In July 2025, Lincoln County Sheriff's Department had a new face in the office. Commissioners used opioid settlement funds to hire behavioral health liaison (BHI) Danielle Pierce. She works with deputy sheriffs on calls where a person needs assistance with mental health or substance abuse issues. 

While Pierce shares an office with the department, she is not a county employee. In March 2025, county officials contracted with Sweetser of Brunswick, a certified community clinic, to work in-house with law enforcement.

The county is using $96,000 from opioid settlement funds to pay its behavioral health liaison. In past years, the commissioners spent $354,884 in settlement funds for awards and grants to local prevention and harm treatment programs. In recent months, several residents objected to commissioners not continuing funding local providers. Residents believed the BHI position was diverting funds away from local programs.

In an effort to clarify the BHI's role within the sheriff's department, Pierce was invited to the March 3 commissioners' meeting to explain her position. Pierce made it clear she wasn't part of law enforcement. Sheriff's officials made it clear she wasn't a county employee.

When sheriff deputies respond to an emergency dealing with a mental issue or substance abuse problem, Pierce joins them to provide on the spot counseling. "I'm new so I'm not coming into the situation with a preconceived notion of who or what they are," Pierce said. "There is a great stigma attached in the mental health field. If they tell me something, it is important they understand I'm not law enforcement so what they say is confidential."

Sheriff's officials reported a BHI position is becoming more common in local departments. Some are employees, others like Pierce, are liaisons paid by an outside agency.

Pierce said her interaction and communication with Lincoln County deputies is working well. "Usually, it is very short," she said. "The deputy will ask 'if I followed up with a person,' and I respond with only a yes or no."

In other action, commissioners approved a $16,327 software contract renewal with Cellebrite for extracting cell phone data. "It's a whole different world for investigations now," Brackett said. "It's a tool used in difficult situations. In cases where we don't know the pin or phone number, it helps us get access."

Brackett reported the department has used the software 19 times. Another 17 times, it was used by other local law enforcement agencies.

Brackett also announced longtime Chief Deputy Rand Maker will retire on March 30. Maker is a 30-year-plus veteran in the sheriff's department. "We met when I was a corporal in the patrol division and he was a new deputy. We've known each other for a long time, and I'm sure going to miss him," Brackett said.