The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is one of the 15 law enforcement agencies across the state that will be receiving funding from the Maine Office of Substance Abuse to target underage drinking. The two-year $15,000 grant will help to coordinate efforts across Washington County to enforce existing underage drinking laws.
Alcohol abuse remains one of the critical problems facing families, communities, and law enforcement departments in Maine. Alcohol is the drug of choice among both youth and adults in Maine, and is a factor in all of the leading causes of death for Maine citizens under 30 years old.
For the past two years, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has been working with Washington County: One Community to reduce underage and high risk drinking. “Law enforcement plays a critical role in reducing underage drinking in our county. This is a community problem and it takes an entire community working together to solve it. Research shows that alcohol kills more children than all illegal drugs combined. Many adolescents drink alcohol that was purchased by their parents and many do so without their parents’ knowledge.” states Sheriff Donnie Smith.
This funding will help with implementing underage drinking party patrols, collaboration among agencies for special call-out teams to handle large parties, third party transaction surveillance, and compliance checks. The funding will assist the Sheriff’s Office to those who provide alcohol and/or a place for minors to consume alcohol, as well as notifying parents or guardians of juveniles involved in the use of alcohol.
Eleody Libby, Executive Director of Washington County: One Community said, “As a society, we understand the message about not drinking and driving, but we still need to look at the bigger picture of underage and high risk drinking. The portion of the brain that controls decision making and reasoning is not fully developed until around the age of 25. Thus, a teen’s judgment is altered and this can lead to serious consequences.” Unfortunately this problem is growing as young people begin drinking at a younger age and at more dangerous levels. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office understands that alcohol affects adolescent brain development. Individuals who are under the influence are more susceptible to be involved in domestic violence, become injured, contract a sexually transmitted disease, have an unwanted pregnancy, miss academic instruction, and participate in other risky behaviors such as experimentation with illicit drugs.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office has recently increased emphasis on OUI’s, highway safety and party patrols, as well as alcohol education through instruction in schools. According to Smith, “The Sheriff’s Office partnership with Washington County: One Community has given us the opportunity to increase our party patrols, publicize our anonymous Tip Line and educate the public. It is through enforcement and collaboration that we hope to reduce underage access and educate the community. ” If you would like to report incidences of underage drinking in Washington County, the Tip Line is available and is completely confidential. Call 255-8303 or 1-800-432-7303. To find out what you can do in your community to reduce underage drinking please contact Sara McConnell at 255-3741.
As a result of a joint investigation by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Maine State Police a major Theft Operation was uncovered. Nearly 40 victims were identified over at least 5 counties all over Eastern and Central Maine. The nearly 40 crime locations consisted of burglaries and/or thefts of a variety of items, some of these crimes had been reported and some had not. Working the case in Washington County as a result of a tip, 2 suspects have been identified. Mr. Randy Millay (DOB 6-18-1967) of Machiasport and Mr. Richard (Twitch) Merritt (DOB 6-17-1956) are both cooperating suspects. Mr. Merritt is being held at the Washington County Jail reference an unrelated charge. Mr. Millay was charged by the Sheriff’s Office and Maine State Police for theft.
During the investigation a significant amount of stolen property from victims, in excess of 20,000$ in value, has been recovered so far. The property recovered included wood splitters, generators, outboards, tools, a boat, and other items. Some of the property has been returned to the owners.
The investigation remains ongoing and is expected to be linked to other similar crimes. To date burglary and thefts have been cleared from Northern Washington County all the way to Central Waldo County. It was found that property from Northern/Eastern Maine went back to the Central Maine area. Property from the Central Maine area went to the Northern/Eastern Maine area.
If anyone has information on these or related cases please call the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 255-4422.
Sheriff Donnie Smith
Washington County SO
Beginning June 1st 2010, in a ongoing effort to assure sex offender notification to the public, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office will be notifying the towns of new registrants with the Sheriff’s Office. A letter will be written to the Board of Selectman of the registrants town advising them of the offender’s name and street address. For further information on sex offender registry please go to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office website @ www.wcsheriffsoffice.com, and click on Maine Sex Offender Registry.
A Proclamation by the Sheriff Donnie Smith of the Washington County Sheriff's Office
WHEREAS, the safety and security of the citizens of Washington County and surrounding areas are vitally important; and
WHEREAS, a large percentage of our citizens regularly drive or ride in motor vehicles on our roadways; and
WHEREAS, an estimated 16 percent of motorists nationally still fail to regularly wear their seat belts while driving or riding in motor vehicles; and
WHEREAS, regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and to reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes;
AND WHEREAS, the use of seat belts is supported by the laws of Washington County and the State of Maine;
AND WHEREAS, May 24 through June 6, 2010, has been selected as the national Click It or Ticket mobilization enforcement period;
AND WHEREAS, across the country law enforcement officers will actively be participating in the mobilization to ensure all motor vehicle occupants are buckled up day and night to reduce the risk of injury and death caused in traffic crashes;
AND WHEREAS, increased enforcement of seat belt laws coupled with publicity has proven to be an effective method to increase seat belt use rates and decrease fatal crashes;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Donnie Smith, Sheriff of Washington County, do hereby proclaim and announce May 24 to June 6, 2010, as the Click It or Ticket Mobilization in Washington County , and urge all citizens to always wear seat belts when driving or riding on our roadways.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF
I have hereunto set my hand on behalf of Washington County.
