Deputy accused of shooting off his own fingertip is fired

PARIS, Maine – A Maine sheriff’s deputy accused of shooting off the tip of his finger while drinking off duty on St. Patrick’s Day has been fired.

Oxford County Sheriff James Theriault says Deputy Stephen Witham had been on paid leave. The county commission voted on Wednesday to uphold the sheriff’s decision to fire Witham. The sheriff says it was based on a number of policy violations.

The Sun Journal reports Witham is the only deputy trained to handle the department’s dog. The sheriff says he plans to recommend disbanding the K-9 unit for now.

A spokesman for the labour union that represents Witham has disputed the allegations against him. The spokesman says the union plans to file a grievance and take the firing to arbitration, if necessary.

___

This story has been corrected to show the sheriff’s surname is Theriault, not Theiault or Therialt.

___

Information from: Sun-Journal, http://www.sunjournal.com