HOULTON, Maine — New deputies will soon be making their way to the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Office.
The Aroostook County Commissioners approved the hiring of one full-time deputy and eight part-timers during a Wednesday, April 18, meeting in Houlton.
Interim Sheriff Shawn Gillen said his office had nine applicants for a single full-time deputy position. His recommendation was to hire Matt Crandall of Oakfield, who has served as a part-time deputy since 2014.
“Matt has been through the corrections academy so he is all certified and ready to go,” Gillen said. “He has currently been working a shift for us on Saturdays and sometimes Sundays.”
Named as part-time deputies were James Flaherty of Waldoboro; Lee Reynolds of Guild, New Hampshire; Scott Kieffer of Topsham; Noak Jackias of Houlton; Daniel Dudar of New Canada; Chris Capozzi of Littleton; Seth Cropley of Presque Isle; and Chris Farley of Houlton.
Gillen said he was “amazed” that there were eight individuals who were willing to serve as part-time, as-needed deputies.
“Many of these individuals have already moved to the Houlton area,” Gillen said.
Commissioner Paul Underwood asked why there were so many individuals being hired at the sheriff’s office. County Administrator Ryan Pelletier likened the part-time employees to substitute teachers, who are only called into action to fill shifts due to illness or vacation.
“If we don’t have enough part timers, it costs us in overtime,” Gillen added. “When we have planned vacations and don’t have any part-timers, we have to use regular staff earning overtime.”
The part-time deputies will not be used to transport inmates, unless they became corrections certified, Gillen said. All eight part-time deputies will need to attend the five-week criminal justice academy at some point during the year, he added.
