Commissioners authorize Bethel law enforcement agreement

PARIS — Oxford County commissioners authorized a law enforcement agreement with Bethel on Tuesday, finalizing a deal approved by the town's voters last week.

Sheriff Wayne Gallant of the Oxford County Sheriff's Office signs an agreement provided by County Administrator Scott Cole on Tuesday. The county commissioners authorized the execution of an agreement for the county to provide law enforcement coverage to the town of Bethel on Tuesday.

Chairman Steve Merrill and commissioner David Duguay voted in favor of authorizing the agreement. Commissioner Caldwell Jackson was absent.

A total of 526 Bethel voters favored an option to ratify a Feb. 9 special town meeting vote to contract with the county to have the Oxford County Sheriff's Office provide 24-7 police coverage for the town. The town will pay $295,000 to the county per year for the next three years, with the option to extend the contract after that point. The vote defeated a second option of upgrading the Bethel Police Department to provide the same coverage at a cost of $453,794 per year; that option received 403 votes.

At the February special town meeting, residents voted 109-89 in favor of county coverage. However, selectmen voted 3-2 to void the result to let the matter be decided at the referendum vote due to the likelihood of a higher voter turnout.

Sheriff Wayne Gallant said the agreement is not set to go into effect until July 1, but the Sheriff's Office began filling gaps in the 24-7 coverage on Monday night with deputy assignments.

“They can't provide the coverage anymore, and I can't leave a town high and dry,” he said.

The commissioners also approved the full-time hiring of deputies Robert Ryder and Danielle Welch, who were serving with the Sheriff's Office as part-time deputies. Gallant said both deputies passed an extensive screening process, including written tests, a physical, and a polygraph exam. Gallant said an employment offer has also been made to Lt. S.R. White, the sole remaining full-time officer on the Bethel Police Department, but White has not yet responded.

Gallant says two vehicles of the Bethel Police Department will also be transferred to the Sheriff's Office.