The Patrol Division is responsible for the
answering and investigation of over 11,000 calls
for service yearly throughout the 54 rural
communities for which we are responsible.
There are approximately 25 full-time
deputies in the agency complimented by an
additional 20 reserve and full-time deputies
assigned to contractual programs.
Contractual programs assist rural towns
in providing law enforcement services without
having to bear the tremendous expense of a
full-time agency. These
programs may be in the form of a contract or
constable deputy program.
Currently the communities of Hermon, Orrington,
Carmel, Milford, Glenburn, Eddington provide
services in this manner.
The patrol deputy must be 21 years of age and
pass a background check to include the passing
of a polygraph, drug and medical screening, and
motor vehicle and criminal history check.
The agency has both male and female
deputies. Prior to being
interviewed the potential applicant must pass a
physical agility test as required by the
Maine Criminal Justice
Academy.
The agency operates under a “Resource
Coordination Agreement” with the Maine State
Police. The county is
divided into six zones, and when a call comes
into the Dispatch Center , it is transferred to
the agency of jurisdiction.
Weekly, the zones rotate. Each
agency then serves as backup to the other agency
during incidents requiring additional support.
This Agreement maximizes the abilities of
both agencies by eliminating any duplication of
service. It also spreads out the manpower of
both agencies and reduces response time.
The two agencies work united in joint
investigations. This
relationship is recognized as one of the most
successful Call Sharing Agreements in the State.
Each shift has a patrol supervisor and detective
assigned to it. In this
manner additional support is available when
needed. Deputies must be
self-motivated as they are primarily responsible
for the investigations that they initiate. A
Special Response Team (SRT) of 13 specially
trained officers are available to assist in
high-risk search warrants, arrest warrants, and
higher risk incidents, when it is not necessary
to bring in the State Police Tactical Team.
They train on building entry, evidence
collection, and arrest procedures.
The Special Response Team is available to
assist any community.
The patrol deputy has the best equipment at
his/her disposal. Each
cruiser is equipped with digital cameras,
defibrillator, fingerprint equipment, a laptop
computer, advanced first aid kit, radar, spike
mats,and other basic police equipment.
Traffic accident reporting software is
loaded on the laptops, assisting in accident
investigation reports and diagrams.
Additional equipment is available on the
Crime Scene Van that can come to their scene.
Penobscot County Sheriff's Office
