BETHEL — Police Chief Alan Carr has resigned, according to a statement issued by Town Manager James Doar on Wednesday morning.

The resignation cited personal reasons and was effective immediately, according to the statement delivered by fax to the Sun Journal.

Contacted early Wednesday afternoon at his Oxford business, Western
Maine Public Safety Supplies Inc., Carr said he had decided to take a
break from law enforcement after more than 35 years of service.

“I’m just going to take one day at a time,” he said.

In a prepared statement provided by Doar, Carr thanked townspeople and selectmen.

“The honor has truly been mine in serving the community,” the statement from Carr read.

Doar said the town was not yet advertising for a new chief and that selectmen would soon be updated on the situation with Carr
and the police department. “They will be brought up to date,” Doar
said.

Although Doar as town manager has the authority to hire and fire town employees without prior selectmen approval, Doar said he would seek direction from the board at its next regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 9.

Carr became “unavailable” to the Police Department after some kind of confrontation with Doar on Sept. 25. Last week selectmen tabled a decision on an appeal from Carr regarding some action against him by Doar, which was never made public.

Carr, who retired in 2002 from 25 years as a Maine State Police trooper, was appointed interim chief in March 2003 when former Town Manager Scott Cole placed former police chief Darren Tripp on a 33-day suspension.

In April 2004, after Cole fired Tripp, Carr was again appointed interim chief and the position
was eventually made permanent. Tripp appealed the
firing, eventually to the courts, which upheld it. 

Doar said Wednesday there was never any disciplinary action taken against Carr and he remained on the town’s payroll during his period of unavailability.

“The Town of Bethel thanks him for his service to the town and for his more than 35 years of law enforcement service in Maine,” the statement issued by Doar read. “We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”

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Staff Writer Terry Karkos contributed to this story.

Alan Carr