FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
ADMINISTRATION
Sheriff Scott Nichols, Sr.
A lifelong resident of Franklin County with family roots in the region dating back to the early 1800s, Sheriff Scott Nichols has dedicated more than four decades to public service through military service, state law enforcement, and leadership as Franklin County’s Sheriff since 2013.
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Since taking office in January 2013, Sheriff Nichols has overseen the operations of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and worked closely with municipal, county, and state partners to promote public safety throughout western Maine. In addition to his duties as Sheriff, he has also served as a Board of Trustees member representing the Maine Sheriffs’ Association at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, helping guide statewide law enforcement training and professional standards.​
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Prior to his election as Sheriff, Nichols served as Chief of Police for the Town of
Carrabassett Valley from 2008 to 2012. His law enforcement career began with the Maine State Police, where he served for more than two decades in a variety of assignments. During his time with the State Police he worked as a Trooper patrolling rural Franklin and Somerset Counties, later becoming a Detective assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division’s Major Crimes and Homicide Units, and ultimately a Detective Sergeant supervising investigators in Augusta. He also played a key role in training the next generation of officers as a Cadre Supervisor for the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, overseeing the training of new police cadets.
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Nichols spent 14 years as a member of the Maine State Police Tactical Team (SWAT) and served as the team’s principal firearms instructor. A longtime instructor, he has been a certified Maine Criminal Justice Academy instructor since 1990, a certified firearms instructor since 1992, and a NESPAC instructor since 1999. In addition to his operational and investigative work, he founded the Maine State Police Pipe and Drum Unit, helping strengthen the tradition and esprit de corps of the agency.
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In 2004–2005 Nichols served overseas in Iraq as an International Police Liaison Officer with the Civilian Police Assistance Training Team (CPATT), a Department of Defense mission responsible for training and advising Iraqi police forces. During this time he also served as a CPATT Level 5 supervisor at Forward Operating Base Cooke, contributing to international police development efforts during the conflict.
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Nichols’ commitment to service began with the United States Army, where he served as a Military Police paratrooper with the 118th Military Police Company (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, from 1979 to 1982. He later continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserve with the 3/16th Infantry Regiment from 1982 to 1983, and subsequently with the Maine Army National Guard, serving in the 1/172nd Infantry Mountain Warfare unit.
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Throughout his career, Nichols has received numerous honors, including Maine State Police Bravery Awards in 1994 and 2007, the Maine State Police Meritorious Service Medal in 1989, and a nomination for Trooper of the Year. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science in Law Enforcement Technology from Southern Maine Technical College and has completed executive leadership programs, including the FBI-LEEDA Executive Training Program, the National Sheriffs’ Institute Executive Training, and the Rural Executive Management Institute.
Sheriff Nichols is a graduate of Mt. Blue High School in Farmington, Maine. He and his wife, Lorna, have been married for more than 42 years and are the proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to five grandchildren. The Nichols family has deep roots in the region, with ancestors living in the area since the early 1800s, before Maine became a state, a legacy that continues to shape his commitment to serving the people and communities of Franklin County.
Chief Deputy Steven Lowell
Chief Deputy Steven Lowell leads the administration and daily operations at the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office alongside Sheriff Scott Nichols. He has been serving the citizens of Franklin County and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office full-time since 1991, with almost 40 years of law enforcement experience and dedication.
Chief Lowell began his law enforcement career in 1988 working for the Rangeley Police Department as a part-time officer checking seasonal camps. The following year, he became a full-time officer and received his certificate to be a reserve officer. In 1989, while working for Rangeley PD, he became a sworn in Deputy for the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Lowell graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in 1990 with the 65th Municipal/County Basic Police School (MCBPS). Soon after he was promoted to Sergeant for the Rangeley Police Department.
Wanting more opportunities in law enforcement, Chief Lowell was hired full-time by the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office in 1991. He became the County’s Firearms Instructor and Emergency Vehicle Operator Police Instructor for Defensive Driving, and an Instructor at Maine Criminal Justice Academy for the 79th MCBPS, all in 1995. In 1999 he became certified as a STAR (Small Town & Rural Training) Instructor from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Chief Lowell also attended the Maine Community Policing Institute (MCPI) training class with UMA, receiving his MCPI Certified Instructor Training Certificate. In 2001, he was promoted to Sergeant of Patrol until Sheriff Nichols selected him as Chief Deputy in 2012.
During his career, Chief Lowell has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Sheriff’s Medal, recognized for his exemplary job performance above and beyond the normal course of daily duties. He was the recipient of the 2010 Sheriff’s Dedication and Meritorious Service Award, and earned Employee of the Year for 2001, 2010, and 2012. In 2005, Chief Lowell was awarded with the Maine Criminal Justice Academy Certificate of Appreciation for his continued support and dedication in providing criminal justice training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. While training at the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Chief Lowell was awarded with the Firearms Proficiency Award 65th MCBPS in 1990. He also became a member of the American Deputy Sheriffs’ Association in 1994.
Major David Rackliffe
Major David Rackliffe leads the Patrol Division and K-9 Program, adding over 3 decades of law enforcement and emergency medical services expertise to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.
