By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
Caribou Police Sgt. Paul Vincent, a 27-year veteran of the department, was recognized this week by Police Chief Michael Gahagan and the Caribou City Council through a formal letter of commendation for his work over the past several years procuring federal government surplus items at no cost (other than delivery or pick-up expenses) to the city for utilization in the police and fire and ambulance departments.
Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott
Caribou Police Sgt. Paul Vincent, center, was recently recognized by the Caribou City Council for his successful work in securing essential vehicles and other equipment on behalf of the city via the Defense Reutilization and Marketing Offices. Presenting Sgt. Vincent with the commendation letter were Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan, left and Mayor Kenneth Murchison.
LESO (law enforcement support office) provides support to the country’s law enforcement agencies allowing an increase in capabilities and expansion of coverage at the same time saving taxpayer dollars.
“Sgt. Vincent has become a guru with this program,” stated Caribou City Manager Steve Buck, “he has literally saved the city of Caribou hundreds of thousands of dollars by locating vital pieces of equipment needed by the police and fire/ambulance departments.”
One example of equipment that Sgt. Vincent located was the defibrillators that the ambulance department was mandated to have in place in all ambulances in use. If purchased new the items would have cost the city an estimated $38,000 each. Sgt. Vincent was able to obtain 15 of these items through the surplus program, most of which had not been removed from the original packaging.
Another successful search resulted in obtaining a four-wheel drive vehicle that the CPD uses for patrol in the winter. “We didn’t have any four-wheel drive pickups and by being able to secure this one, it certainly increased the life of one of the other cruisers,” said Vincent.
“Being able to use this program successfully “involves a great deal of time and there is a big learning curve and there are mandated training sessions once a year. Someone can’t just search through the items (which are endless) and decide to go for it,” said Sgt. Vincent.
“There is a definite process which must be followed, beginning with locating an item on the site and ‘tagging’ it, from there the request is reviewed by a state coordinator for approval (i.e. an agency must be able to qualify the need of the item(s) which prevents hoarding/resale; the pursuit must then be approved by federal counterparts within the program and if approved the agency will receive notification.
“If you can imagine an item, then it is there,” said Sgt. Vincent. “Literally everything from horses, mules, refrigerators and buildings to Hummers, helicopters and paper projects (and everything else in-between). Not all of the items are brand new of course, and some are in poor shape but others are in excellent condition,” he added.
“It’s a good thing for the city and even though the fire/ambulance department procurements are done through a completely different/separate process, I’m familiar enough with the programs to be able to utilize both,” said Vincent. (Items located and approved for the city’s fire and ambulance department are processed entirely apart from those for use in the police department).
Vincent stated that in 2011 the state coordinator located in Scarborough, asked the Caribou Police Department to work with other agencies, helping them to become familiar with the LESO program. Through his assistance, many other municipalities have become adept in using this process, helping to save tax dollars.
“It’s a big thing with the Chief, to help other agencies,” said Sgt. Vincent.
Also in 2011, the CPD sponsored the LESO training for all agencies north of Bangor. Vincent’s successful utilization of the program also impressed the regional representative from Battle Creek, Mich., which resulted in Chief Gahagan being asked to participate in a federal support commercial.
The letter of commendation presented to Sgt. Vincent on Monday, by Chief Gahagan and Caribou Mayor Kenneth Murchison, on behalf of the city council, stated the following:
“The Caribou City Council would like to recognize your innovative efforts to cost effectively obtain equipment and supplies on behalf of the City. The research, assembly of resources and working relationships you have developed working with the Defense Reutilization and Marketing offices in procuring government surplus equipment on behalf of the City has been outstanding. Through your diligence and dedication, the City has saved hundreds of thousands in capital replacement funding.”
“City of Caribou operations are known for their approach towards problem solving, maintenance and acquisitions and providing services by cooperatively blending these approaches across all departmental operations. Your work with the Defense Reutilization and Marketing offices is the epitome of an employee working to save our City resources and enabling an increased level of cost effective services.
“The Caribou City Council commends your work and dedication and requests that your efforts continue for the benefit of all people living in or served by the city of Caribou.”
