PARIS – No matter how unusual it is, someone else probably shares your name.

That person might be a lawyer or a criminal, a prince or a pauper, an athlete or a couch potato. They might even share your profession.

Such is the case with Wayne J. Gallant, sheriff of Oxford County.

On the West Coast, another Wayne Gallant serves as chief of police in Bellehaven, Wash. Except there is no such town as Bellehaven. And Chief Gallant exists only amongst the pages of nine – soon to be 10 – young adult mystery novels.

The chief is the brainchild of Jo Dereske, author of the “Miss Zukas” mysteries. The novels follow the adventures of Helma Zukas, the librarian in Bellehaven, and her assistance to Chief Gallant in the town’s frequent murder cases.

“There are many misconceptions and stereotypes concerning librarians,” said Dereske, a former librarian, “and I decided that rather than becoming defensive, it would be more fun to create a crime-solving librarian who really does fit all the stereotypes.”

She said small coincidences between the names of her characters and the names of her readers have occurred before, but never to this degree.

Sheriff Gallant and Dereske have not met, and it is unlikely they have ever crossed paths. Dereske has lived in Washington for 28 years, and previously resided in Michigan. With the exception of a drive through Michigan, Sheriff Gallant has never visited either state.

Dereske visited Maine in 1997. “I thought it was beautiful,” she said, “I hope to visit again someday.”

Sheriff Gallant has been aware of this serendipity for some months now.

“I found it when I was going through the campaign,” he said, referring to last year’s election. Plugging his name into a search engine reveals both the physical and fictional Gallant.

“I thought that was very intriguing,” he said. He has wanted to find out more about the character in his free time.

“I had no idea such a coincidence existed,” said Dereske. “I’m delighted.”

The Miss Zukas adventures and Chief Gallant were introduced in the 1994 novel “Miss Zukas and the Library Murders.” The plot focuses on a dead body found in the Mo-Ne section of the library’s fiction shelves.

Sheriff Gallant is no stranger to library crime.

“I’ve done several investigations,” he said, usually relating to the theft of petty cash or office equipment.

Library-related murders are less common.

“I don’t recall any,” he ponders, “unless we had a dead squirrel or something.”

Sheriff Gallant decided he wanted to be a state trooper in eighth grade. After serving in the Army during the Vietnam War, he spent more than 25 years with the Rumford Police Department, becoming a lieutenant-detective and primary investigator. He earned a degree in criminal justice from the University of Maine in 1998.

Sheriff Gallant briefly shared professions with the Dereske creation, becoming chief of police in Wilton in 2005. In 2006, the Rumford resident was elected sheriff.

Chief Gallant has arguably been in a greater variety of situations. According to Dereske, he’s been shoved off a cliff, caught in a snowstorm, commandeered a boat and rescued old ladies.

Sheriff Gallant has investigated violent crimes, property crimes and drug cases. He has been threatened verbally and with weapons.

“I guess if you put them all together, it’s pretty horrific,” he said of his experiences, “but that’s our job.”

The coincidences don’t end with the profession. Sure, Chief Gallant has blue eyes and Sheriff Gallant has brown eyes. But they do both pronounce their name the same way, with an emphasis on the second syllable.

Chief Gallant is described as a former sports star who exercises “just enough to keep the excess weight away.” Sheriff Gallant participated in several sports during his time at Rumford and exercises every day, usually walking, trail hiking or kayaking.

Both Chief Gallant and Sheriff Gallant are divorced.

Dereske recently moved from the town of Bellingham into the foothills of Mount Baker. She said she was toying with the idea of having Chief Gallant run for sheriff, but probably won’t have him do it.

As for history, Sheriff Gallant is a Maine native whose ancestors migrated from Prince Edward Island to take part in the mill boom. He said his family name is French in origin.

And the chief?

“You just kind of fish around for something that sounds right,” Dereske said. “Wayne Gallant seemed like such a perfect name for a police chief with gentlemanly attributes.”

And perhaps it really is all in the name.

“It has a white-knight ring to it, don’t you think?” asked Ruth Winthrop, Miss Zukas’ best friend, in “The Library Murders.”

“With a name like that he was destined to become some kind of lifesaver: a cop, a doctor, a fireman. I can see him as a kid swearing to defend his mother and apple pie and the American way.”

When asked if he took such a vow, Sheriff Gallant said, “I think we did.”