Two law enforcement officers are facing off during the June primary to become the Republican nominee for Oxford County sheriff. The winning candidate will run against Democrat Wayne Gallant of Rumford for a four-year term.
Longtime Oxford County Sheriff Lloyd “Skip” Herrick, is retiring.
Republicans Alan Carr, 58, of Albany Township, and Christopher Wainwright 35, of Canton, each bring years of law enforcement experience to the race.
Carr has been in law enforcement for 34 years. He is police chief for Bethel, a position he’s held since 2004. He retired from the Maine State Police in 2002 after serving for 25 years.
Before becoming a trooper, he served in the Freeport and Yarmouth police departments.
He also served five years in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam era from 1967-1972.
“I want to work with the people and have an open-door policy. I want to hear their concerns and suggestions for improving the professionalism of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.
He said he has maintained an open-door policy as chief of the Bethel Police Department.
“I listen to people,” he said.
He is concerned about the lack of an investigative division within the sheriff’s office, and wants to see more patrols in the outlying towns.
“One of my pet peeves is seeing more deputies in South Paris than in the rural areas. I want deputies in those rural areas,” he said.
Carr, a Portland native, has said he holds a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement. He also has said he has a Master of Science degree in law enforcement from Almeda University.
However, when asked Thursday about the master’s degree, Carr said he “got caught in a scam.” According to Carr, he sent the school his college transcripts, and Almeda staff then told him that based on his academic history and life experiences, he was eligible for a master’s degree.
He did not take any courses through the university, but paid $500 for the diploma.
“At the time, I thought it was legitimate,” he said.
He’s lived in Oxford County for 12 years. He said he believes in being fair, firm and consistent.
He said he wants to increase the number of deputies, but first he wants people to understand why: “To help decrease crime.”
Serving in law enforcement for 34 years has given him a great deal of satisfaction, he said.
“I have had a passion for law enforcement ever since I put on my uniform. I really enjoy working with people and having good come out from a bad situation. Law enforcement should be an aid, not an obstacle. We’re out there to help, not just to beat them over the head,” he said. “I want to work with them and for them. We can’t do anything without the people.”
Carr is a certified chaplain with the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, a member of and youth leader at Windham Assembly of God Church, a member of the International Chiefs of Police Association, and a past member of the Lions Club.
He and his wife, Julie, have five children and five grandchildren.
Wainwright is a lieutenant in charge of the patrol division with the sheriff’s office. He’s been in law enforcement for 16 years.
He began as a deputy, was promoted to corporal, sergeant, and finally lieutenant. He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve from 1989-1995, and in 2002, took a leave of absence after being chosen by the U.S. State Department to serve as an international police officer in criminal investigations in Kosovo.
Wainwright is running, he said, because he believes he can improve the operation of the office.
“I want to maintain what we have and operate as best as possible. We’ve changed the patrol schedule to decrease overlapping of shifts. This has created an extra 20 hours of patrol duties,” he said. “I try to put a strong emphasis on rural patrol.”
He wants to further reduce administrative tasks by deputies so that more time can be spent patrolling the county.
At the jail, he wants to expand inmate public service, which he said would save taxpayer money. He said the 30-year-old facility will require expansion or replacement in the future. In the meantime, he wants to look into alternative sentencing such as home release for nonviolent offenders.
He also wants to work toward getting more state and federal grants for extra patrols, operating under the influence enforcement and the purchase of safety equipment and radar units.
He advocates additional notification of sex offenders and their offenses, and wants legislative action to help pay for inmate medical care.
Wainwright has served as a Canton selectman for six years, received the National Sheriff’s Association Medal of Valor and attended the FBI Academy in Virginia.
“I’ve worked my way right up through and am aware of the issues,” he said.
He and his wife, Erin, are the parents of two children.
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