Brokeback Sheriff

Sheriff Mark Westrum has once again violated the publics trust and needs to resign. For years the Sagadahoc County Commisioners have stood by and defended and defelected all criticism of Sheriff Westrum. Its a matter of time before the Attorney General will be called into investigate as people come forward. Sheriff Westrum wont be able to protect the drunk drivers leaving the Legion or Elks, stop investigations of his friends or fire and wreck good honest Deputies lives. Sheriff Westrum and his close former live in Chief Deputy need to resign! We need an honest Sheriff who does not take boat rides with a six pack and snapple. Sheriff Westrum needs to do the County and the honest Police as favor resign immediately!

Sheriff Westrum should be put on leave immediately under Federal Case precedent and Maine Labor Laws. The County Commisioners failure to protect the other employees from a hostile work environment has made the County a target rich environment for major litigation. If any other Deputies or citizens are harmed, grieved, harassed or assaulted in any way by Sheriff Westrum or Manhard the County will pay through the nose. I can see a class action suit developing on several fronts. The Commisioners failure to protect the other Deputies and singling out Detective Damren by putting him on leave was a huge blunder. I have no idea who is serving as counsel to the County but they need to go back to Law School. I hope I am called in as co counsel in this target rich environment!

Gee, did anyone ever think that this all might be a political witch hunt? Maybe, just maybe, Deputy Damren and Westrum's rival might be tainting the election? Why is Damren being investigated? Why are some trying to stop the investigating of Damren? Who is hiding what? Why did it take 2 years, an election year, and an investagation before a complaint was made against Westrum? Just food for thought..try to keep an open mind......

Were behind mark here- if we were in front of the ole boy, we'd be a little nervous. hahahaha

He has never been able to tell the truth. whether bad or good, he always wants to be in the spotlight.

He is doing this now, because he is on paid leave and he is pissed that he has been caught once again, doing what he is not paid to do, blab on his cell phone while he is "working" and Porn on his work computer? Is this someone that YOU want protecting your community?

Why come out two years after the fact.

If you look in to his past regarding his career, it is ugly and he should not be trusted to work in law enforcement

Westrum tried to screw him once and now he screwing him all over again with his witch hunt. Damren is realy getting the shitty end of the stick. Mark Westrum is being realy hard on Damren!

Hey there worried citizen.....Question for you?

If Damren can not be trusted, why in Gods name would Westrum have hired him. Not once, but twice!!! From what the paper states, didnt he work as a State Trooper? Seriously, think about it.

I have been following this story pretty closely. Sounds to me this Mandhard guy has a problem with everybody. Didn't the union vote to have this clown removed, with something like a 14-0 vote. Come on worried citizen.... if you are truly concerned about our community and our protection, I agree, lets start cleaning out the Sheriff's Department. Including Chief Deputies that assault their wifes and Sheriff's that can't tell the truth.

Worried Citizen:

I am impressed with your lack of knowledge. Only someone with an inflated self worth would think that comments such as yours are worth posting. If you actually paid attention you would know that Westrum has engaged in inappropriate conduct on many occasions. Your comment leads the reader to conclude that you're one of his friends with an agenda. Let the truth come out.

From what I hear, it is well beyond the time that Manhardt should give up his badge. He was arrested but not convicted of domestic violence. He lied to his superior when he escorted a mobile after calling out sick. The mobile home crashed into an overpass in Bath. He and Westrum then schemed to manipulate the internal investigation against Manhardt. Westrum has even admitted creating a memo to protect his buddy. This is utterly disgusting. If Manhardt was gone the problem wouldn't be solved, but it would certainly help.

Doesnt Chief Deputy Jay Manhard resemble that that Supervisor Deputy on Reno 911 the one with the tight shorts?

Mark Westrum is shining example and leader in Sagadahoc County. He is known for cutting taxes and saving the tax payers money. Mark Westrum would never drink and drive in his police car or in a boat. When it comes to ethics Mark is a leader in the State of Maine. He believes in hooked on fishing not on drugs, dare and many other good programs. Mark supports head start for poor children and after start. Mark belives in marriage and would never cheat on some ones wife or husband! Mark Westrum is a shining example of what its means to be called a Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Deputy!