After graduating from Mt. Blue High School, Major Rackliffe ventured to Wellesley, MA where he studied Business Management and Administration. He soon realized working in the corporate world was unfulfilling and wanted to serve the public. Upon returning to Franklin County, Major Rackliffe began his paramedic career with NorthStar Ambulance (formerly Delta and LifeStar) and Med-Care Ambulance in the spring of 1994 and earned his paramedic certificate in 1996. In response to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, he became a part-time officer for Rangeley Police Department to protect his county and country.​
In June 2002, Major Rackliffe joined the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy. In 2004 he implemented a second K-9 unit and became a K-9 handler. Major Rackliffe was promoted to Patrol Lieutenant in 2013. In 2016, he became a certified K-9 trainer through The Maine Criminal Justice Academy.
During his career with the Sheriff’s Office, Major Rackliffe has led several complex, agency wide technology and operational initiatives, improving efficiency, data integrity, compliance, and accountability. He also provides key leadership in pursuing the agency’s law enforcement accreditation. For over 15 years, Major Rackliffe has administered the Stone Garden Federal Program, ensuring compliance with federal grant requirements, and facilitating interagency operations that enhance regional public safety.
Major Rackliffe established the first Franklin County K-9 School, assisting other agencies and adhering to academy standards, to train dogs for patrol use and narcotic detection. Today he leads the K-9 Program for the Sheriff’s Office and coordinates monthly K-9 training for surrounding agencies. In 2025, his position was reclassified from Patrol Lieutenant to Major to reflect his broader scope of responsibilities.
During his time at The Maine Criminal Justice Academy, Major Rackliffe was elected Class President and received the Highest Academic Award. He was the recipient of the Deputy of the Year Award in 2007, 2011 and 2022. In 2018 and 2025, he was awarded the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Medal for his exemplary performance and dedication to the organization.
Lieutenant David St. Laurent
Born and raised in Franklin County, Lieutenant David St. Laurent leads the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at the Franklin County Sheriff's Office with over 35 years of law enforcement expertise.
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Lieutenant St. Laurent enlisted in the delayed entry program of the United States Navy in late spring of 1985. After summer bootcamp, Lieutenant St. Laurent was trained as a U.S. Navy Master at Arms, assigned to the Navy's SRT teams. After being stationed in various countries around the world, he was honorably discharged in 1990 and returned home.
His law enforcement career began as a security officer for Sugarloaf, USA. Lieutenant also began working as a part-time deputy for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, a part-time officer for the Farmington Police Department,
and a full-time constable for the Carrabassett Valley Police Department. His Maine Criminal Justice Academy training continued from the reserve officer course to the 12 week basic police training in 1997.
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The Lieutenant's time at Carrabassett Valley PD ended in 1999 when he became a patrol deputy for the Franklin County Sheriff's Office. In 2001, he was chosen for a State of Maine Police Stop grant funded position of Investigator, specializing in domestic violence, child abuse, and sexual assault investigations. Lieutenant St. Laurent continued working under the grant until 2004 when he was promoted to a detective position at the Sheriff's Office. During his years as the Investigator, he worked closely with other agencies and trained officers in conducting investigations and assisting as needed. In 2013, the Lieutenant of CID position opened and St. Laurent was selected.
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Lieutenant St. Laurent has been a member of several boards over the past several years, including the Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County, State of Maine Child Death Advisory Board, and various school safety boards throughout Franklin County. He is still currently a member for the Maine Domestic Abuse Homicide Review Panel, Safe Voices Board of Directors, and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Franklin County Children's Task Force.
Lieutenant St. Laurent has been the recipient of countless awards, including Employee of the Quarter in 2001, Employee of the Year in 2006, 2009 and 2019, the 2017 Sheriff's Medal, and the 2025 Citation for Meritorious Service. He received the Make A Difference Award from Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Services in 2014 and the Community Partner Award from Safe Voices in 2017.
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Lieutenant St. Laurent was raised in Farmington and graduated from Mt. Blue High School. During his high school career, he played all-state football and basketball. He still resides in Franklin County with his wife, Chrissy, of 36 years. They have three adult daughters and six grandchildren.
Catherine Durost
Administrative Assistant
Cat Durost joined the Franklin County Sheriff's Office in October 2025, providing over 15 years of office management and administrative experience to the department.
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Cat's career began in 2009 as an accounting assistant and then accounting manager, inspiring her to further her education with an Associate's degree in Business Management and Administration from Central Maine Community College in 2016. She changed direction in 2017 and joined the District Attorney's Office in Oxford County as a Victim Witness Advocate. During her 5 years at the DA's Office, Cat guided victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and vehicular manslaughter cases through the criminal justice process.
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In 2022, Cat ventured into private law as a medical malpractice paralegal for a firm in Lewiston. Missing the law enforcement community, she found the Franklin County Sheriff's Office and is the friendly face at the front window and the bubbly voice on the phone.
Cat was raised in Androscoggin County and graduated from Leavitt Area High School. She currently resides in Oxford County with her husband, two daughters, a dog and four cats.