AUBURN – For the second time this year, the department’s No. 2 cop is stepping down over money – or lack thereof.

The chief deputy at Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department is leaving his post after less than five months on the job.

Michael Ward was offered a higher salary to return to his former employer at Oxford Police Department in a newly created position: detective sergeant in charge of investigations. He’s been on the county job since August.

Ward couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday.

He predecessor, Eric Samson, served as acting chief deputy for more than a year, but vacated the position when county commissioners offered a salary roughly $10,000 less than what he was making as a sergeant.

Sheriff Guy Desjardins said he was saddened and frustrated by Ward’s departure, but understands how he arrived at his decision.

“It’s hard to compete against that,” Desjardins said. He and Ward worked well together. Ward, a 20-year veteran in law enforcement, worked for the county before going to Oxford.

The county’s salary range for chief deputy – $33,332 to $42,224 – is at the low end of the scale in the state.

Ward, 43, of Oxford, is expected to work through Dec. 26. After that, Desjardins is on his own until he can find a replacement willing to take the job at that salary, or until commissioners raise the salary scale.

Ward’s resignation comes during a lame duck session of the commission. All three new board members will be sworn in at the start of the new year.

Commissioner-elect Jonathan Labonte of Auburn said he would be willing to discuss the subject after he’s sworn in.

“It becomes a challenge to keep good people, depending on what you pay,” he said.

In-coming commissioner Randy Greenwood of Wales said he was shocked to learn about Ward’s resignation. He said he expects the commission to investigate whether it’s a budgetary concern and “go from there.”

Desjardins said Ward is expected to be paid more to return to a department smaller than the county’s dispatch division.

If the new commission doesn’t boost the salary range for the second-in-command spot, Desjardins said he’ll likely have trouble finding a qualified candidate to fill it. It took months to find a replacement for Samson last summer.

Whether money can be found as the Budget Committee puts the finishing touches on its spending package in a tough economic climate is “the million dollar question,” Desjardins said. He said he had some ideas how they might be able to do that.

In the meantime, Samson said he might consider moving back into that role if Desjardins wanted him and it wouldn’t mean taking a sizable pay cut.

Even if he isn’t the one who ends up in that post, it should still pay a wage more in line with its level of responsibility and be competitive with similar jobs in comparable counties, Samson said.