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March 31, 2023 PausedPausedAction Center Special Announcements Awards Conferred at the 22nd Annual Maine Association of Police Awards Dinner
The Board of Directors of the Maine Association of Police is proud to announce the following individuals as those being conferred with awards at the 22nd Annual Maine Association of Police Awards Banquet on January 28th, 2023.
We would also like to extend our special thanks to the following for helping make the MAP Awards Banquet a success;
Chris Gower and Admiral Fire and Safety
Ron Doucette, Anchor Engraving
Michael Lundin
The Portland Elks ClubJim Fahey
Our Members and Retirees
Please join us in celebrating the incredible service of these officers, civilians, and businesses as well as all of Maine's First Responders. Congratulations and Incredible Service on Behalf of the Citizens and State of Maine!
Business Recognition Award:
Sebago Brewing CompanyCheryl’s Sandwich Shoppe
Sanford Flooring
Windham Rental Center
James Durant Civilian Recognition Award:
Hannah Longley, NAMI Maine
Mr. & Mrs. David Ferris
Jack Lowe
Diane Bishop
David W. Pickering Chiefs Award:
Chief Paul Fenton, Cape Elizabeth PDChief Elliot Moya, Eliot PD
President’s Recognition Award:
Portland Police Patrol Teams B&C
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Chief Janine Roberts, Ret.
Heroism Award:
Sergeant David Bruni, Gorham PD
Officer Mark Sanborn Gorham PD
Officer Robert Pearce, Lewiston PD
Officer Aaron Webster, Westbrook PD
Officer Zachary Theriault, Portland PD
Officer Alexander Joyce, Portland PD
Officer Patrick Duddy, Portland PD
Officer Chris Proto, Portland PD
Sergeant Ted Hatch, Gorham PD
Sergeant Michael Coffin, Gorham PD
Officer Alisha Smith, Gorham PD
Officer Todd Meslin, Gorham PD
Officer Chelsea Kiger, Gorham PD
Officer of the Year Awards:Sergeant Jim Fearon, Old Town PD, Ret.
Sergeant Sears Edwards, Gorham PD, Ret.
Communications Officer of the Year Award:
Larry Gross Cop’s Cop Awards:
Officer Les Smith, Portland PDSergeant Andrew Flynn, Scarborough PD
Meritorious Service Awards:Sergeant Chris St. Pierre, Falmouth PD
Sergeant Jon Rogers and K-9 Gunther
Lifesaving Awards:
Officer Alex Beaton, Falmouth PD
Officer Spencer Simoneau, Lewiston PD
Officer Travys Fecteau, Lewiston PD
Sergeant Rory Benjamin, Cape Elizabeth PD (Awarded Twice)
Detective Mat Yeaton, Falmouth PD
Wayne “Pooch” Drown School Resource Officer Awards:
In Memory and Gratitude to the Drown Family
Officer Michael McManus, Freeport PD Ret.
Officer Dave Galvan, Cape Elizabeth PD
William B. Troubh Leadership Award:
Travis & Kelsey Mills
Daniel Tourtelotte
Special Recognition/Donation from MAP Charities:
The Maine Military Museum & Learning Center, South Portland; $500.00Larry Gross Cops' Cop Award
2022 – Andrew Flynn, (Scarborough PD)
2021 – Les Smith (Portland PD)
2020 - Robert Susi (Falmouth PD, Ret.)
2017 - Jeff Hawkins (Portland PD)
2016 - John Desjardins (Westbrook PD)
2015 - Robert Morin (Lewiston PD)
2014 - Paul Fenton (Cape Elizabeth PD)
2013 - Steve Webster (South Portland PD)
2012 - Christopher St. Pierre (Old Orchard Beach PD)
2011 - Jeffrey Bearce (Waterville PD)
2010 - Richard Vogel (Portland PD)
2009 - Kevin Riordan (Old Orchard Beach PD)
2008 - Bangor Police Department
2007 - Larry Gross (Posthumously)
2006 - Sean Lally (Westbrook PD)
2005 - Dana Thompson (Gorham PD)
2004 - Kevin Haley (Portland PD)
2003 - Steve Lyons (Westbrook PD)
2002 - Jeff McCue/Jim Fahey (So. Portland PD)
2001 - Dan Young (Portland PD)
2000 - Don Goulet (Brunswick PD)
Officer of the Year Award
2022 – Les Smith (Portland PD)
2021 – Jim Fearon (Old Town PD, Ret.)
2020 - The Men and Women of the Farmington Police Department
2017 - Brad Gallant (Rumford PD)
2016 - William Bonney (Waterville Police Department)
2015 - Jason Joiner (Buxton Police Department)
2014 - Gino Bianchini (Freeport Police Department)
2013 - Tracey Higley (Rumford Police Department)
2012 - Jason Burke (Windham PD)
2011 - Ken Cronin (South Portland PD)
2010 - Terry Goan (Brunswick PD)
2009 - Larry Morrill (Bangor PD)
2008 - Randall Parsons (Bangor PD, Posthumously)
2007 - Tom Donahue (Houlton PD)
2006 - Robert Libby (South Portland PD)
2005 - Paul Gaspar (Cape Elizabeth PD)
2004 - Amy Gagne (Sanford PD)
2003 - Kevin Riordan (OOB PD)
2002 - New York PD/Port Authority PD
2001 - Mark Day (Lewiston PD, Posthumously)
2000 - Jim Sweatt (Portland PD)
Lifetime Achievement
2022 – Janine Roberts
2020 - Robert Libby (South Portland PD, Ret.)
