Staff Writer
HOULTON — Law enforcement in the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians has received local and national support.
Pioneer Times photo/Jennifer Ruth
TRIBAL POLICE — The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians’ new police department have two officers who are also sworn in to assist the Houlton Police Department. From left are Tribal Police Officers Brady Henderson, HBMI Chief Brenda Commander and Jim Bledsoe.
In August, HBMI Tribal Chief Brenda Commander introduced the newly formed Maliseet Police Department to the community. Sen. Roger Sherman, Rep. Henry Joy and Richard Cleary were among the special guests attending the historic event.
For the past 20 years, the HBMI has worked to re-build its Tribal Government and Reservation infrastructure, which is now in place. Since the band’s recognition in 1980, they have grown and prospered into a thriving community, which consists of 865 members. With more than 900 acres of Federal Trust Lands in place, the next step was to increase public safety. In 2005, a Judiciary Hearing was held on LD 693 — an Act to Increase Public Safety Through the Enhancement of Law Enforcement for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. In June of 2005, Gov. John Baldacci signed the bill into law, which was accepted by Tribal Resolution. This move enabled the band to create its own law enforcement agency.
“With everyone’s efforts in the town and all the other law enforcement agencies is how we are at this point today,” explained Chief Commander. “They have provided a lot of support and expertise and we’re really pleased to have our officers, who are, I feel, top notch, in our community and very qualified, which is something that we were looking for in a police officer. Our community has wanted this for some time and this is a project that we have worked on for years.”
Earlier this summer, Officer Jim Bledsoe and Brady Henderson were sworn in to the Maliseet Police Department. Bledsoe has 23 years of policing under his belt. He was employed with the Rhode Island State Police Department and in 1994 he relocated to Houlton where he retired as a lieutenant and was also the Assistant Swat Team Commander. He has received awards from the state for drug awareness and was also awarded as Exhalant Ruler for the Elks Club.
Henderson graduated from Houlton High School in 1997 and attended Beal College and received an Associates degree in Conservative Law Enforcement. He graduated from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy on May 25 and he is currently working on his Bachelor on Political Science International Studies at UMPI.
Both officers have also been sworn in as reserve officers for the Houlton Police Department, but are not employed by the HPD. HPD Chief Butch Asselin said the partnership helps strengthen the two communities.
“Since becoming Chief, one of my first responsibilities was helping Chief Commander to develop their police department, which I think is a very prominent step for the Maliseets,” said Chief Asselin. “I’m encouraged that they did make the move to have their own agency. It’s a partnership and we work very close with them and I’m doing whatever I can to make it work for them.
“I wish them all the success in the world,” he said.
