HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Police Department held its third annual Employee Recognition Awards ceremony Nov. 21 to recognize both those in their department, as well as community members for their remarkable contributions over the past year.
“We take this moment to honor the men and women of the Houlton Police Department who over the past 12 months have worked diligently to make us safe whether we are home, on the road or working,” Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin said. “Not every employee is going to be recognized tonight, but I can tell you that every one of them deserves your thanks and gratitude for a job well done. It speaks volumes about the department when employees are present to support those who are being recognized. In a career that spans 38 years, I have never worked with a finer bunch of people than this group and for that I am grateful.”
Dispatcher Tom Milton received the “Employee of the Year” award, while Stewart Kennedy received a 5-year service pin, an educational accomplishment award and was recognized for earning a promotion to the rank of detective.
Officer Eric Sucy received the department’s first “Rookie of the Year” award, while Sgt. Charles Wampler and officer Ben Drew earned the “Chief’s Award” and officer Stephen Nason earned a certificate for exemplary service.
“I also want to point out that there are citizens and organizations in this community who regularly devote their time and energy to making Houlton a better place to live,” Asselin said. “Their sacrifices are many and they too, deserve recognition for what they do.”
Community members recognized were Cathy Davis, who received the community service award, and Tim Tweedie, who was presented with a “Citizen Hero Award.”
Employee of the Year
Following his retirement as a trooper from the Maine State Police, Milton joined the Houlton Police Department on Sept. 27, 1999.
Much like a field-training officer, Milton is tasked with the duty of training new dispatchers.
“Tom performs this task with patience, professionalism, and meticulous detail,” Asselin said. “Not only is Tom familiar with the geography of the area, he also knows the people that reside here. When dispatcher Milton informs me that a dispatcher is ready, it’s comforting to know that this person shares his total knowledge of the job and experience.”
Asselin recalled when he first came to Houlton, he remembered telling Milton how impressed he was with the manner in which he, and the other dispatchers, did their jobs.
“It is absolutely amazing the amount of information they document in the radio and telephone log,” he said. “I had actually never seen that much detail being recorded by dispatching until I came here. It’s great work. I can occasionally hear Tom from my office when he is either speaking to someone over the phone or through the glass. He presents himself very well, and again like anything else he does, he is calm and very thorough.”
A few years ago, Milton agreed to become the department’s TAC (terminal access controller) officer, which meant it was his responsibility to ensure the HPD was in compliance with state regulations and rules in regards to access and use of the METRO System. Milton also prepares the department for audits by the Access Integrity Unit.
Citizen Hero Award
Tweedie, a teacher at Houlton High School was lauded for his role in calming down and helping disarm a student who brandished a knife in his classroom back in May.
“Tuesday, May 28, seemed like any other day for those teaching, learning or working at the Houlton High School,” Asselin said. “But all of this would dramatically change in Mr. Tweedie’s classroom when a 17-year-old female student deliberately removed an edged weapon from her book bag and lunged at another student in an attempt to stab him.”
The chief said Tweedie, without due consideration to his own safety, took quick action by running to the young woman and grabbed the arm that she held the knife with. A struggle ensued as Tweedie was attempting to remove the weapon from the student’s hand.
With the assistance of fellow teacher Robert Kinens and principal Marty Bouchard, the student was convinced to drop the weapon without further incident.
“Because of your heroic actions that day, Mr. Tweedie, certain tragedy was averted,” the chief said. “One can only imagine the end result had it not been for your intervention.”
Community Service
After decades of devoted service to the Houlton Humane Society, Davis stepped down as president of the group’s board of directors to devote more time to her family.
“The definition of dedication is described as being wholly committed to something, as to an ideal, political cause, or a personal goal,” Asselin said. “As I look around this room, I see people who are dedicated to their jobs, their faith and their community. But how many here are truly dedicated to a cause?”
Davis became a member of the Houlton Humane Society in 1985. After the death of her beloved family pet, she sought a way to honor its memory and the Houlton Humane Society was her first choice. Davis hit the road with both feet running and soon became very active in fundraising and the growth of the organization.
“There was a period in her life when Cathy quit her job so she could devote her time to the shelter,” the chief said. “She could be seen cleaning, painting and redecorating the building to make it more presentable to the public when they came to visit or adopt an animal.”
Davis served as president of the board of directors from 1997-2013. She was so dedicated that when she moved to Bangor, she still presided as president for nine years, before moving back to Houlton.
“Whenever the town council and manager were working on the annual budget, she was known to present the shelter’s budget with the keys to the building in her hand for all to see,” Asselin said. “She would tell them their choice was simple, either fund them at the amount requested or take over management of the shelter. Well the rest is history.
“Twenty-eight years have gone by since that fateful day when your dog passed away,” he continued. “What you have done for the humane treatment of dogs, as well as cats, is remarkable and commendable. Thank you for what you have done.”
