Penobscot County Chief Deputy Troy Morton to Run For Sheriff

The Maine Sheriff's Association's 'Manager of the Year' announced his candidacy for the office of Sheriff today. Chief Deputy Troy Morton is running for the post currently held by Sheriff Glenn Ross, who, earlier this month, announced his intent to retire at the end of the year. Ross is one of several sheriffs who have made the decision to retire.

Morton was given the competitive award at the Maine Sheriff's Association's winter training conference in Portland for being an exemplary administrator. He's been working in the criminal justice system for 25 years, starting as a Corrections Officer in 1988, transferring to the transportation division in 1990. He served as a Patrol Deputy in 1996 and in 2003 was promoted to the job of Chief Deputy.

In a press release today, Morton talked about what he perceives are the some of the challenges of the position.

"Today, society is faced with many social issues, several of which have direct impacts on the criminal justice system. Substance abuse, mental illness, family violence and early childhood education are areas the criminal justice system cannot ignore when responding to these issues. A successful criminal justice system includes comprehensive partnerships with community members, the business community, schools, and government officials. My extensive experience working with more than 65 communities throughout the county will demonstrate to be valuable when addressing social issues confronting our communities."