PORTLAND (AP) — A longtime Cumberland County sheriff’s deputy embroiled in a legal dispute with the department has been fired.

County Manager Peter Crichton informed 34-year veteran Gerard Brady last week that he no longer has a job. Crichton says Brady has been on leave for more than a year and the union contract allows the county to terminate his job.

Brady’s attorney told The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/12O6MZe ) the termination appears to be part of an ongoing campaign against Brady. The decision was made about a week after an arbitrator ruled Brady should be reinstated as a detective. Brady was demoted for what he says in a lawsuit was retaliation.

The county said it acted against Brady because he was working on his private business on county time.