AUBURN – While two unions lent their support Tuesday to Androscoggin County Sheriff Guy Desjardins – and his controversial plan to hire another nighttime patrol deputy – the three-member County Commission hardened its opposition.

Commissioner Helen Poulin blasted the sheriff for insubordination while Chairman Elmer Berry sought county attorney Bryan Dench for advice on the Desjardins’ plan.

“I think (Desjardins) is wrong, but I won’t know for sure until I talk with our attorney,” Berry said.

On Monday, Desjardins said he planned to go forward with the hiring of a new nighttime patrol deputy, a position that is funded in the county budget but has been repeatedly blocked by the commission.

“Does this mean that every time the sheriff doesn’t agree with the commissioners he will defy authority by making his own rules?” Poulin asked Tuesday in a prepared statement.

Poulin compared the decision to leave the job unfilled to Lewiston’s budget talks and discussion that may leave some city jobs there empty.

“Remember, the Budget Committee used all known reserves and $180,000 of 2008 revenues in order to balance this budget,” Poulin wrote in her release. “How would a new position be funded in next year’s budget when revenue shortages at present are expected to be at least $321,517?”

One difference – say leaders who support the Desjardins plan – is that the county budget was finalized weeks ago.

“People are being taxed for this job,” said Capt. Ray Lafrance, president of the managers’ union within the department. “The sheriff should have the right to post, advertise and hire someone once the budget process is over.”

Filling the job is a matter of safety, said Sgt. David Trafford, president of the workers’ union.

“We definitely need that deputy,” he said. “The union supports the sheriff 100 percent.”

Night patrols can be thin, especially late at night.

At 11 p.m., the Maine State Police typically ends its patrols for the night. At midnight, Poland’s deputy, contracted by the town to patrol there exclusively, ends his shift and goes home.

That leaves two deputies as the only police for eight Androscoggin County towns – Minot, Livermore, Turner, Greene, Leeds, Wales, Durham and Poland.

Supporters have highlighted the April 6 attack on another deputy, Sgt. James Jacques. While answering a late-night burglary call in Leeds, Jacques was attacked with a claw hammer.

By chance, Jacques had a trainee with him who helped to subdue the suspect. But backup was reportedly 30 minutes away.

If people in the county’s rural towns want more coverage, they can pay more money, Poulin argued Monday.

“The commissioners would gladly agree to a contract with any town in order to add as many patrol deputies as they feel they need,” she said. After all, Poland did.

However, the towns are already paying, argued Desjardins. And the safety of the officers can’t wait, he said.

Desjardins already has one applicant for the job, he said Tuesday, and there may be more.

However, each applicant needs to be ready to handle the political unknowns on top of all the usual police requirements.

The new officer will need to be formally accepted by the commission, said County Treasurer Bob Poulin, Helen Poulin’s husband. If not, he or she might never be paid.

Desjardins plans to have a frank talk with anyone who applies, he said.

“We’re not asking anybody to leave their job and work for nothing,” he said.