Post by WaTcHeR on Sept 12, 2006 16:30:02 GMT -5
Officer Michael J. Richard
09.12.2006 - RUMFORD - Officer Michael J. Richard, a longtime Mexico and Rumford police officer, waived arraignment in 11th District Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of domestic violence and terrorizing.
A trial date has been set for Nov. 13. District court clerks said Wednesday that Richard's lawyer, Neil Shankman of Lewiston, waived the arraignment.
Richard, 57, who has been a police officer for Mexico since 2000, was arrested by Rumford Police Department Sgt. James Bernard on July 20 and charged with domestic assault and terrorizing, both misdemeanors, then released on unsecured bail. Conditions of his bail include he not possess any dangerous weapons including but not limited to firearms.
Prior to going to work for the Mexico Police Department, Richard worked for 28 years for the neighboring Rumford Police Department.
A review of his personnel records from Rumford showed prior to retiring Richard had been demoted from the rank of sergeant to patrolman for violating state law and department regulations by endangering other officers and a juvenile prisoner in 1994. In 1984, he was reprimanded for causing bodily injury to a prisoner by striking him with a closed fist, records showed.
He was also disciplined for misconduct with a handgun in 1981. Mexico police Chief James Theriault placed Richard on paid administrative leave after being notified by Rumford police of the recent charges. On Wednesday, he said Theriault said he plans to keep Richard on paid administrative leave until the issue is settled by the courts.