After being put on administrative leave, Fryeburg’s police chief resigned this week and town officials won’t say what led to the falling-out.

Philip Weymouth became chief in 2008 after leaving a similar post in Rangeley.

Town Manager Sharon Jackson would not say why she put Weymouth on leave on April 17. Jackson appointed Detective Sgt. Joshua Potvin acting chief the same day.

In a prepared statement, Jackson said, “I put Chief Philip Weymouth on Paid Administrative Leave April 17th … On Monday April 28th Philip resigned. We will be doing a complete search to hire a new chief in the near future.”

Weymouth could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

He was put on leave the day after a budget committee meeting at which his salary was discussed.

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In a release, Potvin said, “I know the chief stated that he will be enjoying fishing and spending time camping with his family as he prepares for retirement and wishes us all the best. Chief Weymouth and I have had a great working relationship and he will be missed.”

Over the past six years, Weymouth and the department have been the subject of other controversies.

Weymouth and two officers were put on administrative leave with pay in 2012 after being accused by a resident of providing confiscated beer to a party and allowing drinking by underage people at the party. An independent investigation by a Portland law firm showed no basis for the allegation, and the officers and chief returned to duty.

A year ago, a group of residents pushed to have the department disbanded and replaced with coverage by the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, but that effort failed in a referendum 513-393.

Potvin is a former Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy and sergeant. After 12 years with the sheriff’s office, Potvin was a security consultant for the U.S. State Department, working on diplomatic security and canine bomb-detection training in Afghanistan. He was hired in Fryeburg in January 2013 and was promoted to detective sergeant last October.

Potvin’s press release includes a statement from Weymouth endorsing Potvin for the job.

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“(Potvin) has proven himself as a leader under my command and I am fully confident in his ability to effectively manage a police agency through modern and progressive techniques,” the statement said.

David Hench can be contacted at 791-6327 or at:

dhench@pressherald.com

Twitter: @Mainehenchman


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