WILTON – Concerns about some cases handled by the Wilton Police Department will be directed to the Maine Criminal Justice Academy for investigation, the Franklin County district attorney’s office has announced.

The concerns were raised after the district attorney’s office reviewed a variety of cases from the department. The specific nature of the concerns was not revealed.

Town Manager Peter Nielsen told selectmen Tuesday that the district attorney’s office will not be filing a written complaint to the Wilton Police Department about the cases.

According to a letter to Nielsen from the district attorney’s office, the concerns about cases discussed with Nielsen in October will be directed to the academy’s Board of Trustees. A full report of the findings will be sent to the town when that investigation is completed.

Selectmen had no immediate response.

Nielsen said his interpretation of a labor agreement between the town and Teamsters Union Local 340 requires that a written complaint be made in order to handle complaints against police officers.

“We are not confident that the citizen complaint process would adequately address the concerns we shared with you,” Assistant District Attorneys James Andrews and Andrew Robinson wrote.

In a separate letter to interim Police Chief Ed Leahy, the district attorney’s office has directed the Police Department to refer to the Franklin County sheriff’s office the investigation of a variety of crimes involving victims under 18 years of age.

“The Franklin County Sheriff’s Department shall have primary responsibility for these investigations,” the letter states.

The town also recently hired the Maine Chiefs of Police Association to conduct a departmental review of the Police Department. That review is expected to start early next year and take about 90 days.

Maine Police Chiefs Association Executive Director Robert Schwartz said three or four former experienced police chiefs will look at all aspects of the workings of the department itself, including the administration, training, equipment and the facility. He said the association will also look over the department’s policies and procedures to make sure they are up to date, but it does not do investigations of police officers.

“That report will be valuable to the next police chief,” Nielsen said.

Nielsen also told selectmen that a committee formed to find a new police chief met last week and chose five of 14 candidates to interview. Since then, one has withdrawn.

Nielsen said the interviews will take place the week between Christmas and New Year’s. The new chief will replace James Parker, who retired in September at the age of 62.