AUGUSTA — The Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office is planning to fill a void in information analysis that’s existed in the county for more than a year.

On Tuesday, Ryan Reardon, interim Kennebec County sheriff, said he’s planning to tap money in his department’s budget for part-time employees to hire an information analyst for the balance of the budget year, which ends June 30. Reardon said he’ll be seeking permanent funding for the position in the county’s budget process for the upcoming fiscal year.

Earlier this month, Reardon convened a meeting of law enforcement officials from across the county to share information and intelligence with the goal of more effectively combating drug crime.

“One of the things that came out of the task force meeting is there’s not enough analytical services countywide,” Reardon told Kennebec County commissioners at their Tuesday meeting.

From 2007 to 2014, the Maine Army National Guard had assigned a criminal data analyst to the major crimes unit at the sheriff’s office, but the National Guard cut the program in 2014.

The position had been filled by Randy Parker, who retired as a sergeant from the National Guard in 2014.

Reardon said he’s interested in bringing Parker back on board, taking advantage of his skills in combing through affidavits, arrest warrants, phone calls and information collected in criminal investigations.

“It’s important to have a centralized person,” Reardon said, noting that while the first priority of the person filling the position is the sheriff’s office, the position also will serve as a resource for area departments.

County Administrator Robert Devlin said the paperwork on the position is expected to be completed by the Feb. 2 county commission meeting.

Jessica Lowell — 621-5632

jlowell@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @JLowellKJ

Copy the Story Link