AUGUSTA — An Androscoggin County deputy sheriff violated department policy but “not necessarily” state law when he did not turn on his siren during a chase that ended in a fatal crash, Attorney General Michael Carpenter said.

In a letter to District Attorney Janet Mills, Carpenter said state law “gives the operator discretion whether to activate the siren,” noting that his review examined Deputy Paul Harrison’s actions only in relation to department policy.

On April 21, Harrison was chasing two cars when his cruiser collided with a third vehicle in Poland. The head-on crash claimed the life of Sandra Chase, 54, of Poland.