Sheriff Mark Westrum Sheriff Mark Westrum, left, speaks at the groundbreaking for the jail, attended by Governor John Baldacci, three years ago. (Photo Charlotte Boynton)

The Lincoln/Sagadahoc Jail Authority has appointed Sagadahoc County Sheriff Mark Westrum to the interim Correctional Administrator position at the Two Bridges Regional Jail, six to eight weeks. This announcement was made following an executive session of the Authority last week.

Westrum's duties will include the operations of the jail, help with budgetary issues, and work with other counties to increase revenues at the jail.

Westrum said last week he will work 40 hours a week as sheriff, and what ever time is needed at the jail.

Westrum is asking for no compensation for this extra task. He said, "The citizens of the county are already paying me. I consider this job as an extension of serving as chairman of the Jail Authority for three years."

Westrum was one of the first supporters of the two county jail, along with Darla Jewett, and former Lincoln County Commissioner John O'Connell.

Westrum has served in law enforcement for more that 25 years, beginning his career with the Bath Police Department in 1979 as a Police Cadet, and reserve officer. He served the Topham Police Department as a Juvenile Officer and Sergeant before moving to the Sagadahoc County Sheriff's office in 1988.

Prior to being elected Sagadahoc Sheriff, he served as a detective, then chief deputy.

Westrum is also connected to law enforcement leaders and organizations on both the state and national levels.

He has served on the boards of the Maine Domestic Abuse Commission, the intergovernmental Task Force, and the Maine Criminal Justice Commission. He is an appointee to the National Sheriffs' Association's Youth/Crime Prevention Committee.

Westrum holds a degree in Law Enforcement Technology from Southern Maine Technical College, and is a graduate of the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Academy in Glycol, Georgia, the Institute of Police Technology Management at the University of North Florida, and the national Crime Prevention Institute of the University of Louisville.

According to Westrum, the authority is in its final stages of interviewing for the replacement of Jail Administrator Wayne Applebee.

A selected candidate will receive his second interview later this week.

Applebee resigned from the position to accept employment in Florida.