Staff Writer
A 30-year Aroostook County law enforcement veteran, known as a “go to guy” for his investigative ability, has received statewide recognition from his peers for his work.
Contributed photo
Detective Daniel Robertson, left, receives the “Deputy of the Year” award from Aroostook County Sheriff James P. Madore during the annual meeting of the Maine Sheriffs’ Association in Portland. Robertson, a Woodland resident, has worked with the County’s Sheriff’s Department for 19 years and has a total of 30 years in law enforcement.
Daniel Robertson of Woodland, a detective with the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department, was named Deputy of the Year by the Maine Sheriff’s Association. The award was made at the MSA’s annual meeting in Portland last weekend. Sheriff James P. Madore nominated him.
Robertson’s “work ethic and attention to detail are second to none,” said Madore in making the nomination.
Robertson has worked with the county’s sheriff’s office for 19 years, but has a total of 30 years of experience in law enforcement.
“It’s a once-in-a-career achievement,” said Robertson on Tuesday. “When a person truly enjoys what he’s doing, its not hard to do a good job.”
The award recipient is selected from a list of nominees submitted by the state’s 16 county sheriffs, who then vote for the honoree.
Initially, Robert was a patrol deputy. In 2006, he was promoted to detective, after which he “really turned on the heat,” in working on his cases and helping other officers with cases that required more legwork. He has cleared over 70 cases that have involved charges from gross sexual assault to felonies of burglary and thefts, according to Madore.
Robertson is referred to by the state Attorney General’s office as the “go to guy,” because of his ability to tackle all types of complex criminal issues. Madore said that the detective has been instrumental in clearing cases of fraud, theft and misuse of public funds from town and county entities.
In one particular case, Robertson’s used information from a confidential informant contacting him about a potential drug smuggling case that resulted in more than $2 million in illegal drugs being taken off the street.
After receiving the informant’s information, even though off-duty, Robertson began contacting available agencies. In the end, Madore said that the detective participated in seizing close to 100,000 Ecstasy tablets, with a street value of more than $2 million.
“This one seizure had a big effect on the supply of the dangerous drug in the northeast United States,” said Madore’s nomination letter.
Last year, Robertson was involved in breaking up a string of burglaries from Houlton to Cross Lake. Robertson, along with other deputies and police officers recovered several trailer loads of property, worth thousands of dollars, in the Caribou area.
In addition to Madore’s commendations, Robertson also has received high praise from Attorney General Steve Rowe and the Commissioner of Public Safety, Anne Jordon, for his work.
“It is officers like Detective Robertson who give all sheriffs’ offices a great name,” said Madore.
