Greenville Volunteer Firefighter on Sex Offender Registry

A volunteer firefighter in Greenville, Maine, is serving in his role despite being on the state’s sex offender registry. Eugene “Tony” Murray, 32, pleaded guilty to possession of child sexual abuse material in March 2021. Following his conviction, he received a sentence of just over a year in prison, accompanied by five years of supervised release.

Tony Murray’s family is well-known within the town’s government. His father, Eugene Murray Jr., serves on the select board, while his brother is the fire chief. Several other family members are also active volunteers in the fire department. Greenville, home to approximately 1,400 residents, relies on its fire department to serve a broad area surrounding Moosehead Lake.

Fire Chief Sawyer Murray stated that federal probation officers were aware of Tony’s volunteer status and had approved him to work within the department. “We’re following the federal probation guidelines that they’re giving us,” he noted. However, he refrained from elaborating on the hiring process for firefighters, only mentioning that his brother had been on the roster before the conviction.

A town employee confirmed that Tony Murray actively serves as a volunteer firefighter and receives a stipend, which is customary for such roles. Attempts to reach Tony for comments were unsuccessful, as he declined to engage. Neither Eugene Murray Jr. nor Town Manager Mike Roy responded to requests for comment.

Probation terms can vary significantly, often including restrictions on interactions with minors. It remains unclear how the Greenville Fire Department deploys Tony Murray during emergency situations. Under both Maine and federal law, individuals listed on the sex offender registry are not barred from serving as firefighters, although some states have implemented restrictions against such roles.

Tony Murray is classified as a “tier one” offender, indicating a lower risk of re-offending. In many small towns across Maine, volunteer fire departments serve dual functions as both emergency responders and vital community organizations. The Greenville Fire Department is notably involved in local activities, including the annual ice fishing derby scheduled for this weekend.

The department’s 26-member team provides coverage not only for Greenville but also for surrounding areas including Moosehead Junction Township, Harfords Point, Little Moose Township, Beaver Cove, Lily Bay, Kokadjo, and Frenchtown. Additionally, they maintain mutual aid agreements with neighboring communities to enhance regional response capabilities.

Daniel O’Connor, a Report for America corps member, reports on rural government matters as part of a collaboration between the Bangor Daily News and The Maine Monitor, with further backing from BDN and Monitor readers.