Sheriff Donnie Smith
Washington County Sheriff
Motorists Beware: Not Wearing a Seat Belt Could Cost You
Click It or Ticket Kicks Off May 24
For you and your family, seat belts provide the best defense against impaired, distracted and aggressive drivers. In fact, wearing your seat belt is the single most effective crash protection available. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2008 the use of seat belts in passenger vehicles saved an estimated 13,250 lives. An additional 4,152 lives would have been saved if all unrestrained passenger vehicle occupants 5 and older involved in fatal crashes had worn their seat belts.
However, a seat belt can’t save even one life if it’s not used. And that’s where enforcement comes into play. High-visibility enforcement campaigns such as the annual Click It or Ticket mobilization are widely credited with increasing the national seat belt usage rate from 58 percent in 1994 to an observed rate of 84 percent today.
In spite of this dramatic increase, we can’t afford to waiver on belt enforcement now. There are thousands more lives yet to be saved. And by any measure, the personal and societal costs of those lives, if lost to us, are far too great to bear.
To protect local lives, the Washington County Sheriff's Office will join together with law enforcement officers, highway safety officials and safety advocates across the country in support of the 2010 Click It or Ticket mobilization. During the May 24–June 6, 2010, campaign, Washington County motorists can expect to receive tickets, not a warnings, if officers find them out on the roads unbuckled. Moreover, motorists can also expect that Washington County Sheriff Deputies will be out in force — both day and night.
Because nighttime drivers are among those least likely to buckle up, nighttime enforcement has become a hallmark of the Click It or Ticket mobilization. In fact, of those who died in nighttime crashes in 2008, nearly two-thirds (64%) were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crashes.
Teens and young adults, who neglect to buckle up in greater numbers than any other age demographic, are also at an increased risk of dying in a crash. Sadly, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for American youth, exceeding all crime- and disease-related causes.
There’s no question about it: Seat belts save lives. Spread the word to your family and friends to buckle up. You could save them the cost of a ticket. Even better: You could save a life. Remember: this May 24 to –June 6, 2010, it’s Click It or Ticket.
For more on the national seat belt mobilization, visit Click It or Ticket headquarters at www.nhtsa.gov.
On or about May 15th the deputies from Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a citizen tip about a possible underage drinking party in a remote gravel pit off the Stud Mill Road in Big Lake Township. An enforcement detail was organized and several Deputies from the Office of the Sheriff responded to the location.
Upon arriving at the gravel pit a very large group of individuals were observed congregating around a large bonfire. Approximately ½ of the group fled into the nearby woods on foot, several appearing to be under the age of 21. Deputies also noticed evidence of active drinking. The pit was secured and individuals were identified. The party was estimated to consist of approximately 100 people up the Sheriff’s Office arrival. Once juveniles (under 18 years of age), minors (between 18 and 20 years of age), and adults (21 years of age or greater) were identified Deputies began to process alcohol violations.
In all between juveniles and minors over 35 summons were issued for alcohol violations, drug possession, and littering. During the processing stage of the investigation rocks were thrown at the Deputies. No officers were hurt or struck but one cruiser was struck. It did not sustain any substantial damage however. Also during the processing fires were set in and around the woods of the pit. Due to current conditions these fires did not pose an immediate threat to persons or property; however the Maine Forest Service was called to respond and investigate the fires, trespass, and littering issues.
With help from Maine Forest Service Forest Rangers, the Sheriff’s Office was able to shut down the party safely. The pit where this underage drinking party occurred is not an authorized fire permit site, nor is it an authorized camping site. ALL of the persons present at this party were considered to be trespassing. In the process of shutting down the party 5 vehicles were towed from the pit at the owner’s expense. Forest Ranger’s Jeff Currier and Courtney Hammond extinguished the fires and cleaned as a result of the party.
It is believed that a possible reason for the party is in celebration of the Prom at Baileyville High School. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office does take a firm stance against underage drinking because of the severe health and safety problem that it causes. Anyone with information on an underage drinking party is encouraged to call and report it. You can call 1-800-432-7303, and you can remain anonymous.
Any questions about this can be directed to Lt. Travis J. Willey of the Washington County SO, at 598-5545.
Thank you,
Sheriff Donnie Smith
On February 26, 2010 the Washington County Commissioners voted to uphold Washington County Sheriff Donnie Smith's recommendation to terminate Deputy Scott Francis for “Conduct Unbecoming A Washington County Deputy Sheriff” effective immediately.
Sheriff Donnie Smith
Washington County Sheriff
On February 10, 2010 Deputy Scott Francis of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was served a Temporary Order for Protection from Abuse on behalf of his estranged wife.
There have been no arrest or criminal charges filed.
Deputy Francis, who has been with the sheriff’s office five months, was put on paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation.