The head of the Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland has resigned after being placed on administrative leave last week.
Corrections Commissioner Dr. Joseph Fitpatrick says he accepted Jeff Merrill’s letter of resignation over the weekend and it was effective immediately. A search is now underway for Merrill’s replacement.
Fitzpatrick says Merrill resigned for “personal reasons,” according to his letter. He’d been been placed on administrative leave last week pending the outcome of an investigation. But Fitzpatrick says that investigation is now closed. He declined to provide further details.
Fitzpatrick says the focus will now turn to the needs of the residents at the youth correctional facility.
“I have all the confidence in the world in the staff. I think they do a tremendous job. And I met with the entire staff this morning (Monday) but I also confirmed for them that I have absolute confidence, 100 percent, in the staff at Long Creek and how hard they work and the great job they do,” he says.
In the last few months Long Creek has come under scrutiny for the suicide of a transgender teen who was in custody and, more recently, for the escape of three inmates during a camping trip. Police say the three 18-year-olds then stole and wrecked an SUV.
Associate Corrections Commissioner Colin O’Neill has been put in charge of Long Creek until a permanent replacement can be found.
“We will be conducting a search for new leadership. We will look in-state and if we find a successful candidate there then we will end the search, but otherwise we will look out of state,” Fitzpatrick says.
Jeff Merrill had been the superintendent of Long Creek since 2013. He could not be reached for comment.