I am pleased to inform you that the Sagadahoc County Commisioners are on damage control. They thought that they could get away with brsuhing all the other allegations againts disgraced Sheriff Mark Westrum under the carpet like they have always done. However the public and the greater Law Enforcement Community have had enough of their smoke and mirrors show. The public is rising and taking close notice to the situation and will not settle for anything less than complete transparency and the full truth. That means all the allegations of misconduct must be investigated by an independent source free of control from Mark Westrum.

The Sagadahoc County Commisioners need to reveal to the public what there relationships to Mark Westrum have been through the years too? Have certain Commisioners drank beers or brandy with him like choir practice! Have they made donations to his campaigns? What is their relationship to Westrum? Can they objectively look at the facts and come to a fair and impartial decision? If they cant they need to recuse themeselves or resign their positions.

The Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office needs a complete review of the operations and practices. The County should contarct with an out of state form that Sheriff Westrum has no connections too to do the review! Who knows what else Mark Westrum has been hiding from the public and his own staff.

Lets start a running list of all the people and organizations that Mark Westrum is close to and that have benefited from an award or close relationship too him in some way.

Darla Jewett- former County Commisioner and close friend and ally to Westrum. She often moderates events for Sheriff Westrum they have been close for many years. Does she receive compensation from the weed and seed funds and Department of Justice?

Chief Deputy Jay Manhard his current Chief Deputy and confidant. Sheriff Westrum nominated him for Maine Sheriff Association Deputy of The Year and he was awarded it. Sheriff Westrum promoted him to Detective after he had been arrested by the Bath Police Department for Domestic Assault. He then promoted him to Chief Deputy after he lied to Chief Aneese about his sick day and was suspended. Sheriff Westrum nothing like rewarding good behavior.

Deputy Mark Anderson is a close friend of Westrums and left Bath Police to work for him. He comes on board and gets a brand new cruiser above other Deputies who hadnt got a new one for years. Is he a mole for the Sheriff and Manhard?

Mole oh yeah dont trust him a bit! He will burn you when he gets the chance. He is a huge ladies man too. I wonder if Westrum checked his computer and cell phone minutes. Cant trust Mark W. or Mark A. one in the same!

I was at the Puffin stop the other day and they were all talking about Westrum. Is it true he stored his furniture and other personal belongings at the Armory a few years ago?

It was with great dissapointment that my name ended up on this site and under the context that it has.
Like other deputies I have attempted to avoid the turmoil because it is currently a very unpleasant work place. In truth we are all very much a part of it because of our unified action several weeks ago.
I recently voted with the union to support Det. Damren. I am stead-fast in my belief that he was unfairly suspended and it went beyond precedence.
The allegation of me being a "mole" is untrue and insinuates that I am not to be trusted by my fellow law enforcement officers - I would never threaten the bond that is most important to me in this career. I have had only one brief contact with Sheriff Westrum this callender year and that was in the presence of others at the office.
I did come over to the S.O. two years ago from the Bath P.D. - I have never hid the fact that I believe the members of that agency were the finest people that I have ever worked with. The larger jusidiction along with the appeal of a rural patrol were the driving factors for transfering to the S.O.
There have been other serious issues involving the administration and deputies.
I was not a member of the department when these occurred so it is difficult for me to have a certain opinion - I have not developed a passionate dislike towards management and I believe this to be the real reason that my name came up.
I believe the serious issues will linger and it may ultimately be up to the voters come November to resolve it in one way or the other.
I only ask that facts are in-line before allegations are made such as the ones made about me. If you talk with me I will even let you see my cell phone and computer.
Other then that, I believe the turmoil may last until November. It could be up to the voters to resolve it in one way or the other.

Thank you Chad for coming out in support of Mark Anderson! Mark you have alot of people that truly know who you are and how dedicated you are and will support you!

I too have known Mark for several years and have worked with Mark, and he is one of the finest officers in Sagadahoc County and this county is lucky to have him!