2017 - Brad Paul (Saco PD, Ret.)
2016 - Steven Webster (South Portland Police Department)
2015 - Ronald Shepard (Gorham PD, Ret.)
2014 Harold Trask (Saco PD, Ret.)
2013 - Jim Fahey (South Portland PD)
2012 - Kevin Schofield (Brunswick PD, Ret.)
2011 Wayne Coffin (Gorham PD)
2010 - Deputy Chief (Ret.) Gordon L. Littlefield (Sanford PD)
2009 - James Rioux (Lewiston PD, Posthumously)
2008 - Linda Barker (South Portland PD)
2007 - Michael Sanphy (Westbrook PD)
2006 - Donald Goulet (Brunswick PD, ret.)
2005 - Bill Troubh (Troubh/Heisler, PA)
2004 - Ron Damon (South Portland PD)
2003 - John Reed (Gorham PD, Posthumously)
2002 - Billy Hogan (Portland PD)
2001 - Mike Walsh (Cape Elizabeth PD)
2000 - Gerard "Butch" Guimond (South Portland PD)
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William B. Troubh Leadership
2022 – Daniel Tourtelotte (Maine State Law Enforcement Assoc.)
2021 – Travis and Kelsey Mills (Travis Mills Foundation)
All Maine Heroes Remembered
During the 2022 National Police Week, National Peace Officers' Day and every day, we remember all those here and throughout the nation who have laid down their lives in service to their communities and families. Godspeed heroes.
"Always Remembered, Never Forgotten"
- The men and women of the Maine Association of Police
"Always Remembered, Never Forgotten"
SCSO Cpl. Eugene Cole MSP Det.Sgt. Ben Campbell HCSO Dep. Luke Gross
Officer Wellness and Mental Health
Don't wait until the crisis unfolds; see the everyday signs in the everyday things we do in this job and take action - for ourselves, each other, and our families!
Stay safe, check in, and watch out for each other.
Law enforcement is incredibly stressful and the current health culture is, in some cases, non-existent. Additionally, the tests offered to LEOs too often do not have the diagnostic capabilities to isolate high-risk individuals or provide a quality system of cardiac screening for low-risk individuals before they become critical.
Watch this webinar, sponsored by Sigma, where experts will discuss how critical screening and wellness is in policing.
ACCESS NOW
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN MAINE IN 2020
Maine Chiefs of Police - Maine Sheriffs - Maine Department of Public Safety
The Maine Chiefs of Police Association, along with the Maine Sheriffs Association and the Maine Department of Public Safety have put together a joint informational document outlining the many how Maine has and continues to outpace the national effort to address the challenges in addressing police, public, and race relations.You can read the report HERE
Maine Warmline for First Responders and Healthcare Workers
Free Peer to Peer Support App from the All Clear Foundation
Go To: https://responderrel8.com/We know First Responder wellbeing is important to you, so we want to be sure you are aware of ResponderRel8 – the peer-to-peer app for First Responders that enables them to connect, commiserate and celebrate anonymously (if they choose).
As you know, the complexities and stressors of response work are higher than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic so, thanks to generous donations from All Clear Foundation’s supporters, we’re currently providing subscription-free access to ResponderRel8. First Responders can share information, stressors and experiences anonymously with their colleagues – without fear, stigma or politics getting in the way.
First Responders can access the app directly and chat with peers who have “been there, done that” – no association or organizational commitments required. It’s great for rural and volunteer responders who have very little access to resources as well as those in metro areas where it can complement in-person resources.
DOJ announces how benefits will be determined when officers die from Coronavirus
Written by Dianne Bernhard from our partners at Concerns Of Police Survivors.—Dear Members of Law Enforcement,
Stay home. Socially distance yourself. Work remotely.
All of these are necessary advice given to all of us by our government and health leaders in an attempt to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. But you as a law enforcement officer likely can’t take that advice.
You have to go to work to answer the calls to keep us safe. You may or may not have adequate protective equipment, and you certainly don’t know who you may encounter or who may be a carrier of the virus.
But we all know if a citizen with the virus calls 911 with an emergency, you will respond. Our safety and national security depends on it.
At the time this article is being written, at least 41 police officers have died as a result of COVID-19. Unfortunately, there will likely be others. Right now the highest priority is to keep those death toll numbers as low as possible.
Please take steps to limit your exposure at work whenever possible. While reactive policing is not ideal, in times like this, it is unfortunately recommended.
As a retired officer myself, I know our communities will eventually pay the price of having reactive versus proactive policing, but the steps to keep yourself and your families safe should now take priority.
The question is being asked at the local, state, and national level whether officer deaths from COVID-19 will be considered in the line of duty for the purpose of line-of-duty death benefits.
