been restored for prosecution.

After Richards was arrested, Norway Town Manager David Holt placed him on paid administrative leave.

On July 26 Holt issued an open letter to the citizens of Norway explaining that after a lengthy investigation he believed Richards to be “… a good police officer and is capable of serving the town of Norway as its chief.”

“The town will not tolerate any further action of this type in the future,” Holt also wrote in the letter.

When asked Monday about the protection from abuse order, Holt said that he was aware of it.

“A couple of years ago those charges were eventually dropped. There was no convictions on those charges,” Holt said. “It doesn’t affect the town and has nothing to do with me.”

In an e-mail to the Sun Journal, Richards said he was going to take some vacation time.

“I have explained the situation to David Holt and he was very understanding,” Richards said. “I have done nothing to warrant dismissal, or suspension. This time off is for me, to sort priorities out, and come to grips with things, for once, for me, and me alone.”

Mitchell said late Tuesday night after learning that the Sun Journal was reporting about the order, that she had no idea it was a public record and if she had she wouldn’t have filed for one.

“I filed the paperwork. I wouldn’t do it if it wasn’t happening,” she said. But, she added, “What woman would ever stand up and admit something like this if they thought it would be published in the paper?”

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