Sheriff defends agency following failed gun removal from mass shooter

Following a mass shooting that took the lives of 18 people in Lewiston, Maine last October, a group of sheriff’s deputies from Sagadahoc County, located nearly 30 miles away from the incident, faced challenges in dealing with the aftermath. The killer, Robert Card II, lived in the county, and an expert panel later criticized the agency for missing the opportunity to remove his firearms before the tragic attack.

Sheriff Joel Merry of Sagadahoc County, leading a small team of 20 deputies, acknowledged the criticism received by the agency but maintained that his deputies acted appropriately in their interactions with Card. Reflecting on the tragedy, Merry emphasized the importance of learning from such events to prevent them from happening in the future.

In the weeks leading up to the shooting, Sgt. Aaron Skolfield received information that Card had made threats of a mass shooting and had access to firearms. Despite efforts to conduct a welfare check on Card, he was unable to make contact with him. Subsequently, Card carried out the deadliest shooting in Maine’s history.

A consultant, Michael Cunniff, was hired to analyze the actions of the county sheriff’s office, and his report deemed their responses as reasonable given the circumstances. However, a state commission investigating the incident found faults within the agency, including the failure to consult previous incident reports related to Card’s mental instability.

Efforts have been made to improve crisis response involving mental health situations within the agency, as well as reevaluating the implementation of the yellow flag law. Despite the challenges faced, Merry expressed pride in his deputies’ dedication to serving the community and emphasized the ongoing commitment to protecting and keeping the community safe.

Since the tragic incident, the deputies at Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s Office have been reflecting on their practices and remain committed to their duties. Despite feeling like a scapegoat for the failures leading up to the shooting, Merry believes that the local community recognizes and appreciates the agency’s dedication to their safety. The agency continues to respond to calls and protect the community with resilience and dedication.