The Department of Justice Public Safety Officers’ Benefit (PSOB) program put out a release today. Quoting straight from the Bureau of Justice release:
“To establish eligibility for benefits under the PSOB Act in connection with a public safety officer’s death or disability due to COVID-19, the PSOB Act and regulations require that the evidence show that it is more likely than not that the disease resulted from the public safety officer’s exposure to the disease or the virus that causes the disease, SARS-CoV-2, while performing a line of duty activity or action.
In general, BJA will find that the evidence shows a public safety officer with COVID-19 contracted it in the line of duty, when:
(1) the officer had engaged in line of duty action or activity under circumstances that indicate that it was medically possible that the officer was exposed to the virus, SARS-CoV-2, while so engaged; and
(2) the officer did contract the disease, COVID-19, within a time-frame where it was medically possible to contract the disease from that exposure.
In addition, in the absence of evidence showing a different cause of death, BJA generally will find that the evidence shows a public safety officer who died while suffering from COVID-19 died as the direct and proximate result of COVID-19.”
So, what can you do now if you come down with COVID-19?
First, please follow all the advice of medical professionals. This virus seems to be unpredictable as to whom it affects the most. While those who are older or have underlying health issues seem to be the most at risk for bad outcomes, there are also perfectly healthy police officers who are dying from this virus.
Don’t underestimate it. If you are experiencing anxiety, please reach out to C.O.P.S. and we can put you in touch with someone for peer support.
Second, document your exposure. If you know that while you were working you came into contact with someone who was known to have the virus, document the date, time, and names of those who were there.
If your agency has a method to document exposure, you should utilize that process. If your agency does not have a process, you should document the exposure yourself and make sure your supervisors have a copy of it.
If you do not know where you contracted the disease, document the hours you were at work and were in contact with the general public during the date range when the general public was asked to stay home and exercise social distancing. Most agencies have an ability to produce call logs that will show when you responded to calls for service. This may be helpful in establishing the evidence needed for your family to qualify for benefits, if it unfortunately becomes necessary.
Third, consider making a claim through workers’ compensation. The documentation you will use to document your exposure may prove valuable if a death benefit claim has to be made later. Your workers’ comp claim can be updated later if you ultimately succumb to the virus.
Last, if you have not updated your personal information for your family to use to make decisions in the event of your death, now is the time to do so.
You can click on this link to access a PDF form you can fill out and then print and put in a safe place. None of your personal information is saved through the form. C.O.P.S. always recommends this information and life insurance beneficiaries are kept up to date, even during times we are not experiencing a pandemic. The peace of mind this provides to your family in the event of your death is invaluable.
At C.O.P.S. we know you do not have the luxury of social distancing. You should also know that C.O.P.S. is here as YOUR organization, committed to every law enforcement family that experiences the loss of their officer in the line of duty, due to this terrible virus. Every service available through C.O.P.S. will be available to these new families.
These are uncertain times. I personally would like to take just a minute to say thank you for what you are doing. There are many heroes during this pandemic event, and you are one of them. While I am no longer considered an “essential” worker, you most certainly are. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
God bless and stay healthy!
Selected PSA MAP Has "Your SIX" We are proud to invite our members and supporters to the inaugural Maine Association of Police Podcast; "YOUR SIX"! This is the culmination of a long process of planning, technical assistance and hard work to bring a new level of communication and access to our members throughout the state.Your SIX will provide our members with topical and current issues affecting our law enforcement profession, including; legal, labor, family and all things related to our fraternal concern. We will be using both audio and video casts with a myriad of guests and topics.
We are very honored to have Randy Sutton, a national speaker, subject expert, and former Las Vegas Metro PD Lieutenant as our first guest. We will be talking about Randy's new national initiative - "The Wounded Blue" and MAP being one of the first to partner and support the effort!
YOUR SIX debuted at NOON TODAY on our Facebook page as well as our website, with the first episode open for public viewing . After this first viewing, this will become a member only accessible service for our loyal members. You can also now view our first episode using the link below.
Stay safe and we have Your SIX!for more information about Rany Sutton & The Wounded Blue, go to;Blog Topics From The Bridge Bangor Daily News When a 9-year-old girl didn’t want her goat to be slaughtered, county fair officials sent deputies after it Maine adds new restrictions to help slow spread of invasive emerald ash borer Popular Cape Neddick restaurant for sale for $2.5 million Janet Mills signs 2-year budget pushed through by Democratic majority Letter: Needs and challenges are mounting for school districts UnionActive Police Newswire Join the Newswire!
Updated: Mar. 31 (12:00)
February / March 2023 Gendarme Saint Louis Police Officers Association Funeral Services for Retired Police Chief Robert E. Minnie El Paso Municipal Police Officers' Association Funeral Services for Retired Officer Linda N. Custic #1312 El Paso Municipal Police Officers' Association El Paso Police Gang Unit works hard to keep El Pasoans safe El Paso Municipal Police Officers' Association Funeral Services for Retired Lieutenant Carlos Pinon El Paso Municipal Police Officers' Association Janae Edmondson Benefit Night Saint Louis Police Officers Association