BRIDGTON – Norway Town Manager David Holt placed Police Chief Tim Richards on paid administrative leave Thursday, pending the outcome of his investigation into incidents surrounding a protection from abuse order.

A temporary protection order was granted to former Norway police officer Cynthia M. Mitchell, 41, of Harrison, on Feb. 20, based on her allegations of harassment and assault by Richards, according to her complaint.

A hearing Thursday at 9th District Court was waived by Judge Andrew Horton when Richards agreed to a year’s continuance of the order after a conference with Mitchell’s attorney Juliet Holmes-Smith.

Mitchell, who left the Norway Police Department in the fall of 2001, said she and Richards had been seeing each other since the summer of 2002, but she broke off the relationship. Despite that, Richards continued to harass her weekly by phone, she charged.

Holmes-Smith explained that the current order does not prohibit possession of firearms by the 45-year-old police chief, who resides in Lovell.

“The court has the ability to take guns under a temporary order, but it didn’t happen in this case,” Holmes-Smith said.

After the agreement to continue the order, Holt met Richards in the courthouse hallway and explained that he was going to begin an investigation. He later called Richards and told him he was being placed on paid leave during the investigation.

Holt later said he did not think it was fair to Richards to have to serve in his role as chief and face perhaps daily questions on this matter.

He said his investigation, in part, was necessitated by the agreement between Richards and Mitchell and in no way makes a statement of Richards’ innocence or guilt.

“The court did not resolve the issue,” Holt said.

“The town of Norway has an interest in the behavior and character of its police chief and that interest doesn’t stop because of an agreement between Cindy Mitchell and Tim Richards,” he said.

Holt said he could not say how long the investigation might take but, “It’s not in anybody’s interest to have this drag on.”

This is the second time in 21 months that Richards has been placed on administrative leave.

Richards was arrested June 6, 2001, and charged with assaulting his former wife, Patricia. After he was arrested, Holt placed Richards on paid administrative leave.

After a change of venue to Franklin County Superior Court, Richards’ case was filed 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.

On July 26, Holt issued an open letter to Norway residents saying that he found 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.

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