Chief takes position in Cumberland
By Kathy McCarty
CHIEF NALDO GAGNON will mark his last day at the PIPD on Nov. 12, after 31 years with the department. He will assume his new position in Portland as deputy chief of the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office on Nov. 15.
Kevin Joyce, of the CCSO
PRESQUE ISLE — City Council will begin the search for a new police chief, with the recent announcement that Naldo Gagnon, who has served as the chief of the Presque Isle Police Department since 1996, was resigning to take a position with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.
Gagnon told City Manager Jim Bennett of his intentions in a letter dated Oct. 15. In it, Gagnon expressed interest in being closer to his sons.
“I never thought I would ever leave such a wonderful community, but to have a job where I can live closer to my adult sons is an opportunity that I need to take advantage of,” wrote Gagnon.
The chief has two sons with his wife, Susan: Ted and Sam.
“Ted lives in Biddeford and Sam is in New Hampshire. Susan and I wanted to be closer to them. This move not only provides me an opportunity to do that but also allows me to continue working in a field I love,” Gagnon said.
Gagnon began his career with the city 31 years ago, first serving in 1979 as a patrol officer. From 1990-93, he took on the duties of sergeant. Then in 1993 he was named deputy chief — a position he held until 1996, when he assumed the duties of chief, following the departure of then-chief, Jim Ferland.
“It has been an honor serving the city of Presque Isle for the past 31 years. I will be leaving with fond memories of opportunities that were given to me. I am most grateful for the opportunity to continue Jim’s legacy of operating an outstanding police department staffed with a high caliber of supervisors, detectives, officers and operations staff,” Gagnon told Bennett. “These people are second to none.”
Gagnon also expressed gratitude to the City Council.
“I want to thank the Council members who approved Tom Steven’s recommendation to hire me as chief 14 years ago,” he said.
The chief said he’ll be leaving the department “with some memorable achievements that were department goals.” Items of note include:
• Being directly involved with the design, building and completion phases of the new Public Safety Building;
• Fostering community policing practices;
• Making great strides in domestic violence investigations;
• Obtaining a bloodhound for tracking lost persons, missing children and locating criminals;
• Obtaining a black lab for drug detection;
• Fostering camaraderie throughout the city and state; and
• Securing an officer’s position with MDEA.
Gagnon credited the working relationship with city staff for making his tenure memorable and his job easier.
“My deepest heartfelt thanks and deep respect go out to all the department heads and city employees. Presque Isle is blessed by having the most dedicated people working for it. I will miss my working relationship with each of them,” he said.
Nov. 12 marks the last day at the PIPD for Gagnon. He will assume the duties of his new position, deputy chief of the CCSO, on Nov. 15. Only a few candidates were considered for the job, which is by appointment only.
“Kevin Joyce is running unopposed for sheriff of Cumberland County. He’s appointed me as deputy chief,” said Gagnon.
Joyce said he actually considered people from in and out of state.
“Naldo was one of six names that came up. The position often entails bringing on someone who already works for the department. In this case, I selected someone from Maine but outside Cumberland County,” said Joyce, noting he wanted someone with a new perspective to help the CCSO grow and move forward.
“I was looking for someone with a great work ethic, good personality and strong leadership skills. I also wanted someone who’d complement me,” said Joyce. “I’ve known Naldo for some years and respected him when he served as president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association. We’re also both grads of the FBI’s National Academy Association.”
Joyce said he interviewed others, eventually deciding on Gagnon for the position.
“I was looking for someone who could give an outsider’s look at our jail, someone who’d be more pro-active,” said Joyce. CCSO has the only jail in the state that is accredited. Joyce wanted someone who could bring fresh ideas and offer new perspectives on how to efficiently maintain the facility.
Joyce was concerned at first about hiring someone not from the area, because it can be difficult for anyone starting a new position in a new community, especially in law enforcement, until you get to know the people and the area you serve.
“I was pleased to hear he has family down this way, since Naldo’s a County native. I’ve also discovered a lot of people — especially in law enforcement — already know him,” said Joyce, noting a conversation he had with former attorney general Steve Rowe about Gagnon recently.
Gagnon said he will commute between his Portland office and Presque Isle, returning to the County to spend
Weekends with his wife.
“Susan’s a teacher in Fort Fairfield. She’ll finish out the school year here, then we’ll finish the move south,” said Gagnon.
Gagnon said he’ll miss the citizens, his colleagues and friends he’s made here over the years. He offered his assistance during the transition period and said he has “complete faith that the transition will go smoothly due to the professionalism of the department administration and staff and Administrative Assistant Vicki Kinney.”
City Council received a memo from Bennett during Monday night’s session giving a breakdown of police chief selection process.
“On Monday evening, this will appear on the agenda, not as an action item, but simply as information. If there are any suggestions that the Council might have, I am open to them,” Bennett said.
The process will include: meeting with law enforcement union leadership, meeting with command staff at the PIPD, Council’s holding public meetings to allow community members to provide input, holding two informal meetings for citizens to provide opinions — one on Nov. 5, 8:30-9:30 a.m. at City Hall; the second Nov. 6 , 7-8:30 a.m. at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center; then establish a process on the city website for citizens to provide opinions.
A seven-member interview panel will be established, with ads being placed in the next week. Resumes and related information will be collected through the end of November, with panel interviews narrowing the field two three recommendations for the city manager by the end of December. Bennett will then conduct interviews in January, giving his recommendation to Council by the end of the month. Once the process is completed, Bennett anticipates a new chief being named in early March 2011.
The next Council meeting will be held Monday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Sessions are open to the public and participation is encouraged. For more information, call 760-2720.
