Drowning

Three Oxford County, Maine sheriff's deputies — including Deputy Justin Brown, Sheriff Christopher Wainwright's challenger in the Nov. 3 election — have filed whistleblower complaints with the Maine Human Rights Commission, alleging illegal retaliation for cooperating in a misconduct probe. That earlier investigation led county commissioners to take the rare step of asking Gov. Janet Mills to remove Wainwright from office; Mills called his conduct unprofessional in 2024 but left the decision to voters.

Deputy Richard Murray and Cpl. Timothy Ontengco joined Brown in the complaints, describing escalating discipline, demotions, suspensions and surveillance after they raised concerns about missing evidence-locker firearms, uncertified school resource officers and selective enforcement. All say county officials failed to act despite repeated requests for an independent investigation. Wainwright called the complaints "a political hit job" by his opponent. This is not the first retaliation claim against him; the county settled a separate sex-discrimination lawsuit in 2024. The complaints could form the basis of a lawsuit and add fresh scrutiny to a closely watched sheriff's race.