FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted Tuesday to promote two county sheriff’s deputies to patrol supervisors with the rank of corporal. They also voted to hire two new full-time deputies to replace them, pending passage of polygraph and psychological exams.

It ends a series of promotions that started with the retirement of Lt. Niles Yeaton and Detective Tom White earlier this year.

Commissioners accepted Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr.’s recommendation that deputies Christopher Chase of Wilton and Nathan “Nate” Reid of Strong be promoted to corporal.

As part of the interview process, the three applicants for the positions were required to develop a community policing plan, Nichols said. They presented it to an oral board made up of Sheriff’s Lt. David St. Laurent, Lt. David Rackliffe, Cpl. Nathan Bean, Farmington Sgt. Edward Hastings IV and Wilton Sgt. Chad Abbott.

Nichols said Chase and Reid personified “leadership” and described them as “hard charges” — deputies that give more than 100 percent to whatever they are doing.

Rackliffe also recognized Reid as earning the administrative award of Deputy of the Second Quarter. Rackliffe said he has proven his value to the department through his positive attitude and self-sacrifice.

Among his accomplishments are his work on the recent seat belt grant that will result in the department receiving a new laser radar unit.

Chase was recognized this year as Deputy of the First Quarter.

Commissioners also voted to offer conditional employment as full-time deputies, pending completion of required exams, to Colt Sleaster of Jefferson and Kevin Hartley of Anson. Sleaster is a corrections officer at a Maine State Prison. He is also a part-time deputy with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department. He will have to attend the Maine Criminal Justice Academy.

Hartley is an officer with Madison Police Department. He has been there nine years and is certified. The county will not have to reimburse Madison for academy training, Nichols said.

There were 19 applications for the deputy positions, and five were chosen to be interviewed.

Part of the interview process was to write reports on scenario situations, he said. They also watched a video and were asked how they would react in a similar situation.

In other hiring matters, commissioners voted to hire three part-time corrections officers: Corey Leclerc of Jay, Ralph McArthur of Farmington and Sean Moore of Wilton. All have experience as corrections officers.

Commissioners also increased the level of pay for a corrections officer who has 10 years experience from $13.07 per hour to $14.99 per hour.

Kristian Lamontagne has been with Franklin County for six months and has completed the probationary period, county Clerk Julie Magoon said.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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