PARIS — As Oxford County commissioners decide how to respond to the possibility that the director of the Oxford County Emergency Management Agency broke privacy laws, emergency responders and other EMA directors spoke to the commission on his behalf Tuesday.

Scott Parker is under investigation for alleged misuse of the E-911 database, which stores the phone numbers and addresses of residents. The Oxford County Commission held a second executive session during Tuesday’s meeting to discuss Parker’s employment, but no decision was made.

Oxford County Administrator Scott Cole said the executive session lasted about 90 minutes. Cole said he could not comment on whether charges were pending against Parker.

Robert McAleer, director of the Maine Emergency Management Agency, came to Paris to speak for Parker’s character and work ethic. McAleer said he had no firsthand knowledge of the situation but suggested the commission “consider a holistic approach.”

He said Parker has been tenacious in creating new initiatives to keep Oxford County residents safe, and has consistently applied to the Maine EMA office for grants to pay for them.

McAleer said this wasn’t a case of a “circling of the wagons” among EMA personnel. “That’s not how I operate,” he told commissioners.

Thomas Standard, the EMA director for Buckfield, Hartford and Sumner, also spoke in Parker’s defense.

“Under the leadership of Scott Parker my towns, like many others in Oxford County, have gone from little or no emergency preparedness to having emergency preparedness programs that can serve as models for other communities.”

Standard, who grew up in New Orleans, said the disaster of Hurricane Katrina made him determined his own area wouldn’t fall victim to the same lack of preparedness.

He said Parker made an honest mistake. “There are always a few mistakes along the way if you’re really accomplishing something,” Standard said.

Standard also brought letters in Parker’s support from Paris Fire Chief Brad Frost, Richard Hatch of Hebron and from Kenneth Ward, director of the County Animal Response Team.

Parker has been on paid administrative leave since late in May. The investigation is in connection with the county’s new mass-notification system, CityWatch, which allows emergency personnel to contact residents in a town or other geographical area to warn them of natural disasters, criminals on the loose and other public safety concerns.

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