Press release

Review team convenes in deputy-involved shooting

Wed, 03/10/2021 - 6:45pm

An Incident Review Team, convened at the request of Lincoln County Sheriff Todd Brackett, met March 10 in Wiscasset to review the deputy-involved shooting on Dec. 18, 2020 in Jefferson. The review is part of the sheriff’s analysis into the use of deadly force by a deputy sheriff that resulted in the death of a Jefferson man.

The review team’s task is to evaluate the administrative aspects of this incident – to review policy, procedure, training and the circumstances surrounding the incident, Brackett said. The review is parallel, but separate from, the Attorney General’s statutory investigation into the matter and focuses on the administrative investigation conducted by the Sheriff’s Office.

Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster, Lt. Patrick Hood of the Maine State Police, Chief Sean Geagan of Bucksport Police Department, Rev. Charlene Corbett of Second Congregational Church of Newcastle and Lisa Katz, LCSW make up the review team. Lancaster is chair. Review teams of this nature are a legislative requirement and are outlined in policy standards established by the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Board of Trustees.

“The review is an important tool available to me in use of deadly force incidents. The independent review will help me evaluate the way we responded to this incident and future incidents. It will provide guidance on policy, training and equipment that is crucial to the services we provide,” Brackett said. The team’s final report will be released when completed.