Instead of attacking Mark and pulling him into the Westrum/Manhardt/Damren mess, why dont you thank him for his service and for keeping the county safe! In fact why dont you thank all of the law enforcement officers that strap on a gun and a vest and put their lives on the line to keep you safe on a daily basis?!

Hey Mark dont worry we have your back buddy! Mark dont forget..."Unitas Ante Ipse"!!!

One of the greatest rights we have that keeps our Country a free Democracy is Free speech. Our founding fathers granted us free speech so the goverment including police and sheriff's power and authority over us the people would be kept in check. Its amazing to see how Police Officers only want to allow free speech when it benefits them. The first time some one speaks the truth or mentions honesty, integrity, or ethics the police and sheriff's get angry. Its amazing how many Officers believe that drinking on duty, or cheating on a spouse is accepatble behavior. There would be no reason to fuss or be angry unless someone had something to hide, correct?

The truth always prevails!

People are taking things way to serious if there is no truth to any of Sagadahoc County Sheriff's Office debacle!

I agree with free speech supporter that if you have nothing to hide what is there to worry about. A persons reputation will speak for itself! If some one is known to be honest they are honest. If a person has something to hide, they well try and cover it up and hide it. Remember Bill Clinton wagging his finger to all of us Americans denying that he never had sex with Monica Lewinsky. There is way to much dishonesty in our goverment these days! Public Officials need to be honest to the people they serve and their spouses and families!

It's amazing how you people can keep making accusations in regards to law enforcement supporting drinking on the job and for us being against free speech! It appears to me that when we come out in support of a fellow officer that all of a sudden were against free speech and that clearly is not the case! Has anybody tried to limit the speech of anybody on here? Is it not right to come out in support of someone who is being unfairly attacked?

So apparantly you wouldnt want the support of your friends if you were being unfairly attacked?

As far as supporting Westrum and Manhardt its pretty obvious that they are NOT being supported by the local law enforcement community, and that my friend is leadership, when someone does something that is unethical and you come out against that and have the courage to do that...that is leadership, that is integrity, and that is whats right and ethical!

NOw continue posting things attacking law enforcement because that is your right under the constitution, and we will continue to protect you and your family when we are called to do so because that is what we signed up for and that is what we took an oath to do! We do it because we love this community and the people in it!

I applaud you for taking interest in this debacle and I believe that you have every right to say what it is that you want to here in this forum along with any other medium! If youre really passionate about this you should continue and support the deputies at the sheriff's dept. that are standing up for what is right and for having the courage to do so!

We support all Police Officers who are honest. That means Officers who do their difficult job to the best of their ability. They care about people and show compassion. They swear to their oath as a Police Officer in upholding the Constitution.

The Officers we support would never do the following!

Drink alcohol on duty whether with the Sheriff or not.

Have pornogrpahy on their computers at work.

They would never run around and cheat on a spouse and pretend they are faithfull in their marriage. If they cant be faithfull to their wife or husband, there veracity as a Police Officer is jeporadized. There word is no good!

I hope all the Officers who work for Sagadahoc County can live up to those small but important standards!

Sagadahoc County does have some great Officers. K9 Rocko and his handler Jay Manhard have found a pound of marijuana and a handgun yesterday. Today they discovered more cocaine and marijuana on a speeding car stop.
Lets not paint all of Sagadahoc County Law Enforcement with such a broad brush.

Good Job Rocko and Jay!

I am not gong to speak positively or negatively about the Sheriff of Chief Deputy in this public forum. I am going to wait for the facts and truth to come out.

I wrote in to support my co-worker, Deputy Anderson, because he is not part of this investigation. His name was brought into this forum and I have seen no evidence to back up the anonymous writer's allegations. I have only seen a hard working and dedicated Police Officer.

I am not a fence sitter and neither is the rest of our Union. If you recall, we voted unanimously for certain changes. In my opinion, they are all leaders.

Chad Carleton

I am looking for a career in law enforcement where should I work. I am kind of interested in an exciting career in the Sheriff Booze cruise industries! Sagadadhoc County seems like a real cool place to work ha!