Funeral services for retired Lincoln County Sheriff William C. Carter will be held Thurs., Dec. 29 at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle.
Following a long illness, Carter, 72, passed away at Maine Medical Center in Portland early Dec. 21. Born March 8, 1939, he was the son of William C. and Clara (Meservey) Carter.
Funeral arrangements are under the care and direction of the Strong Hancock Funeral Home in Damariscotta. Condolences and messages for the family may be expressed by visiting www.stronghancock.com.
At age 26 in 1964, Carter was the youngest person ever elected Sheriff in Maine. By the time he left office in 2002, he was the longest serving sheriff in the state’s history.
When he was first took office in 1965, Carter was essentially a one-man department working with a $38,000 budget, supported by several part time employees.
At the time of his retirement, the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office employed 42 full-time employees and 30 part-time staff members and required a $2.3 million budget.
During his tenure, Carter was known for embracing innovation, training and technology.
He is credited with establishing a DARE program for the LCSO and creating LCSO’s highly regarded Criminal Investigation Division.
Born and raised in Jefferson, Carter began his law enforcement career as a patrolman in Damariscotta.
Among his many professional accomplishments, Carter was an honorary lifetime member of the Maine Sheriff’s Assn., and he was recognized by the Maine Police Chief’s Assn., as Maine’s Police Chief of the Year in 1988.
A complete obituary is available here. More details will be posted as they become available.
