By Mark LaFlamme,Staff Writer

AUBURN – Androscoggin County Deputy Chief Guy Desjardins was fired Thursday and escorted from the office he has used for 12 years.

Later, he publicly announced his bid for sheriff against his boss and fellow Democrat, Ron Gagnon.

The unofficial reason for the termination was described as “strong disagreements over matters of leadership,” he said.

Desjardins was notified of his termination Thursday morning by his longtime friend Sheriff Ronald Gagnon. Desjardins and the sheriff have been friends for more than 30 years. Each of them began their careers with the Sabattus Police Department in 1973.

“I do appreciate everything Ron Gagnon has done for me,” Desjardins said Thursday night. “But there have been differences of opinions. The department is going through some turmoil.”

Adding to the friction between Gagnon and Desjardins is the political climate at the department. An election for the sheriff’s position will be held this year, and Gagnon has indicated he will seek re-election.

Come fall, the two longtime friends may be pitted against each other in a campaign for the highest office at the department.

“I could stay and work under the same conditions there, but I’ve been working under those conditions for many years,” Desjardins said. “I’ve decided I want to run for sheriff. I know I’m doing the right thing.”

He added that he intends to pick up the papers today so that he can file.

He and Gagnon would face each other in the June 13 Democratic primary with the winner moving on to the Nov. 7 general election.

Gagnon has been the Androscoggin County sheriff for more than 25 years. Reached at home Thursday night, he did not want to get into details about the termination of Desjardins. However, he agreed with his former deputy chief’s assessment of the situation.

“There were differences of opinions. These things do happen,” Gagnon said. “I’ve known Guy for a lot of years. But at certain times, you have to part ways, and this was one of those times.”

Desjardins said the two men have different ideas about how the department should be run in an era of changes in law enforcement.

“We’ve got a lot of young people working there and they’ve worked so hard,” Desjardins said. “They deserve so much more. I want to give them the kind of leadership they deserve.”

Desjardins said it was commonly known that he had been considering leaving the department. But he said he believed he had more time to mull that decision.

On Thursday, Desjardins was escorted from the county building, driven home and dropped off at his house in Sabattus.

“I wasn’t even allowed to clean out my desk,” he said. “It’s so difficult. I have so many ties there. There are a lot of good people there, and that’s what I’m going to miss.”

After resigning as Sabattus police chief in 1988, Desjardins worked as a private investigator and later, a fraud investigator for the Department of Human Services. There, he investigated reports of food stamp and Medicaid fraud.

Gagnon, sheriff since 1980, appointed Desjardins to the deputy chief position in 1994. The two men have worked closely in the 12 years since.

Thursday night, the 52-year-old Desjardins said he was discussing his future with his wife. He still has a seat on the Sabattus Board of Selectmen, a private business and a campaign to put together. He said he was also doing a fair share of reflecting.

“It’s a day for me to lick my wounds and feel sorry for myself,” Desjardins said. “But tomorrow is another day.”

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