Wiscasset police are investigating the destruction of two flags on a Federal Street home, Officer Jonathan Barnes said. In a phone interview June 29, Barnes said the poles were snapped and the flags, described as a pride flag and a Ukrainian flag, were thrown into the street.

The incident was reported June 28 and the homeowner heard something around 11:30 p.m. June 27 so that may be when it occurred, Barnes said. No one has reported seeing the incident and there were no cameras; no one has been charged and Barnes would like to hear from anyone who saw anything or has other information. Reach him at 882-8202.

Wiscasset Newspaper heard of the incident through a resident’s letter to the editor, received June 28, that referenced the “ripping off (of) a gay flag” from the front door of the letter-writer’s neighbor.

Barnes said the investigation is in the early stage but at this point it is a criminal mischief investigation and the evidence has not met the criteria for a hate crime and, therefore, the department has not gotten Maine Attorney General’s Office involved.

Barnes was aware of no other recent flag tear-downs in town. It appears to be an isolated incident, he said. 

June 29, Wiscasset Selectmen’s Chair Sarah Whitfield emailed local reporters a letter entitled “Treating each other with respect.” The full, five-member board approved the letter, which reads: “Recently, there have been a number of instances in which members of our community have treated other members inappropriately, whether it be in-person, online, or an act of hate. We do not believe that these actions accurately reflect the heart of Wiscasset and acts of crime in particular will not be tolerated.

“Last fall, the Bangor Daily News pointed out that we were one of the most politically divided towns in Maine based on our voting records. We know we have differences of opinion but that only makes us stronger,” the board’s letter continues. “Different voices at the table should make for better outcomes. Solutions to both simple and complex problems can be reached when folks come to the table willing to help find those solutions and treat all those involved with respect.

“You can be assured that this board will always treat each other and the public with respect and we hope that that will be an example for all members of our community. It is simply unacceptable for any member of the community to feel unsafe or unwelcome in their own home or community. You may not agree with what someone else believes or how they live, but that does not mean that you cannot have mutual respect for each other. We believe that this town is full of people who can be kind and respectful and we hope you do, too.

“It’s important to know that this letter is to everyone; it is not to single out any one person or group or incident. It is meant to be a reminder to everyone about the way each one of us deserves to be treated: with respect,” it concludes.

Wiscasset Newspaper asked Whitfield for anything more on the nature of the “number of instances” the letter refers to. Whitfield wrote in an email, “As noted, the (board’s) statement is in response to multiple times over the last few months when members of the community have treated each other with a lack of respect and caused others to feel unsafe or unwelcome. Sometimes it is important for the leaders of a community to reiterate what kind of values we espouse and we felt this statement was appropriate at this time.”