The department also donated $100 to the shelter courtesy of the Houlton Police Association, in Davis’ honor.
Chief’s Award
“As a police chief, one of the most difficult decisions I have to make is selecting the right person for the job,” Asselin said. “You never know what type of individual is going to apply for an opening you have. You rely on background investigations, polygraphs and psychological testing to help you make the right choice. Sometimes you get it right and sometimes you don’t. I can tell you that I got it right last December when the department was able to attract and hire an individual with 16 years of experience in law enforcement.”
Being a game warden and transitioning to municipal law enforcement requires a different attitude and mindset, but officer Drew was able to make the switch flawlessly, the chief said. Officer Drew displayed good instincts, investigative abilities and people skills. It was obvious early on that Ben had the respect of his peers in the department.
The chief cited a Sept. 1 incident in which officer Drew was on patrol on the B Road, when he noticed a white Ford F150 driving out of the Gardiner Chip Plant yard at 1:10 a.m. Drew immediately turned on the vehicle and noted that the exhaust was leaking and it appeared to be heavily loaded.
Officer Drew stopped the pickup on the North Road. When he walked up to the vehicle he observed a large amount of railroad iron piled up in the bed of the truck. Officer Drew also saw oxygen tanks, a homemade cart, and a 20-pound propane tank. Officer Drew identified three individuals inside the cab of the truck and asked them to step outside. At first the three young men were evasive with their responses as to why they were at chip plant. But eventually all of them admitted to retrieving “scrap” metal from the railroad tracks.
“At the police department, Officer Drew learned that the suspects were being paid $150 per ton for the scrap at a salvage yard in Monticello,” the chief said. “This also wasn’t there first trip to the B Road ‘junking’, as they put it, or removing railroad iron.
In all five people were charged with felony theft, trespass or aggravated criminal mischief that night. Maine Northern Railroad conservatively estimated cost of the stolen iron and the damage to the tracks to be $3,597.
“After the rail tragedy that occurred in Lac Megantic, Quebec, who knows what would have happened if Officer Drew hadn’t made that traffic stop during the early morning hours of Sept. 1,” the chief said. “How far would these individuals have gone to remove iron from the railroad tracks? This is just one example of exemplary police work from an HPD officer from start to finish.”
Sgt. Wampler was also recognized with a Chief’s Award.
“One of the tasks assigned to newly promoted Sgt. Charles Wampler this year was to coordinate, set up and schedule instructors for the department’s 10-week Citizen’s Police Academy,” the chief said. “There is a great deal of work to be done behind the scenes week after week and it was apparent that Sgt. Wampler was up to the task. Sgt. Wampler conducted himself as a true professional and had the respect of everyone in attendance.”
Officer Nason, last year’s recipient of the Employee of the Year award, was presented with a certificate for his part in breaking up a meth lab. Acting on a tip that an individual was manufacturing methamphetamine behind his parents’ residence on the Foxcroft Road, Officer Nason proceeded to the residence for the purpose of making an arrest for an outstanding probation violation.
“While searching for the individual, officer Nason located several precursor items commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine,” the chief said. “Knowing the dangers involved, he secured the scene with the assistance of officers Eric Sucy and Gary McGuire. The Maine Drug Enforcement Agency was notified and a lab team was dispatched to the residence.”
The individual in question was subsequently located in Linneus and placed under arrest.
“Because of Officer Nason’s actions that day another drug dealer was taken out of circulation thereby making our community safer,” the chief said. “This was a phenomenal piece of police work. It just shows what one can accomplish when you’re resourceful and willing to take the initiative.”
The chief noted of the 56 arrests officer Nason has made during the past 12 months, 36 of them were for outstanding warrants.
Also recognized during the ceremony were:
• 5-Year Service Pin: Officer Kennedy. A life-long resident, Office Kennedy began his career with the Houlton Police Department on June 30, 2008. Since then, Kennedy has become a productive member of this police department. “There are certain traits that I admire in an individual,” Chief Asselin said. “Two of them that are at the top of my list are integrity and honesty. Officer Kennedy is the embodiment of both of those qualities.”
• Rookie of the Year: Officer Sucy. “This evening I am doing something I have never done before in my 17 years of service as a police chief,” Asselin said. “Tonight I am going to present the department’s first Rookie of the Year Award. Being a new officer doesn’t necessarily mean that you are going to receive this recognition. One has to earn it. The officer I speak of earned the award by properly investigating his calls, promoting highway safety, having the proper attitude and treating people with fairness and compassion. Because of his enthusiasm, he was a pleasure to be around and work with.”
• Promotion: Det. Kennedy. With the departure of Det. Kris Calaman in October, the department began the process of finding a replacement. “Fortunately, I had people within the agency who were qualified and able to fill this important position,” the chief said. “Three officers applied and I would have been pleased if any one of them had been chosen. A four-member oral board conducted interviews earlier this month and the unanimous selection of the group was Stewart Kennedy.”
