FARMINGTON – County commissioners agreed Tuesday to reimburse a sheriff’s deputy $3,700 for a police dog he bought more than three years ago.

The dog, Odin, cost $4,200, but someone interested in the program donated $500 to offset the expense back then, Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy David Rackliffe told county commissioners on Tuesday.

Rackliffe said that since 2005, he and Odin, who is trained in tracking and detecting drugs, have helped with the seizure of $28,346 in cash and drugs. Besides their own department, the two have assisted more than nine departments from Livermore Falls to the U.S. Border Patrol on cases. Forfeiture money is usually divided between the agencies that take part in the case.

Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay asked Rackliffe why he went out and bought a dog without the commissioners’ approval.

Rackliffe said he had a verbal agreement with Sheriff Dennis Pike that at some point, the county would look at reimbursing him for the dog.

Pike said he did make the agreement with Rackliffe and provided training for Odin. There is money in the forfeiture account to pay for the dog, Pike said.

In other business, commissioners voted to hire Miranda Butterfield of New Sharon as legal secretary in the District Attorney’s Office. She replaces Mary Young of Jay, who took a job with the Maine State Housing Authority.

Commissioners also voted to have the other legal assistant in the DA’s office, Sarah Caton, move into the 40-hour a week slot and Butterfield would have the 37- hour job due to seniority.