Gov. Janet Mills on Friday signed an executive order establishing a formal process to remove a county sheriff from office.

Oxford County Commissioners sent a formal request to the governor on Wednesday recommending Sheriff Christopher Wainwright’s removal.

Sheriff Wainwright was reprimanded last year and apologized for telling a deputy to go easy on an acquaintance over a traffic citation, then yelling at the deputy and his supervisor over the matter. Wainwright also sold firearms from the evidence locker without documenting the sales or telling county officials.

Gov. Mills says the executive order appoints former Maine Supreme Judicial Court Justice Donald Alexander to oversee a hearing on the complaint.

Wainwright has not been charged with a crime, but the governor says Alexander could make reports to law enforcement if the evidence presents probable cause for criminal activity.

In a statement, Wainwright said none of the firearms that were sold belonged to law-abiding citizens and that the proceeds from the sales were used to purchase equipment for the county. Commissioners say they haven’t seen proof of those claims.

Wainwright also defended himself by saying he apologized for his wrongdoings, and that his actions don’t warrant his removal.